Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Sponsors ECCI’s Summer Program

When the members of Lambda Omicron Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® learned that Educational Consultants Consortium, Incorporated (ECCI) was coordinating summer enrichment for local students, they seized the opportunity to provide funding and support for the program.  In response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, ECCI decided to host its first-ever virtual summer program via ZOOM, a cloud-based peer-to-peer software platform that offers video-telephony and online chat services.

The ECCI Summer 2020 Experience comprised of two sessions – June 8 – June 25 and July 6 – July 23.  The summer program focused on closing the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students, averting the academic summer slide, and reducing crime by involving children in positive and constructive activities.  Using the Zoom platform, approximately 60-70 students participated in daily virtual courses, including yoga, coding, health, science and black music history.

Over the course of the two summer sessions, students throughout Manatee County learned and developed communication, employability, and life skills as well as financial literacy with local partners, namely the Healthy Teens Coalition of Manatee County, Manatee County Sheriff’s Department, the local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, and local banking organizations.  In addition, students in the program are eligible to receive a stipend for active participation and successful completion of each session.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated ® is an international service organization that was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1908. It is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African-American, college-educated women. Alpha Kappa Alpha is comprised of more than 300,000 members in 1,008 graduate and undergraduate chapters in the United States and several other countries. Led by International President, Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover, PhD, JD, CPA, Alpha Kappa Alpha cultivates and encourages high scholastic and ethical standards and provides service to all mankind. For more information on Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and its programs, visit AKA1908.com.

Educational Consultants Consortium, Inc. was organized on September 18, 1995, by four retired Manatee County Educators and two businessmen living in the weed and seed target areas of the county.  ECCI organized and developed goals to address the soaring drop-out, drug, crime, and teenage pregnancy rates in the at-risk area of (Palmetto) Manatee County by involving the whole family and community in the process.  The retired educators, who brought more than 130 years of educating Manatee County’s children to the organization, noted that students making the most progress in and out of the classroom were those with commitment from families and support from their community.

            Lucile Mobley is president of the Lambda Omicron Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Barbara A. Harvey is Executive Director of ECCI.