Skip to main content
HomeHistory

About Kappa Lambda Omega (KLO)


On January 25, 1975, Kappa Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was chartered on the campus of Meharry Medical College, the famed medical institute that provides training for physicians around the world. Students, spouses and employees of Meharry along with women from across Middle Tennessee, joined in the historic moment of the chapter's beginning.  This effort made KLO the second chapter in Nashville, providing additional reach of the organization into the Nashville region.


The Charter


Support from our sisters of Alpha Delta Omega chapter played a vital role in our chapter's chartering, recommending to Savanna C. Jones, then South Eastern Regional Director, that the chapter be formed.  In addition to this, Lillian Dunn Thomas and Donzaleigh T. Patterson, both members of Alpha Delta Omega, were instrumental in this process. 
Once officially organized, an official membership drive was held in 1976 where among the twenty ladies who took part Olivia Brown and Peggy Earnest - still active members of the chapter - became part of this illustrious organization.


The Charter Members

Anita Baccus
Virginia Bate
Carolyn Bright
Janet Carr
Consentena Cooper
Sue Farmer
Cecilia Ferguson
Gloria Frelix
Sharon Freeman
Carolyn Gipson
Roberta Gray
Saundra Grisham

Gwendolyn Hilton

Jane Jackson

Joycelyn Jenkins
Millicent Lownes
Quinta Martin
Susan McCrumbly
Dorothy McGuirter
Elizabeth Shute
Gale Starling
Irene Stith
Sharon Townsend
Anne Watkins
Lora Williams


Excellence in Service


Throughout the years, Kappa Lambda Omega has been focused on excellence and service to all mankind.  The chapter has been involved in many successful projects, including awarding over $100,000 in scholarships to high school students; raising money for various local and national charities; holding events and activities for residents of senior citizen homes; donating food to those in need and providing Christmas toys to disadvantaged children in the communities we serve.  We have worked with various tutorial programs to foster education and learning among African American students along with our annual involvement in Special Olympics which are locally hosted on Vanderbilt University's campus. 


Kappa Lambda Omega has demonstrated our care for the community by actively participating in volunteer activities, conducting seminars and events, providing awareness to health related issues that face our communities. We also support other organizations such as the NAACP - where as a chapter we are life members, the Urban League, Cleveland Job Corps and the United Negro College Fund.

Since our inception, several fundraising activities have allowed us to continue the work of supporting our great community. Pink Chablis, a formal dinner featuring musical entertainment, silent auction and dancing, proves successful every time it is held. Little Miss AKA, our signature event for young ladies, fosters training and education in the areas of etiquette, social skills, creative arts, modeling and performing.

KLO_Stats.jpg


Impressive Leadership


Because of our chapter's impressive leadership, we have been able to accomplish so much in over forty- years. Our chapter hosted the 64th South Eastern Regional Conference of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in 1996.  In the same year, we adopted Home Mission Haven, a residential facility for the elderly in the mid 90s and continue a lasting legacy of interacting with vital members of our society. In 1997 our chapter initiated and hosted the first-ever AKA Day on Capitol Hill, drawing more than 100 members from various chapters to the Tennessee State Capitol.  AKA Day on Capitol Hill was later adopted by the Region and then the National sorority as a whole. KLO chapter members Mary Conner and Edith Taylor Langster were past chairmen of this event. We hosted the Cluster II-B conference in 1998, where Janice Woodard chaired a successful session held at Pearl-Cohn Comprehensive High School.


In 1999, KLO saw positive media coverage in various capacities after organizing AKA Coat Day, where our chapter donated nearly 40 coats to the Nashville Rescue Mission for the homeless.  We also provided more than 60 boxes filled with school supplies for children in Africa, including basic items along with dictionaries and encyclopedias.

The dawn of a new century has not deterred the efforts of KLO.  In fact, we participated and co-chaired our organization's national convention held here in 2006, where chapter member Elease Jolley was the chairman, and hosted the 75th Regional Conference of the South Eastern Region, under the leadership of chapter member Mary Conner, our 25th South Eastern Regional Director. Several of our members hold local, cluster, regional and national positions.

Mary_Elease.jpg

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated- Kappa Lambda Omega Chapter | P.O. Box 292704 Nashville, TN 37229 | Copyright 2023. All rights reserved.
 

Last Updated : November 2, 2024.  Please contact the webmaster if you experience any issues with the website.

This website is best viewed in Internet Explorer 9 and above, Firefox and Chrome. Also, viewable on most Android and iOS mobile devices.

Please contact technology@kappalambdaomega.com if you experience any issues with the website.