Harris’ Seattle area sorority sisters watching with pride

Alpha Kappa Alpha Incorporated is the nation’s oldest Black sorority. It was founded 113 years ago this month at Howard University in Washington, DC.

Kamala Harris joined in 1986.

Sorority sister Rep. April Berg is a politician herself, newly elected to the Washington Legislature in November.

“Every part of her experience and story, I think, resonates with me in some way because it shows that anything is possible,” said Berg, who represents Mill Creek.

The sorority has 105 members in the Seattle area. They’ve followed Harris’ rise with pride and hope. Chapter president Jai-Anana Elliott said Wednesday’s swearing-in will be an emotional moment.

“Incredibly proud, they’ll probably be tears, lots of excitement and some cheering, but yes, incredibly proud,” Elliott said.

They know their sorority sister Harris will take Alpha Kappa Alpha’s tradition of leadership and service to the White House.

“Kamala Harris is going to do amazing things and be grounded in doing amazing things. And I think we’ll all be able to see a little bit of ourselves in that,”

They see Harris as a role model for all ages.

“When she was elected, it made me feel like a little girl, you know, you feel like anything’s possible. Any little girl, little girls like me, can become anything they want to be. And I just, it doesn’t matter how old you are. You never stop smiling at that feeling.”

A feeling that a part of them will now be in the White House too.

“The qualities of just high ethical standards, a sense of grounded in your community and community service leadership, those are all of the things that we hold dear to us,” said Elliott.

Cox Media Group