[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 63 (Thursday, May 16, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E825]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E825]]
     HONORING XI GAMMA OMEGA CHAPTER OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 15, 2002

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and recognize Xi Gamma 
Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. as it celebrates its 
20th Anniversary of community service in the greater Oakland/East Bay 
Area.
  Xi Gamma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. was 
chartered on May 1, 1982, by a group of 28 dynamic women who recognized 
a need for greater community service. The 28 original members of Xi 
Gamma Omega pledged themselves to community development, sisterhood, 
and the ideals which are embodied in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
  The members of Xi Gamma Omega saw a need for increased participation 
on the part of community groups in the development of the city of 
Oakland. They wanted to ensure that Oakland had support services 
available to the city's African American community, particularly its 
youth.
  For 20 years, Xi Gamma Omega Chapter has carried out the mission and 
goals set down by its charter members. It has accomplished these goals 
through a host of services including tutoring and mentoring programs 
for elementary and secondary school students, visiting the elderly, 
adopting families in need, providing financial scholarships to 
deserving college-bound high school seniors, and making contributions 
to charitable organizations, such as the United Negro College Fund.
  In its early years, Xi Gamma Omega held a Healthy Summer program, 
based at recreation centers, schools, and the Boys and Girls Club, that 
provided medical and dental screenings to uninsured young people. 
Doctors, podiatrists, optometrists, and dentists donated their services 
to this worthy project. In addition, the chapter members taught poison 
prevention measures to families in their homes.
  During the early 1990's, Xi Gamma Omega Chapter proudly participated 
in many of the Sorority's International program targets. One of the 
major targets was Partners In Math and Science (PIMS). Xi Gamma Omega 
held workshops, titled ``Turning African American Students on to 
Mathematics and Science.'' These workshops focused on alerting students 
to the need for math and science skills in all professions, as well as 
everyday life.
  In its own right, Xi Gamma Omega has developed an extraordinary 
reputation in the Far Western Region as a chapter that exemplifies 
visionary leadership and premier service programs. Over the years this 
recognition of Xi Gamma Omega's leadership and community service 
activities has resulted in the receipt of numerous awards at a number 
of Alpha Kappa Alpha Regional Conferences.
  Today, Xi Gamma Omega Chapter continues its rich tradition of 
community service through ON TRACK, a student nurturing and mentoring 
program at Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School, providing 
scholarships to talented middle school students to attend summer art 
camps, participating in and raising funds for the AIDS Walk-A-Thon, as 
well as the UNCF Walk and Tele-A-Thons; collecting and shipping 
educational items for young children to countries in Africa; providing 
food and personal hygiene items to the residents of the Beth Eden 
Senior Center; as well as continuing its financial scholarships to 
college-bound high school seniors.
  It is with great distinction that Xi Gamma Omega Chapter has proudly 
continued the 94 year-old tradition of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first 
sorority founded by and for African American college women at Howard 
University in 1908. This legacy of Service to All Mankind has 
established Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., as a premier service 
organization both in the United States and abroad in West and South 
Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean.
  I would like to commend the commitment and diligence of my former 
Senior Staff Assistant and friend Julie Hadnot, who is the President of 
the Xi Gamma Omega chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Julie is 
a strong advocate and leader in Oakland as well as throughout the East 
Bay.
  In the next 20 years and beyond, Xi Gamma Omega has pledged to remain 
committed to this high standard of service. Xi Gamma Omega Chapter will 
continue to blaze new trails and provide visionary leadership in the 
area of community service and programming throughout the city of 
Oakland and its environs.

                          ____________________