Senate Resolution No. 1970

BY: Senator PARKER

COMMENDING the Tau Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority upon the occasion of hosting its
Inaugural "A Sparkle In Time: The Legacy of a
Century" Cotillion on April 26, 2026

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay tribute to those organizations of high purpose and worthy
accomplishment whose enduring commitment to excellence, service, and the
elevation of young people has enriched the civic and cultural life of
the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend the Tau Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority upon the
occasion of hosting its Inaugural "A Sparkle In Time: The Legacy of a
Century" Cotillion on Sunday, April 26, 2026; and

WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority was founded on January 15, 1908,
at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle and
eight extraordinary women who envisioned a sisterhood dedicated to the
uplift of women, the service of community, and the cultivation of
excellence in every field of human endeavor; in the more than a century
since its founding, Alpha Kappa Alpha has grown into one of the largest
and most distinguished historically Black sororities in the world,
comprising hundreds of thousands of members across more than 1,000
chapters in the United States and abroad; and

WHEREAS, The Tau Omega Chapter holds a place of singular distinction
within this legacy: chartered in May 1925, it stands as the fourteenth
oldest chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the oldest graduate
chapter established in New York City, and the oldest graduate chapter in
the entire Tri-state Area; born of the determination of Lambda Chapter
alumnae who resolved to continue their service beyond college, the
twenty-two charter members of Tau Omega launched a chapter whose impact
on the Harlem community and the broader New York Metropolitan area has
now spanned a full century; and

WHEREAS, Through more than a hundred years of service, the women of
Tau Omega Chapter have addressed the needs of their community across
every era and every challenge, from the Harlem Renaissance through the
Great Depression, from the Civil Rights Movement through the present
day, remaining always in the forefront of the work of education,
economic development, health, family support, and the arts, embodying
the Sorority's motto "Service to All Mankind" with grace, purpose, and
an unyielding standard of excellence; and

WHEREAS, The Inaugural "A Sparkle In Time: The Legacy of a Century"
Cotillion represents a new and luminous chapter in Tau Omega's storied
tradition, presenting the chapter's Inaugural Class of Debutantes and
Escorts in a celebration of poise, confidence, excellence, and elegance
that honors both the timeless rites of the cotillion tradition and the
extraordinary century of achievement upon which this chapter stands; and

WHEREAS, A cotillion is among the most enduring expressions of
community investment in young people and an occasion that calls forth
the best in its honorees, surrounds them with the encouragement of their
community, and sends them forward with the confidence that their
community believes in who they are and who they are becoming; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proudly moved to honor the Tau
Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, its officers and members,
and the young women and men of its Inaugural Cotillion Class, whose
poise and promise reflect the enduring power of a sisterhood that has
been shaping New York's future for one hundred years; now, therefore, be
it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Tau Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority upon the
occasion of hosting its Inaugural "A Sparkle In Time: The Legacy of a
Century" Cotillion and to extend heartfelt congratulations to the
chapter, its debutantes, escorts, and families on this historic
milestone; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the officers and members of the Tau Omega Chapter of
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, in recognition of their century of service
to New York and their continued investment in the excellence of the next
generation.