Chartered on December 14, 2013, the Psi Upsilon Omega Chapter is the second graduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated established in the State of Nevada. The vision to establish a chapter in Henderson, NV can be traced back to early 2007. At that time, several Alpha Kappa Alpha women, including Sorors JoElla Julien and Katrina Dunn, set out to encourage other sorors living in the Valley to reactivate with the sorority. A tremendous undertaking, this small group of Sorors met several times and even did some community service projects along the way, i.e., donated toiletries and clothes to "Safe House", a women's shelter. In April 2009, several members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated embarked upon their journey - to charter a graduate chapter in the Henderson/Greater Las Vegas area. With earnest and industrious effort, their goal focused on the duty of reclaiming and recruiting members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. that were unaffiliated with a graduate chapter. Therefore, after steadfast planning, strategic organization and close-knit collaboration - civic service, contacts with the Regional Director and social activities took place - to actively reclaim members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Furthermore, committee chairs were selected and equally important, members focused on the task of moving the group forward. Each member’s vision was centered on sisterhood, service, and collaboration. Taking on the identifier, The Pearls of Henderson (TPOH), over 200 inactive and general member sorors residing in the southern Nevada region were identified and invited to participate in a variety of events and activities. These events, both social and service in nature, included a Founder's Day tea; ushering for the Gospel Fest; Soror game night; family BBQ; donating luggage to children leaving the foster care system; and participating in the Nevada Child Seekers 5k dash and stroll. In early 2010, The Pearls of Henderson, met with Far Western Regional Director, Laverne Tarkington to discuss the group’s status. In meeting the requisite number of active sorors as conveyed by Soror Tarkington, The Pearls of Henderson were able to submit the official application for interest group consideration to the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Directorate via Soror Tarkington. Being granted official interest group status on March 13, 2012, The Pearls of Henderson, elected Soror Cashia Devane Kearney and immediately implemented the AKA international program initiatives entitled, “Global Leadership through Timeless Service”. These initiatives included, but where not limited to participation in the annual Las Vegas Heart Run; hosting the UNLV Diversity Leadership Forum Health series for Women's History Month; partnering with the Corner4 Success Charitable Foundation by serving as mentors to young girls between the ages of nine and fourteen participating in the G.I.R.L.S. In addition to having strong representation during the 2012-13 Far Western Regional Conferences, the Boule, and Intermountain Cluster, TPOH organized their signature event, “Ride for a Cause”, bringing motorcyclists from throughout the Las Vegas Valley to "ride" against juvenile human trafficking and to assist youth aging out of foster care. The 2013 Far Western Regional Conference was a pivotal point in time for TPOH. With nearly half of Group membership attending the conference, the commitment to become the second graduate chapter in Nevada was further strengthened and energized. Upon returning to the Valley and armed with the mantra "We Want to Be Omega", a conscious decision was made to critically evaluate the group’s progress and to determine if a sustainable infrastructure necessary to be a thriving and successful chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. existed. To complete the internal evaluation, the official Chapter Report was used as a guide and the insights of TPOH Golden and Silver Sorors were relied upon. In addition, assistance from other graduate chapter Basilei was garnered relative to the correct format to use when reporting chapter activities. Operating with the mindset of "being a chapter", this exercise actually proved to crystallize for some and refresh for others what it truly takes to operate a chapter. In completing this self-imposed task, TPOH members quickly amazed and even shocked with the documentation of activities, collaborations, and programs since being given official interest group status in March 2012. Excitement grew with each check mark entered on the Standards End of the Year Report. TPOH members were astonished by the successful efforts to implement the Global Leadership through Timeless Service Program Initiatives including, but not limited to, participation in the Heart Association Health Walk, serving as mentors for Corner4Success as part of the Sorority's Emerging Young Leaders initiative, and the coordination and implementation of our signature event "Ride for a Cause" to combat juvenile human trafficking and homelessness. TPOH remained steadfast in their three year journey to become the second graduate chapter in the State of Nevada. Completing this self-study proved the Group’s desire and commitment to reach the final Omega destination. The Pearls of Henderson looked forward to the future opportunities afforded to active chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. to add to the strand of pearls through recruitment, reclamation and initiation. TPOH subscribed to, and are dedicated to, the aspirations, ideals, and goals of the Founders and are dedicated to making a difference in southern Nevada through unparalleled service. On Saturday, December 14, 2013, The Pearls of Henderson, a group of twenty-nine women became an official graduate chapter. The Far Western Region welcomed Psi Upsilon Omega Chapter to the Far Western Region. The first chapter chartered by Far Western Regional Director Soror Barbara Denson Trotter, Psi Upsilon Omega Chapter is the second graduate chapter established in the State of Nevada in 50 years.
