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So that you could spotlight the people who find themselves main graduate chapters around the country, we at Watch The Backyard reached out to the sorority sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.’s Omicron Theta Omega Bankruptcy in St. Louis, MO and did an interview with Kimberly Hodge-Bell the Basileus of the bankruptcy.
The placement of Basileus/president of a Black sorority bankruptcy is a extremely revered position and there’s a particular satisfaction that one takes. Hodge-Bell, who works as a world science chief, has been within the place of Basileus since January 2023.
We interviewed Kimberly Hodge-Bell, who’s a 1993/ Virginia Union College start up of Alpha Kappa Alpha and talked to her about her place, targets, long run and what it manner to carry this sort of management place within the virtual age.
Learn the entire interview under.
What motivated you to take at the position of alumni bankruptcy president?
My number one motivation for turning into president of my bankruptcy, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Integrated® Omicron Theta Omega Bankruptcy, was once my want to serve, which aligned with the undertaking of Alpha Kappa Alpha – ….to be of “Carrier to All Mankind.” In truth, turning into the bankruptcy president was once the farthest factor from my thoughts as a result of conserving such an place of job in any group comes with nice duty and a big time dedication. I’ve held a large number of management roles (e.g., president, chair, and many others.) in lots of medical and community-based organizations. On the other hand, I noticed that my pastime for uplifting others, my strategic (e.g., medical) way, and my talent to be an inclusive chief at all times intersect with my want to serve. My predecessors, the previous presidents, did an ideal process main the bankruptcy, and now it was once time for me to take the baton and assist write the following web page within the historical past e book. After a lot prayer, session with my non-public board of administrators and a variety of conversations with the ones in my “send” circle (mentorship, friendship, sponsorship), my time has come to function the sixteenth President of my bankruptcy.
What particular projects is your bankruptcy heading up this yr and the way do you assume they are going to beef up the local people or the wider Black network?
It’s a thrilling time for the bankruptcy as we get ready to have a good time our fortieth Constitution Anniversary serving the St. Louis Metropolitan network. This yr Omicron Theta Omega has a number of projects that search to give a boost to and beef up our area people, together with our youth-focused projects similar to Adolescence Starvation, offering foods to scholars over the weekend and vacation, and our Adolescence Management Academy equipping younger students in underserved communities with management and existence talents. We even have projects eager about social justice, construction wealth, the surroundings and well being (psychological and bodily). Omicron Theta Omega Bankruptcy is understood for our signature match, the Crimson Pizzazz Jazz Revel in and our focal point on HBCUs (Traditionally Black Schools and Universities). Crimson Pizzazz is a fundraiser established to assist scholars fund their tutorial wishes and spotlight native black jazz artists within the St. Louis network. Our HBCU initiative specializes in expanding consciousness about HBCUs, uniting HBCU Alumni within the St. Louis space and elevating price range to give a boost to scholarships and network systems.
What made you wish to have to pledge Alpha Kappa Alpha?
I made up our minds to turn out to be a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Integrated® as a result of its undertaking of marketing solidarity, empowering girls, and serving the network.
What’s it about your particular bankruptcy that makes it so distinctive?
Omicron Theta Omega is understood for being a dedicated, hardworking, network and social justice-oriented Bankruptcy. We had been a trailblazer for the Constitution Faculty Motion in St. Louis, Missouri, setting up the primary constitution college within the town, the Ethel Hedgeman Lyle Academy. We established the primary Metropolitan Well being Honest, and nowadays, we’re a strategic spouse with Harris Stowe State College and proceed to lift consciousness and give a boost to HBCUs.
How is your bankruptcy offering for the undergraduate chapters you give a boost to?
Even if the Omicron Theta Omega Bankruptcy does now not have oversight for an undergraduate bankruptcy, we spouse with Harris Stowe State College (HSSU), the one HBCU in St. Louis, MO, to collaborate and give a boost to undergraduate scholars. We spouse with HSSU to inventory their non-public care closet that gives scholars with toiletries and private care pieces all through the college yr. We additionally collaborate with HSSU scholar affairs to host a welcome-to-school party in August, a nighttime breakfast all over finals, and a commencement party in Might.
How do you way fostering a way of solidarity and camaraderie amongst alumni participants, and what methods have you ever discovered efficient?
I paintings to foster a way of solidarity thru conversation, collaboration and transparency. For me, conversation is the important thing to any a hit courting. But it surely additionally calls for a willingness to paintings in combination to succeed in a not unusual objective. My final however now not least option to foster solidarity is transparency. Those 3 result in a basis of consider, camaraderie and solidarity.
What recommendation would you give to aspiring leaders inside your sorority who would possibly aspire to tackle roles of management inside alumni chapters?
Preparation and collaboration are key! Learn, attend workshops, and take part in trade conferences. With each and every interplay, you are going to be told just a little extra! It is very important know your paperwork and the group’s historical past in any respect ranges (e.g., across the world, locally, in the neighborhood) because it lays the basis to construct on. Similarly essential is to spot key stakeholders (your “send”) to give a boost to you alongside your management adventure. “If you wish to move rapid, move on my own. If you wish to move some distance, move in combination.” -African Proverb.
How has mentorship helped you get to the place you might be nowadays? Are there any particular other people on your org who’ve made a vital have an effect on for your existence as mentors?
I might now not be the place I’m nowadays with out my “send” circle! Whether or not thru mentorship, sponsorship, friendship, or some other relationships, it has all formed me into who I’m nowadays. I’ve had a number of girls inside AKA who’ve inspired me to make use of my presents and abilities to assist raise the bankruptcy and group at huge. If I needed to identify one workforce of people who have had a vital have an effect on, it could be the ones whom I name my “kitchen desk.” Those women helped me navigate tough scenarios, skilled me on other subjects, corrected me once I wanted it and liked me unconditionally. It indubitably takes a village and any individual talking your identify within the room while you aren’t there!
Why do you assume Watch The Backyard is essential to Black greekdom?
There are such a lot of myths and erroneous knowledge within the media concerning the black school revel in and Black greekdom. Watch The Backyard supplies a good glance into the black revel in, supplies a ancient archive of the good information in our network and highlights tales on what unites the entire greekdom circle of relatives – Carrier!
Taking a look again at it, why do you’re keen on being a member of your org?
I really like being a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Integrated® as a result of the way it has helped me develop in my view and professionally. Alongside this 30-year adventure, I’ve sharpened my trade acumen, evolved as a pace-setter, and larger my “send” circle with a couple of Superb, An expert and Achieved sisters! Carrier is on the middle of who I’m, simply as it’s on the middle of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Integrated®.
Finally, what does sisterhood imply to you?
Sisterhood represents a bond that I select to spend money on. I regularly name it an increased friendship as a result of it’s an intentional shared revel in this is constructed on consider and harmony. Sisterhood is the essence of ladies uplifting and empowering each and every different. As I regularly say, I shine, You shine, We shine – that’s what sisterhood is all about! This doesn’t imply that we will be able to at all times agree, however it does imply that we will be able to appreciate, give protection to, and give a boost to each and every different even all over tough occasions and scenarios. I really like my sisterhood!
We at Watch The Backyard wish to commend Kimberly Hodge-Bell for her paintings because the Basileus of the Omicron Theta Omega Bankruptcy which has a legacy that spans again to 1984.
Percentage this on Fb and assist us spotlight Hodge-Bell’s bankruptcy.
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