The Beta Iota Omega Chapter Celebrates 90 Years of Service

Members of the Beta Iota Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated gathered Monday morning for the installation and unveiling of a park bench at Greensboro’s Barber Park. The environmentally friendly bench, made from recycled materials, was donated by the sorority to commemorate the chapter’s 90th anniversary.

Yvonne Johnson, Greensboro’s first African American mayor, current city council member at-large and member of the Beta Iota Omega Chapter of AKA greets the crowd on behalf of the City of Greensboro. Photo by Ivan Saul Cutler/Carolina Peacemaker.[/caption]Chartered on February 12, 1934, six sorority members established the Beta Iota Omega (BIO) Chapter. They were Belle Tobias Curtis, Blanche Taylor Grant, Dorphenia Wingfield Hall, Mernell Graves London, Constance Hill Marteena and Alma Powell White. BIO was the seventh graduate chapter established in North Carolina, the 59th graduate chapter in the nation and the first in Greensboro.

For 90 years, the members of Beta Iota Omega have continued with the sorority’s legacy of sisterhood, service and scholarship. The organization has uplifted Guilford County residents through its community service initiatives in health, education, financial literacy, leadership programs and its annual Cotillion scholarship. The chapter has steadily increased membership to more than 300 members.

During the bench unveiling, Greensboro’s Mayor Pro-Tem, At-Large City Council Representative and member of the BIO Chapter, Yvonne Johnson, brought greetings on behalf of the city. Johnson holds the distinction of having been Greensboro’s first African American mayor.

Johnson was Introduced by her niece and BIO chapter member, Enyonam Kpeglo Williams. Johnson said, “We are so grateful that you all are here and have existed for 90 years and we are grateful for all the great service you have done. I want to just thank you for the work that you have done in leadership and the work that you have done on the environment and giving food to young people and giving books to young people. It just means the world to me.” Johnson added that the chapter has done so much over 90 years that the community service accomplishments reminded her of a line in the sorority’s hymn that states, “things that are worthwhile.”

“That is exactly what you have done, things that are worthwhile,” said Johnson.

Throughout the weekend, sorority members celebrated 90 years of “the power of community, the strength of sisterhood, and the joy of service.” The park bench dedication at Barber Park concluded a weekend of celebrations, which began Friday evening with a Mardi Gras Gala at the Sheraton Koury Convention Center; a Saturday luncheon featuring the International First Vice President of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Charletta Wilson Jacks; and a Sunday worship service at Pfeiffer Chapel on the campus of Bennett College featuring guest speaker Rev. Dr. Rosalyn Nichols, organizing pastor of Freedom's Chapel Christian Church in Memphis, Tenn.

Simone Langley, president of the Beta Iota Omega Chapter said, “It’s been a journey for 90 years and we know that we are not done yet. This is just the first gift of many gifts that we will share with the Greensboro community this year.”

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 15, 1908. It is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African American college-educated women. According to the organization’s website, the sorority’s membership is comprised of more than 355,000 initiated members in graduate and undergraduate chapters located in 12 countries including the United States, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Dubai, Germany, Japan, Liberia, Nigeria, South Korea, South Africa and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is led by International President & CEO Danette Anthony Reed of Dallas, Texas it is “hailed as America’s premier Greek-letter organization for African American women.”

To learn more about Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, visit its website: https://www.aka1908.com. To learn more about the activities and endeavors of the Beta Iota Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., visit: https://www.betaiotaomega.org.