(CONTRIBUTED)

HUNTSVILLE – Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. will empower youth and honor community leaders during the 82nd AKA South Eastern Regional Conference.

“AKA will paint the Rocket City pink and green for the regional conference,” publicist Victoria Jackson said. “Members from Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi, also known as the ‘ATM,’ will gather here March 13-16 for the event at the Von Braun Center.”

The conference theme will be “Global Leadership Through Timeless Service: Launching the ATMosphere into Timeless Service.” The conference “will include a youth summit, public meeting and a service project for youth aging out of foster care.”

Southeastern regional director Adrienne P-K Washington and conference chairperson Dr. Wilma J. Ruffin will lead the conference. AKA members from North Alabama will host the event.

“During the conference, we are donating items to a cause that helps young people aging out of foster care who need help getting on their feet,” Jackson said.

The “Developing Leaders: One Girl at a Time 2014 Youth Summit” will be held March 13 at 9 a.m. in the VBC North Hall. “Its purpose is to teach sixth- through eighth-grade girls life and leadership skills through seminar topics, which include education, employment and financial assistance,” Jackson said.

The summit’s speaker will be Jessica Swindle, Miss Alabama A&M University 2013-2014.

On March 14, the conference’s public meeting will gather in the VBC South Hall at 6:30 p.m. The U.S. Army Materiel Command Band will perform a brief concert. AKA International President Carolyn House Stewart will speak.

“The public meeting also will include the sorority honoring community leaders in the state of Alabama with service awards,” Jackson said.

Founded in 1908 at Howard University, AKA is the oldest Greek-lettered organization established by African-American, college-educated women. The sorority has 260,000 members in graduate and undergraduate chapters.

For more information, call Lolitha Phillips at 256-282-5861 or 256-239-1857 or email to darliska43@yahoo.com, Fannie Stockdale at 404-641-0269 or email to Eladkcots@aol.com.