Chapter History

The epic odyssey to becoming an official chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® began in 2014, after a chance conversation and subsequent visit to Turner Station, a historic African American community located in Dundalk, MD. Turner Station was the home of Henrietta Lacks, an African American woman whose cancer cells were harvested by Johns Hopkins Hospital and, without her consent, became the source of the HeLa cell line, the first immortalized cell line and one of the most important cell lines in biomedical research.  A spark of interest was lit in AKA Member Cylia E. Lowe-Smith to expand the organization’s footprint of service into an often-forgotten area that had no ongoing or consistent presence from any service organizations.

That spark quickly grew to a flame, and together, with 20 other exceptional women, a group interested in establishing a new chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® was formed. Using the motto “Membership is PEARLfection,” the group quickly decided to operate differently than they had ever experienced in other chapters.

This method of operating led to the creation of what would become the Three Pillars of Pearls by the Bay:

1. Direct Community Service,
2. Leadership Development, and
3. A Culture of Sisterhood.

Five years of hard work, continued service, and planning paid off and in December 2019, Pearls by the Bay received the vote from the Executive Body of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® to become an official interest group. The group of 26 swiftly went to work to reactivate and reclaim as many pearls as they could, and quickly grew to 45 members with diverse backgrounds and a vast array of expertise and experience; but all with a common goal and desire to serve the people of Turner Station and the surrounding communities of Eastern Baltimore County, MD.

That desire to serve led to the development of several community partnerships in Turner Station including: the Eastside Family Shelter, the Fleming Senior Center, Turner Station Girl Scouts Troop #353, Turner Station Boy Scouts Troop #270, and Turner Station Conservation Teams, Inc. Word of the work Pearls by the Bay was doing in Eastern Baltimore County quickly spread, leading to the enthusiastic support of local and statewide officials and other stakeholders such as: Baltimore County Executive John “Johnny” Olszewski, Jr., a product of Eastern Baltimore county; the Lieutenant Governor of the state of Maryland, Boyd Rutherford; Senator Chris Van Hollen; Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, who is currently serving his ninth term in the United States House of Representatives; Adrienne A. Jones, Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates; Julian E. Jones, Jr., Councilman Fourth District; Cathy Bevins, Councilwoman Sixth District; local chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®; Community Assistance Network, Inc.; The Links Incorporated; Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated; and Andrew J. Evans Masonic Lodge #102.

The support of these community partners and stakeholders was especially helpful as the group faced the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic that began in March of 2020. The members of Pearls by the Bay met those difficulties head on, and seamlessly transitioned into service using various methods of online communication including Zoom and social media platforms, in addition to performing safe, socially distanced service in-person when allowed.

Despite the restrictions of COVID-19, Pearls by the Bay continued to excel in service, raising over $20,000 to establish scholarships and support group programs, and over $1900 to support the AKA Education Advancement Fund; collecting over 100 coats and other cold weather necessities for the homeless; sewing 23 dresses for little girls in Haiti; writing over 200 letters and cards of appreciation for U.S. Troops currently serving overseas; donating shoes to Soles 4 Souls; donating eyeglasses to the Lions Club; and conducting countless virtual programs with topics ranging from estate planning and money management to discussions about the politics of Black women wearing natural hair in the workplace.

On November 8, 2021, Pearls by the Bay received the news that the final leg of their journey would soon be coming to an end. The Alpha Kappa Alpha Executive Body had approved their application for chartering!

On December 5, 2021, under the leadership of North Atlantic Regional Director, Mary Bentley LaMar, Pearls by the Bay successfully dropped anchor in Turner Station, MD and Alpha Beta Gamma Omega Chapter was chartered, becoming the 150th chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® in the region.