A Resolution Honoring the Community Service Legacy of the 32nd Annual Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Monarch Awards
Gala
WHEREAS, I Alderman Michelle A. Harris, and on behalf of the residents 8th Ward & my fellow colleagues of the Chicago City Council, am proud to inform this august body of a significant upcoming event by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, namely the Thirty-Second Annual Monarch Awards Gala. This year's 2015 theme, 'Uptown Saturday Night, will incorporate the annual 'Tribute to Black Men', honoring six stellar male mentors, civic leaders and role-models for their outstanding community commitment and service; and
WHEREAS, Established in 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is the nation's oldest organization founded by and for women of African-American descent. AKA is comprised of more than 283,000 professional women, of which I am a proud member, in 983 collegiate and alumnae chapters throughout the United States and abroad. AKAs are considered to be extraordinary women of advocacy, activism and achievement, who annually contribute hundreds of thousands of hours in community service; and
WHEREAS, Through the years, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated has used sisterhood as a grand lever to raise the perception, status and lives of African Americans -particularly girls and women. Members enrich minds and encourage lifelong learning; provide for the poor, sick and underserved, initiate social action to advance human and civil rights; work collaboratively with other groups to maximize outreach on progressive endeavors; and continually produce leaders to continue its credo of service; and
WHEREAS, The XINU OMEGA Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated was organized in 1982; and
WHEREAS, The Monarch Awards Foundation; the philanthropic arm of XI NU OMEGA, is an IRS 501(c) 3, a not-for-profit charitable organization established in 1988; and
WHEREAS, The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, via the Monarch Awards Gala, raises resources for the Foundation's scholarships, community programs and nonprofit grants. Through the Foundation, Alpha Kappa Sorority's XI NU OMEGA Chapter contributes resources to help improve social and economic conditions through service initiatives and progressive educational enrichment, health promotion, family strengthening, environmental ownership and global impact programming; and
WHEREAS, The highlight of each Monarch Awards Gala is its Tribute to Black Men. The first "Tribute to Black Men " took place in November 1983. Since then the "Tribute to Black Men " has honored 345 proud, strong, yet largely unsung heroes of our community. The Monarch Awards has evolved from an annual fundraiser sponsored by a chapter of 30 women to an active, community-conscious 501(c) 3 non-profit foundation with a financially supportive membership of 300. The group also implements year-round programming, a charitable giving plan, a scholarship program and two teen leadership development and mentoring initiatives; and
WHEREAS, This year's Monarch Awards Gala will be held on Saturday, November 28, 2015 from 7pm until midnight at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, in the Grand Ballroom, 151 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois. During this event, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated will salute the following individuals:
til BUSINESS - SPENCER LEAK, JR.
«8 EDUCATION - PHILLIP HAMPTON
« OUTSTANDING YOUTH - KHARY Y.S. ARMSTER
41 PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT - MARLON E. EVERETT, MD
^ PUBLIC SERVICE - TERRY G. HILLARD
« RELIGION- REV. JOEL TAYLOR, DMIN
WHEREAS, these Black men work hard to continue to shape, inspire and transform the lives of local African-Americans in Chicago, by developing active, engaged citizens, expanding educational, economic access and opportunity, and strengthening families and neighborhoods; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved, That we, the Mayor and the members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here in assembly this 18th day of November, 2015 A.D., do hereby express our heartiest congratulations to Alpha Kappa Sorority's XI NU OMEGA Chapter on the occasion of the 32nd Annual Monarch Awards Gala
Be It Further Resolved, that a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to the Alpha Kappa Sorority, Inc.'s XI NU OMEGA Chapter. '