Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA) in the South Eastern Region demonstrated their commitment to Tennessee children and families by donating 30,397 items through service initiatives conducted during the Tennessee Statewide Cluster and Tennessee Undergraduate Leadership Institute. The donations, announced in October 2026, benefited organizations providing foster care, adoption, maternity care, and family support services.
Graduate members gathered on September 19, 2026, at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Nashville for the Tennessee Statewide Cluster, where they collected 28,867 infant-care items through the "Little Ones, Big Love" service initiative. The donations went to AGAPE Nashville, which offers foster care, adoption, maternity care, counseling, and family support services, and Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center, which provides health care and supportive services to individuals and families throughout the Nashville area, including pregnant women, new mothers, and infants.
The "Little Ones, Big Love" initiative focused on babies from birth to 12 months entering foster care, as well as pregnant women and new mothers in need. Members collected diapers, wipes, onesies, diaper bags, pacifiers, bibs, socks, bottles, baby caps, pull-ups, and other essentials. A total of 819 members attended the Tennessee Statewide Cluster, with 100 percent of Tennessee graduate chapters represented.
According to South Eastern Regional Director Toni Wallace Franklin, the initiative reflects AKA's commitment to addressing critical needs in the communities it serves. "Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated remains steadfast in its commitment to identifying and addressing the critical needs of the communities we serve. Through purposeful service, strategic partnerships, and a dedication to empowering others, we strive to create meaningful, lasting change and cultivate champions who will continue to make a difference."
Undergraduate members continued the Region's commitment to service on October 10, 2026, during the Tennessee Undergraduate Leadership Institute, also held at Mt. Zion Baptist Church. The day-long Institute focused on leadership development, personal growth, advocacy awareness, and intentional sisterhood engagement, equipping undergraduate members to strengthen leadership skills, build confidence, and enhance their impact on campus and within their chapters.
As part of the Institute's community service project, Tennessee undergraduate chapters collected 1,530 hair-care items for Tennessee Alliance for Kids (TAK), which supports children in foster care, children at risk of entering care, and youth aging out of the foster-care system. The donated products included shampoo and conditioner for all hair types, boar-bristle brushes, edge combs, regular hairbrushes, and other helpful hair-care items. A total of 219 undergraduate and graduate members attended the Institute, representing 16 undergraduate chapters, including 13 Tennessee undergraduate chapters and three additional chapters from other states.
The Tennessee Statewide Cluster and Tennessee Undergraduate Leadership Institute illustrate how AKA members across generations translate leadership, sisterhood, and service into meaningful community impact. Collectively, graduate and undergraduate members donated 30,397 items to organizations serving infants, mothers, children, youth, and families. Graduate members supported families through "Little Ones, Big Love," while undergraduate members extended that commitment to children and youth impacted by foster care through Tennessee Alliance for Kids.
The Tennessee Statewide Cluster is one of three Statewide Clusters hosted by the South Eastern Region in 2026, and the Tennessee Undergraduate Leadership Institute is one of three Undergraduate Leadership Institutes hosted by the Region in 2026. The South Eastern Region comprises approximately 124 chapters and more than 15,000 members throughout Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
This announcement underscores the tangible impact of AKA's service initiatives on vulnerable populations in Tennessee. The donations provide essential items to families in need, support foster care and maternal health organizations, and highlight the sorority's ongoing commitment to community uplift. The collective efforts of graduate and undergraduate members demonstrate the power of organized service in addressing critical social issues.
