CHAPTER HISTORY
In the Beginning |
In March of 1986, Lisa Green Campbell began thinking about starting a Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha on the Westbank of New Orleans. The first meeting was comprised of about five (5) women, namely, Lisa Green Campbell, Jacquelyn Laster, Edith Vaughn, Jarvia Haynes, and Gayle Bartholomew. The group decided to begin meeting once a month on Saturdays. As time passed, more sorors started to show up at Campbell’s home. The group collected dues of $ 5.00 per meeting and Edith Vaughn was appointed the treasurer. After the interest group began to grow, more sorors came including Centrell Ewell who prompted some of the initial contacts with the Regional Director to start the official process of beginning the new Chapter. They had also begun the process of community service as a group. After nearly two years of meetings, and months of preparation, planning and paperwork, the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha who had formed the interest group on the Westbank of New Orleans, were | finally ready to start their new Charter Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. On December 18, 1988, the Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Westbank Chapter of Rho Pi Omega was chartered. The Charter ceremony took place at the Landmark Motor Hotel, at 2601 Severn Avenue, Metairie, Louisiana. There were 1 charter members, Centrell Alfred-Ewell, Juanita B. Beasley, Gayle W. Bartholomew, Cynthia B. Camese Jackson, Lisa Green Campbell, Freddi G. W. Evans, Patricia A. Garrison, Jacqueline B. Gordon (deceased), Jarvia W. Haynes, Delores Jackson, Phyllis P. Kirskey, Jacquelyn H. Laster, Dorothy A. Pennington, Edith C. Vaughan, and Gaynell Williams. Jacqueline Gordon passed away on September 3, 2010, and became the first Ivy Beyond the Wall for the Rho Pi Omega Chapter. Centrell Alfred-Ewell became the first President of Rho Pi Omega Chapter. Rho Pi Omega held its first membership intake in 1990 and Margie Zeno, Nedra West, and Myrtle Breaux became the first newly initiated members. | Rho Pi Omega is a multifaceted group of professional women whose members range from educators to engineers, health care professionals, lawyers, realtors, insurance brokers, and many more professions. The purpose of Rho Pi Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is “to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards; to promote unity and friendship among college and graduate women; to study and help alleviate problems concerning girls and women in order to improve their social stature; to maintain a progressive interest in college life; and to be of service to all mankind.” |
Through the Years |
| Alpha Kappa Alpha’s and Rho Pi Omega’s programs have focused on youth education, health, economics, family, social justice, the arts, global poverty and environmental stewardship. The chapter adopted a nursing home, Stonebridge Manor, provided needed supplies and personal articles to the residents and provided tutorial services to area students at St. Joseph Baptist Church, Marrero, LA, under the Ivy Reading Academy. This program served to enhance the school experiences of children and young people. Annually, RPO, in a matching funds partnership with the National Presidential Freedom Foundation gave scholarships to two graduating seniors. Rho Pi Omega has collaborated with the Louisiana State Police and the “Buckle Up’ initiative in its distribution of child restraints for automobile safety. Young Authors, a creative writing program was initiated to increase reading and writing skills, offering children an opportunity to write and submit stories for local and regional competition. RPO hosted health and wellness fairs, allowing medical professionals the opportunity to provide health screenings and informational brochures concerning issues and illnesses that plague our community. |
In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina impacted Rho Pi Omega and every soror in the chapter, but the chapter came back stronger than ever to help the Westbank community. The chapter participated in Adopt-A-Family that focused on the needs of the African American Family, with an emphasis on the African American male. Items such as school supplies, clothing, computers, etc. were provided to the children. Stories were read to the children. RPO reached out to young girls through Girl Time, a program designed to teach girls 12-18 about earning, spending, saving and investing money. In addition, they were also introduced to self-awareness, etiquette, skin care, hygiene, goal setting and healthy lifestyle choices. The chapter sponsored an annual HIV/AIDS Awareness seminar through a partnership with the Jefferson Health Unit in an effort to raise public awareness, especially in our teens and promote healthy lifestyle choices. The chapter participated in programs with Care, an organization that focuses on women’s issues and Chapter members worked collaboratively with the Jeremiah Group to educate and register voters, in particular in the 2008 election. The chapter also worked with St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church on food and clothing drives. For many years, RPO partnered with the American Cancer Society annually in “Relay for Life” where RPO members and others walked for 12 to 24 hours to raise funds for cancer research and the fight against cancer, symbolizing that cancer never sleeps. In support of “A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Waste,” RPO participates in a walk/run with UNCF to raise funds for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. |
Through the 2010 to 2014 Global Leadership Through Timeless Service Initiatives of Supreme Basileus Carolyn House Stewart, Rho Pi Omega extended its service reach to the community through the creative and intellectual strengths of our members. Our initiatives and goals were bound by a common objective: to make a difference in the lives of people locally as well as globally. To achieve these goals, Rho Pi Omega engaged in numerous community service partnerships and projects. Supreme Basileus Carolyn House Stewart’s signature program was Emerging Young Leaders (EYL) and the chapter worked with young ladies in grades six through eight by providing leadership development, civic engagement, enhanced academic preparation and character building. In conjunction with the sorority’s Health Initiative, Rho Pi Omega Chapter partnered with the American Cancer Society annually in “Relay for Life” where Sorors walked to raise funds for cancer research and the fight against cancer, symbolizing that cancer never sleeps. Members also partnered with the American Diabetes Association and contributed volunteer hours and monetary contributions to help with diabetes research. The chapter also contributed to the American Cancer society and has even turned pink red for a day to support awareness of heart disease. Rho Pi Omega has also partnered with the Department of Health and Hospitals and Walmart to promote the sorority’s Asthma Prevention and Management Initiative to benefit children and families and assist in early diagnosis, treatment awareness and parental education and advocacy. In support of our Economic Security Initiative members participated in a walk/run with UNCF to raise funds for Historically Black Colleges and Universities because “A Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste.” Business and estate planning workshops are also being planned. |
Maintaining our Focus |
Education continues to be a main focal point of Rho Pi Omega. Each year, we award scholarships for academic achievement, community service awards for volunteerism, and community service hours to deserving graduating seniors. Under our Global Poverty Initiative, the chapter partnered with Heifer International to help combat global poverty and purchased a cow in 2010 and donated feed and smaller animals in 2011 to help families around the globe to become self sufficient. Rho Pi Omega also has and continues to support the food bank at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, in addition to supporting their clothing drive. Through the Social Justice Initiative, the chapter participated in annual observations of the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday and recognized our deceased Soror Coretta Scott King, donated to the Louisiana |
Foster Care Program, and partnered with several local churches to sponsor voter’s registration drives.
For five years, the chapter partnered with Volunteers of America in the Mentoring Children of Promise, a program to support children of incarcerated parents. For several years, chapter members provided both financial and emotional support to a family adopted by the chapter. The chapter continues to foster a strong relationship with senior citizens at Woldenberg Village through spending time with them at activities such as bingo games and karaoke. The Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Initiative was exercised in chapter operations where members think pink and go green through electronic communications. | Rho Pi Omega has always been committed to training and education of its members through seminars and workshops and enhanced the practice under the sorority’s Internal Leadership Training for External Service Initiative.
The training not only helped members to run a fiscally sound chapter but also served and continues to serve as a catalyst for members to reach their fullest potential as skilled leaders in service to Alpha Kappa Alpha and other organizations and institutions. Rho Pi Omega has also participated in projects such as Christmas tree recycling, plantings in the wetlands, and celebrated the New Orleans Saints winning the Super Bowl in 2010 with a Woldenberg Saints Super Bowl XLIV Bingo. |
#WeAreRPO
Rho Pi Omega has a very active chapter and in addition to our National programs, we continue to participate in connections activities, voter registration drives and letter writing campaigns, MLK Day days of service, and marched in the Westbank MLK Day parade. Annually, for the past several years, RPO has participated with other greater New Orleans area chapters in celebrating Founder’s Day and honored sorors for outstanding accomplishments in the sorority, their community and their profession. In 2013, Rho Pi Omega was a Regional Conference Host Chapter and co-hosted Cluster 2013 with Tau Iota Omega Chapter.
On December 14, 2013, Rho Pi Omega celebrated its 25th Anniversary at A Day to Remember Garden Club, in Terrytown, Louisiana with a semi formal gala. In 2014, Rho Pi Omega reached its endowed scholarship goal of $20,000.00 and received the Emerald award at Boule 2014 in Charlotte, N.C. Witnessed our own chapter member, Soror Ernestine “Teena” Trahan become the First African American Judge of the Second City Court of New Orleans, and Soror Patricia McElveen become the first Rho Pi Omega golden soror (50 year member of AKA), and started a new fundraiser in conjunction with the Westbank chapter of Omega Psi Phi called a Pearlescent Affair. In 2015, Rho Pi Omega celebrated the 10th anniversary of its signature scholarship fundraiser, a Mother’s Day Brunch.