D.C.’s Green (and Pink) Cash Infusion

 

 

 

When Melanie Burke Delaney arrived in Washington, D.C., for the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.’s Centennial Convention, the Baltimore dentist had several goals in mind. “First, I was excited about celebrating the sisterhood and service,” says Burke Delaney, citing the overall mission of the nation’s oldest Greek letter organization founded by African American women in 1908 on the campus of Howard University.

The second-generation member also wanted to snag the new AKA Centennial Barbie, the first ever made by toymaker Mattel Inc. to honor a sorority. A sepia version of the iconic doll, dressed in a salmon pink and apple green evening gown reflecting the sorority’s official colors, was unveiled during the week-long convention, which ends today.

“I know the dolls will sell fast,” said Burke-Delaney, who stood with hundreds in line at Walter E. Washington Convention Center to purchase the limited-edition doll. “I wanted one for myself that will be a collector’s item to put on the shelf, and another for my daughter,” she said.

Retailing for $50, it will be available initially via the Barbie Collector catalog and Website in August, and later at retailers such as Wal-Mart.

The AKA Centennial Barbie is just one example of the buying power the sisters of AKA have demonstrated since some 25,000 of them began descending on the nation’s capital as early as last weekend. The sorority has 200,000 members in 975 chapters nationwide and around the world, including the Caribbean, Europe, and Japan.

As the women handle official business in sessions highlighting the convention theme of “Economics, Service and Partnership,” there have also been a plethora of social teas and parties, along with shopping, dining, hotel stays, and more. It all adds up, as the convention attendees pump dollars into the local and national economy.

“Between registered sorors and guests attending the convention, we easily believe that the economic impact here will be $100 million at a minimum,” said the sorority’s president Barbara A. McKinzie. “We come to Washington, D.C., every 25 years because our founders were here, and each time the city benefits.”

Elliott L. Ferguson, senior vice president of convention sales and services for Destination DC, the city’s official convention and visitor’s bureau, says the sorority is not only bringing in money, but breaking attendance and other records as well. “In terms of attendees, this convention ranks as one of the largest in terms of volumes of people–both those who are registered and those who aren’t,” he said.

The women of AKA–many clad in pink and green attire and carrying pink leather convention tote bags–have been a ubiquitous presence throughout the district

since members began arriving as early as last weekend. Sorority members have been spotted everywhere, from Macy’s department store to a Subway sandwich shop near the convention site, where lines snaked out the door.

At Ida’s Idea, an African American owned women’s boutique in the area, proprietor Ida Lewis-Polite drew a steady stream of sorority members with a welcome sign, special promotions, and refreshments.

“It has definitely had a positive affect on our cash flow,” said Lewis-Polite, who’s been in business some 15 years. “We’re one of the only minority-owned businesses in the area and this convention has brought in the strongest sales we’ve had in years.”

Some of the customers said they made a special trip to Ida’s to support Karen R. Roache, a South Carolina-based jewelry designer and sorority member, who is showcasing her handcrafted collection, “Another Phase by Karen Roache” all week at the boutique.

“I flew in especially for the convention,” said Roache, whose pieces can be found in hundreds of specialty stores and museums and is worn by such celebrities as Angela Bassett. “The AKAs are some of the most dynamic, educated, African American women in the country. I was very interested in being a part of this, and marketing my jewelry directly to them.”

Meanwhile, inside the convention center’s massive exhibition hall,

about 160 vendors spread over 11 aisles, hawked everything from rhinestone AKA T-shirts and umbrellas, to watches and gold pins with the sorority’s crest. Prices ranged from $2 for pencils, to hundreds of dollars for custom-made leather purses, to full length mink furs and jackets (some in shades of pink) selling for thousands.

LaMont Burns, 65, president and founder of LaMont’s Authentic Southern Food Products Inc., was one of the few food vendors on hand. The Mississippi-based entrepreneur had a booth set up with his bottled sauces and cookbooks, plus photos and a video tracing the history of Southern cuisine. His wife Yvonne, a member of the sorority, encouraged him to attend the convention, he said.

“It’s my first time,” said Burns, a former corporate salesman who previously owned three barbeque restaurants in California before launching his company 25 years ago. “I was impressed with the whole organization and the idea of connecting with women from different parts of the country.”

While his barbeque sauces and marinades can be found in supermarket chains in the South and Midwest, Burns called the convention an opportunity to “build brand recognition” among a key demographic.

“This is grass-roots marketing,” he said. “There are thousands of women here who can see you, and you can interface and dialogue with them. My name and face are on the jar, and when they go into the store, hopefully, they will think of me and buy the product.”

Small businesses aren’t the only ones who recognize the potential buying power of the sorority members.

Besides the Barbie deal, the sorority also has a special line of pink and green AKA Converse sneakers. That deal, which McKinzie said resulted from a brand infringement lawsuit that AKA and five other black Greek letter fraternities and sororities brought against Converse, also brings in proceeds. (The company eventually settled the case and is now sponsoring a major convention event, a unity march of Black Greek Letter Organizations to the White House.)<!–[endif]–>

AKA has also collaborated with Chase Bank and African Ancestry Inc. on homeownership and DNA tracing initiatives, respectively. “I think our founders would be proud of the economic progress we are making which helps us continue our service mission,” McKinzie says.

The sorority recently asked Michelle Obama, an attorney and wife of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, to become an honorary member. The senator’s wife, who has accepted, will join the ranks of other prominent women inducted over the years, including Maya Angelou, actress Phylicia Rashad, former astronaut Mae Jemison, and civil rights icons Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King.