EMP-35

This summer, Barbara A. McKinzie led more than 35,000 members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority July 12-18 in Washington, D.C., for its Centennial International Convention. Barbara, international president of the world-renowned women's organization, presided over the weeklong event, which was billed as a celebration of 100 years of sisterhood and service.

Barbara A. McKinzie EMP-35 presides over the historic Centennial Convention.

Everyone agreed that the Centennial Convention lived up to its billing as a once-in-a-century celebration that was unparalleled in the sorority's history. It shattered all attendance records and provided a showcase for Barbara's leadership. Barbara is certain that the principles she mastered while earning her MBA at the Kellogg School were on display as she presided over this phenomenal event.

The biennial convention was held at the Washington Convention Center and represented the culmination of a journey that began Jan. 15, 1908. On that date, nine visionary women at Howard University founded the organization — making it the first sorority of college-educated primarily African-American women. Driven by its commitment to service and sisterhood, Alpha Kappa Alpha evolved into one of the world's leading service organizations with 225,000 members in 975 chapters worldwide.

The convention kicked off with a pilgrimage to the Philadelphia-area grave site of Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, one of the nine founders. Barbara presided over a memorial service and tribute. The climax of the convention was the Unity March where 30,000 members from the nine predominantly black Greek fraternities and sororities linked arms as a unified force and marched from the National Council of Negro Women headquarters to the capitol to advance their united agenda. Conceived and led by Barbara, the marchers, all members of the Panhellenic Council, sent a "powerful message" to the outgoing administration and a declaration to the next U.S. president about important issues of their constituencies.

Barbara noted in her fiery speech that "across all fraternal and sisterhood organizations, associations and groups…on this day, July 17, in the year of our Lord, 2008, we are joined as one to address the critical issues of our time." The areas of concern included health, education, the environment, economics and politics. Each organization has incorporated these critical areas into their respective programs. Leaders of each organization agreed that the current state of affairs in each area demands an urgent response that a combined march symbolizes.