Pink Tea Rose Sisters of Service - The Interest Group Story
In November of 2011, Patrice Withers-Stephens began exploring the idea of serving the Denton County area for the Far Northwest sector of Dallas, Texas in the name of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. The idea later evolved into a vision to establish a new chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha to serve Frisco, Little Elm, Prosper, and The Colony.
On April 21, 2012, Tuere Williams joined Patrice Withers-Stephens in hosting a breakfast to determine the interest of sorority members willing to serve the Far Northwest sector of Dallas. At the conclusion of that first meeting an additional four members (Georgia Barnes, Chalet Hill, Stephanie Taylor Jackson, and Alana Johnson) joined in the effort to establish the Far Northwest Dallas Interest Group.
A Steering Committee was formed to determine ways to reactivate and reclaim inactive members of Alpha Kappa Alpha in the Far Northwest Dallas area. The small group also decided to begin meeting in various restaurants throughout Frisco on a monthly basis to continue gaging the interest of forming a new chapter.
Within weeks the group tripled its size and it was confirmed that there was a need to bring the presence of Alpha Kappa Alpha to the Far Northwest Dallas area. In February 2013, the group had grown to 36 members and submitted a formal petition to the South Central Regional Director, Chelle Luper Wilson, requesting to be recognized as an Official Interest Group.
As the group waited to host the first meeting with the Regional Director, they continued to stay engaged with the community as representatives of the sorority by participating in various service endeavors. This included helping to build Hope Park in Frisco, which is a playground especially constructed for children with special needs. The group even donated money to purchase a fence panel in the name of Alpha Kappa Alpha, which will always be part of the park’s construction. Additionally, it was determined that they would include the city of Denton in their service area. This would increase their opportunity to serve in a larger, more underrepresented city that is home to two major universities.
In June 2013, the group had grown to 50 members and formally hosted the Regional Director in order to present a report on the full demographic and needs assessment of the Far Northwest Dallas area. Additionally, the group had secured letters of endorsements from local mayors, the Texas State Senators Office, local community organizations, and the NFL Players Association. Having received encouraging and positive feedback from the Regional Director, the group waited patiently for any type of notification or instructions. During that time they continued to have regular meetings, participate in various community service activities, and host sisterly relations events that continued to help reclaim inactive members in the area.
On February 27, 2014 the South Central Regional Director, Chelle Luper Wilson, notified the group that they were approved to be an Official Interest Group. They were asked to determine a name, and with the assistance of the Regional Director, the Pink Tea Rose Sisters of Service was established. In March 2014 the group voted on its inaugural officers and was officially announced by the Regional Director at the 82nd South Central Regional Conference held in Dallas that month. Today the chapter has more than 100 members and is continuing to grow as they service the cities of Denton, Frisco, Little Elm, Prosper, and The Colony.
