Members to fan out to undercounted areas nationwide

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is partnering with the U.S. Census Bureau in its mission to make sure that communities of color are correctly counted. AKA's involvement will also assure that urban neighborhoods receive their fair amount of federal funds distributed yearly. The amount is driven by the population figures.

In announcing the partnership, International President Barbara A. McKinzie noted: "Every 10 years, the United States conducts an official count of its citizens, known as a census. Data collected from that count is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. The information is used to distribute Congressional seats to states, to make decisions about what community services to provide and to distribute $400 billion in federal funds to local, state and tribal governments each year."

She added, "Historically, communities of color are incorrectly counted. Through this partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau, AKA members will fan out to communities nationwide to ensure that we have an accurate count."

To assist in this mission, the Census Bureau has developed the Partner Support Program (PSP). Its goal is to equip partner organizations with very specific community materials that will help them elevate awareness about the census and achieve a high rate of return of the 2010 census questionnaire within hard-to-count communities.

In urging members to apply for the funds, McKinzie said it is part of the overall mission to "educate men and women of the importance of being counted. Far too often, our communities receive inadequate funding because tenants and homeowners ignore or incorrectly fill out the forms. This is particularly true in cities with large immigrant populations, where fear of deportation is rampant. Because of these realities, Alpha Kappa Alpha members will mount an aggressive effort to promote the mission to communities of color by fanning out to hard-to-reach areas nationwide."

McKinzie said chapters of the organization will deploy other strategies, including forming "Complete Count Committees," supporting the 2010 census promotional program and by completing the PSP request form.

Adopting Alpha Kappa Alpha's ESP theme, McKinzie declared: "It's important that we must be Empowered, Supportive and Proactive."

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DETROIT, MI, November, 2009-Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit (BBBSMD) hosted its Second Annual African-American Greek Bowling Challenge on November 15^th at Lucky Strike in Novi, MI with over 150 in attendance.  This remarkable evening provided Greek organizations a little friendly bowling competition along with bragging rights and the opportunity to show their support for the children in Metro Detroit by raising dollars and building awareness of BBBSMD mentoring programs.  

 

BBBSMD’s President & CEO, Dara Munson, expressed much gratitude, on behalf of over 1,200 children served.  Munson, who is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Lambda Pi Omega Chapter), personally extended her appreciation to all of the sororities and fraternities for their participation in the Second Annual Greek Bowling Challenge.  “Being apart of a service organization with the goals of improving the living standards within the Black communities, assisting Black families, with an emphasis on the Black males and improving the mental and physical health of local communities falls in line with the mission of BBBSMD.  It was a marvelous sight to see the eight largest African-American sororities and fraternities come together to support what each organization was built on,” stated Munson.

 

The following sororities and fraternities made the Greek Bowling Challenge possible: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Phi Beta Sigma and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

 

BBBSMD thanks all the sororities and fraternities who participated in this fabulous event which raised over $8,000 to support BBBSMD mentoring programs. Congratulations to our reigning champions Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. for being the top fundraisers’ for the Second Annual African-American Greek Bowling Challenge to benefit BBBSMD.

 

BBBS is the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the United States.  Celebrating over 100 years of service nationally and more thirty-five  years of service locally to the metropolitan Detroit community, BBBS maintains a stellar reputation of recruiting exemplary citizens to share positive experiences with metropolitan Detroit youth. 

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