FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2026
New York, NY — Today, New York City marked its first official Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Day as members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated gathered at City Hall, filling its halls in the organization’s signature colors: salmon pink and apple green. Their presence symbolically “painted” City Hall in recognition of the sorority’s enduring legacy of service, scholarship, and community leadership. Thanks to Mayor Mamdani for helping ensure we end this day with the People’s House being lit in pink and green.
The annual designation of January 15 as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Day was established by the New York City Council on November 12, 2025 to honor the historic Black sorority’s long-standing impact on families and communities in New York City and across the globe. This inaugural commemoration represents the first formal observance of the designation since the passage of Resolution 1134.
“As a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, seeing City Hall filled with pink and green during this first commemoration is both meaningful and affirming,” said Council Member Amanda Farías. “For more than a century, Alpha Kappa Alpha has advanced educational access, civic engagement, and community service through consistent, hands-on work. Members of my beloved sorority continue to invest in mentorship, scholarship, and service initiatives that strengthen neighborhoods across New York City. Marking this first Alpha Kappa Alpha Day affirms the value of that work and the lasting impact of women leading in service.”
“As a Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, initiated at Spelman College, I am overjoyed to have sponsored the resolution designating January 15th annually as Alpha Kappa Alpha Day in New York City,” said former Speaker Adrienne Adams. “Being a member of the first Sorority for college-educated Black women has been pivotal in shaping my path – particularly in becoming the first Black Speaker of the New York City Council, leading the historic first women-majority most diverse Council body. The tenets of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, have empowered my life’s journey by breaking barriers and blazing trails, as it has for generations of women before me. I am profoundly honored to have facilitated such recognition of my remarkable Sisterhood.”
The resolution establishing AKA Day was also passed during a historic women-majority City Council, with Adrienne Adams serving as Speaker and Amanda Farías as Majority Leader—both members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated—underscoring the organization’s role in cultivating women prepared for leadership in public service and civic life.
Founded in 1908 on the campus of Howard University, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is the first intercollegiate Greek-letter organization established by Black college-educated women. The international service organization now includes more than 390,000 members across 1,100 graduate and undergraduate chapters worldwide, united by a mission of scholarship, service, and a commitment to being of Service to All Mankind.
“It is an honor to stand here today with my sisters from across the five boroughs to stand on the shoulders of our founders– women of courage, intellect, and purpose– whose legacy continues to light our path,” said Elizabeth Morgan, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Alpha Beta Pi Chapter President. “Today we celebrate and honor the present and look toward the future with gratitude.”
“I want to thank New York City for recognizing the work that Alpha Kappa Alpha has done here for over 100 years,” said Monique Okumakpeyi, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Delta Rho Omega Chapter President. “As a 118-year-old organization, we remain committed to empowering families, supporting our community, and cultivating scholarship. We have held these ideals for 78 years. I look forward to remaining an important part of the Brooklyn community.”
“I am so excited to be a part of this wonderful sisterhood, celebrating 182 years of scholarship, sisterhood and service. The impact this organization has had on the community and in my life has been profound,” said Shalima McCants, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Zeta Nu Omega Chapter President.
“Celebrating Alpha Kappa Alpha Day in New York City is so fitting, as it represents the founding of our sorority in the North Atlantic Region 118 years ago now led by Director Elicia Pegues-Spearmen. 45 years later I remain proud and committed to the ideals of sisterhood and service,” said Dawn Baskerville, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Director of Communications and Life-Member of Delta Rho Omega Chapter. “We are grateful to former speaker Adams and Council Member Farías for leading the charge to highlight today into perpetuity.”
“I am so proud to be a member of this organization. It has been everything that I have hoped for and more. I am thrilled that New York City has recognized us on this day and am proud to have legacies to carry this work forward. 118 years is a very long time to survive in a world where we have had to be pristine among many challenges. I could not be happier that we are still standing and making our mark,” said Dr. Kim Adams, Former First Vice President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Epsilon Pi Omega Chapter. “We are grateful to Honorable Adrienne Adams and Honorable Amanda Farías as much as I am abundantly proud– especially because they hail from our Graduate Chapter, Epsilon Pi Omega and our Undergraduate Chapter, Nu Mu.”
“It has been an honor to have been a member of this illustrious organization. We remain trailblazers, even 118 years later,” said Reverend Dr. Nicole Mitchell, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Epsilon Pi Omega Chapter Member
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📸 Photos of the commemoration can be found here