[3] The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at the historically black Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students led by Ethel Hedgemon Lyle.

Forming a sorority broke barriers for African-American women in areas where they had little power or authority due to a lack of opportunities for Black Americans in the early 20th century.

The current International President is Danette Anthony Reed, and the sorority's document and pictorial archives are located at Moorland-Spingarn Research Center.

Howard faculty member Ethel T. Robinson encouraged Hedgemon by relating her observances of sorority life at the Women's College at Brown University.

Some service examples demonstrated before 1912 include helping create the NAACP, The YWCA DC chapter, feeding the hungry, tutoring and clothing people experiencing poverty.

[36] Currently consisting of nine predominately black fraternities and sororities, NPHC promotes interaction through forums, meetings, and other mediums for the exchange of information, and engages in cooperative programming and initiatives through various activities and functions.

[32] In April 1933, during the Great Depression, International President Ida Jackson visited All Saints Industrial School in Lexington, Mississippi.

[41] The Mississippi Health Project brought primary medical care to the rural Black population across the state for six summers.

[44] The project was noted for helping to decrease cases diphtheria and smallpox in the region and to improve nutritional and dental practices throughout rural Mississippi.

[47][48] Throughout the organization's life, the Non-Partisan Council worked with the NAACP, National Urban League, The United Office and Professional Workers of America, The National Association of Graduate Nurses, the American Federation of Churches, the Colored Women's Club, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and Auxiliary, and the New York Voter's League.

By encouraging youth to improve math, science, and reading skills, the sorority continued a legacy of community service and pledged to enrich the lives of others.

According to Collier-Thomas, the ACHR drew attention to legislation concerning education, transportation, employment, and improving equality in the armed forces and public places.

[59] The ACHR participated in filing civil rights cases in amicus curiae with Bolling v. Sharpe and 1954's Brown v. Board of Education.

Led by president Julia Purnell, ΆKΆ negotiated with the Office of Economic Opportunity to operate a women's center from October 1964 to January 1965.

Surviving founders Lavinia Norman and Norma Boyd attended the celebration of unveiling the Memorial Window, designed by Lois Mailou Jones.

[43][66] In collaboration with the International Foundation for Education and Self-Help (IFESH), the sorority built ten schools in South Africa after apartheid ended, and it donated computer technology to the region.

[43] ON TRACK, an acronym which stands for "Organizing, Nurturing, Team building, Respecting, Achieving, Counseling and Knowing", was designed to help the progress of 20,000 third graders who were at-risk of failing their education.

[68] Sponsored by Daimler Chrysler, ON TRACK was designated to "improve communication, academics, physical and emotional health, peer leadership, etiquette, and interpersonal relationships.

[43] The purpose of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards, to promote unity and friendship among college women, to study and help alleviate problems concerning girls and women to improve their social stature, to maintain a progressive interest in college life, and to be of service to all mankind.

The partnership aims to help members trace family connections through the world and in Africa to embrace African-American culture and the larger community.

[76][77] The activities included sorority members financially donating $1 million in scholarship funds to Howard University,[78] contributing libraries for Middle School for Mathematics and Science and Asbury Dwelling for Senior Citizens, and unveiling a digital version of the entire Ivy Leaf publication.

[84] In addition, the toy company Mattel designed a Barbie collectible doll fashioned with a pink and green evening gown.

[96] In Our Kind of People: Inside America's Upper Class, Lawrence Otis Graham tells of his aunt's experience in joining the Ivy Leaf Pledge Club: We had to learn a lot more about the historic beginnings of the AKAs, and we did it by writing long letters of application to the Ivy Leaf Pledge Club—the senior wing of the sorority that regulated the admissions process—and then attending monthly meetings where the older students tutored us on the history.

Notable speakers at Boulé conventions include civil rights activists Martin Luther King Jr. and Roy Wilkins.

[108][109] Barbara K. Phillips, former vice-president and Project Coordinator for Senior Residences, Incorporated, explains the purpose of Ivy Acres: "We determined that there is a need out there, but this will be open to all.

[43][68] For example, a PIMS program at Park Street Elementary School in Marietta, Georgia, consisted of third through fifth-grade girls and provided educational field trips to stimulate involvement in math and science.

Each of the ten regions in the sorority had the opportunity to choose a child's story to be published in a two-volume anthology entitled The Spirit Within: Voices of Young Authors.

McKinzie denied the allegations, describing them as "without merit", The sorority revoked the memberships of the eight members who filed the complaint in retaliation for the lawsuit, but a judge later required reinstatement.

The audit also found that two former officials continued using sorority credit cards after their service ended, failing to document charges appropriately.

[149] AKA completed an internal investigation into the matter, and allowed the chapter to remain in good standing with the sorority's highest leadership.