Q&A: Chi Chi Omega celebrates 20 years of service, raised $24K in scholarships

Chi Chi Omega, a graduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. celebrated 20 years of service in Indianapolis by raising $24,000 in scholarships.

Members of the sorority celebrated their 20th anniversary during “An Evening on the Canal” on May 17 at the Eiteljorg Museum. The Recorder sat down with Chi Chi Omega Chapter President Rochelle Leavell ahead of the event to discuss the chapter’s service in the community over the last two decades, as well as their hopes for the future.

Responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.

When was the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. founded, and how does that compare to when the Chi Chi Omega chapter was founded?

Rochelle Leavell: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated was founded on Jan. 15, 1908. Our chapter, Chi Chi Omega, was chartered May 21, 2005. So, quite a big difference — almost 100 years difference. I think the transition to 2005, we had a lot more of a voice … versus back in 1908 where we really had to stick together, and that group of women had to really work really hard to make sure that strides were being made for the advancement of not only Black women, but for Black people.

What does it mean to you and the organization to be celebrating 20 years?

Leavell: This is a really powerful milestone. … We’ve been able to accomplish a lot in the 20 years that we’ve been here in Indianapolis, from mentoring hundreds of young girls here in the community in grades six, seven and eight, to being able to feed the community through our food boxes and through our Books and Breakfast program in partnership with our Emerging Pearls Foundation. We’ve been able to really just kind of hone in and recommit ourselves to the purpose, which is at the core of the sorority, which is to be of service to all mankind.

Can you discuss the Chi Chi Omega chapter’s mission and how you’ve worked toward this in the last two decades?

Leavell: The way Alpha Kappa Alpha works is through our international targets, which are laid out by our international president, and so we implement those programs that are set forth by our international president. Between 2022-2026, we have five key initiatives that we’ve been working through.

Specifically, Chi Chi Omega’s mission is really just to be a powerful movement in the city, to be able to really encourage and uplift women. Our signature program, which is our Pearls Club, is one where we mentor young girls in sixth, seventh, eighth grade … our signature program that we have in our chapter. I think our impact on young girls in the community has really been most important to us, because we oftentimes see ourselves in those young ladies, and we’re able to help provide not only mentorship, but further guidance and healthy relationship building.

What is the significance behind the work that you’re doing here in this city?

Leavell: Every little bit counts, right? There’s obviously organizations that are much larger than ours, ones that have a lot more money to be able to support in bigger ways.

I think we fill a gap within the community in reaching out in ways that are unique to Indianapolis — specifically with our books and breakfast with Santa event that we have where we actually go into the community and provide breakfast, books, toys to communities in need. I think we are always trying to help the underdog. I think we’re always trying to help uplift people in our community, and so I think the work that we do is significant.

The celebration also awards scholarships. Why is that an essential part of Chi Chi Omega’s stewardship?

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Leavell: A big part is based off of our guiding principles around cultivating high scholastic achievement amongst young women. It was focused on young women back then, right, because this is a women-led organization, but I think it’s just reaching back and being able to pull up the next generation.

Scholarships is the way to help with that. … I think scholarships are a way to help encourage and incentivize students to keep persevering forward and to be able to still go after their dreams.

What makes someone eligible to win an award from the Chi Chi Omega chapter?

Leavell: Emerging Pearls Foundation is our philanthropic arm where the fundraising happens, and they have already scholarships that are in place that they give out yearly. This 20-year celebration, we thought to do something most impactful and most beneficial to the community, and with the current climate of the funding of education … we thought it was important to help fill in the gap, even in a small gap of $1,000 to students.

The eligibility came from students that attended our HBCU tours, who are graduating seniors. And then also I mentioned our Pearls program of girls sixth, seventh, eighth grade who are graduating seniors this year.

How many scholarships and awards will you be announcing during Evening on Canal? 

Leavell: The goal was $20,000 which is 20 students, but we actually were able to raise $24,000, so we’ll be able to give away 24 scholarships. …You think about books for the semester. You think about food, your dorm room, bus passes, all those different things that are helpful, right, that you maybe don’t account for in planning for higher education.

What does the chapter hope to accomplish within the next 20 years?

Leavell: I think we just want to keep doing more, keep getting better, really elevate what we’re doing in the community. I think this 20-year has opened our eyes to so much that we’ve accomplished, but so much more we want to do right and on a bigger scale. … I think also with the ever-evolving needs of our communities, being able to pivot quickly when that need is there. 

Our vision is really just to continue our legacy and be innovative in the way that we do that and continue to uplift the community, the families, the kids, the students, all of the above.

For more information, visit chichiomega.org.