00:00It's the brotherhood and sisterhood for Essence, so this month we're celebrating the Divine Nine
00:05organizations. Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Omega Psi Phi, Kappa Alpha Psi, Delta Sigma Theta,
00:13Zeta Phi Beta, Phi Beta Sigma, Sigma Gamma Rho, and Iota Phi Theta. We're showing love to our
00:20staff that are Divine Nine members, so let's get into it with the oh so pretty ladies of Alpha
00:24Kappa Alpha. Hello, I'm Alex Ebanks. I'm the Vice President of Communications here at Essence
00:33Ventures, and I was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated in the fall of 2010.
00:39Hi everyone, my name is Dominique Fluker. I am a member of the editorial team. I'm the
00:45Contributing Lifestyle Editor, and I was initiated in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated
00:50fall of 2015. I decided to join aka from birth. I am a proud double legacy of the sorority. Both my
01:01grandmother and mother are both members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, so as young as I
01:06can remember, I was walking around with future aka paraphernalia, and so when I had the chance to
01:13become a member, it was no question. The proudest moment that I've had to date is being a committee
01:19member leader, so I led Environmental Ownership Committee for my chapter, and that was the first
01:27time I could see myself in a leadership role representing Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.
01:35Why these organizations that are over almost 100 years old, many of them over 100 years old,
01:41and why they're necessary is because of just the relationships and in this point of the sorority
01:47is a sisterhood that comes with it. What I love about being a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
01:52Incorporated is that I can go anywhere around the world and have sisters anywhere, and you know,
01:58from all industries, walks of life, backgrounds. So that is one of the things I think is most important
02:04for these legacy organizations to continue for many, many, many more decades and years to come.
02:09I can't agree more. I feel like these organizations are extremely relevant because it shows the power
02:17of sisterhood and brotherhood across all different walks of life, and it's really aspirational if you
02:25think about it. You have a committed legacy that, you know, Alex can definitely relate to this, where
02:31your mother or your grandmother were a part of it before you were, and to pass that lineage down is
02:39really important. My line sisters and I are some of the best of friends, been in each other as well,
02:44in their weddings, have, you know, take travel together every year. Many of them have joined me
02:50at the Essence Festival of Culture. So that, this point of sisterhood, it really does extend beyond
02:58just the moment when you do become a member and you're initiated. It really is that true sisterhood
03:04that has just, you know, continued for many years. Next year, we celebrate our 15 years
03:10as members of the Sweet Me Pie chapter of Alpha Kappa. It was already incorporated from Spelman College
03:16and just being able to go back to homecoming, gear up for that celebration of that time that we were
03:21initiated. It's nothing like it. Some of the most memorable experiences that you can think of
03:27and that will continue. And I can't agree more with us or Alex. I think for me, my sores have
03:35definitely shown up in ways that are so surprising to me, especially during some dark moments.
03:43So I always can rely on them for support with anything really.
03:49The common misconception that people have about the Divine Nine is that all we do is party and we
03:54don't actually do any community service, which is the farthest thing from that. This weekend,
04:00you know, as we're gearing up for our Founders Day, you know, I'm doing community service on Sunday
04:05and Monday with my sorority. So it just, it continues beyond just, you know, yes, there's the fun moments,
04:11but there's also the moments that is a very serious matter and ones that we do take seriously
04:16and put in the work in the community.
04:18Yes, I, a very serious matter. I am also looking to do community service with some chapters here
04:26in Los Angeles. And another misconception is that the work just stops in college. You know,
04:32it, it continues with graduate chapters and that's really important.
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