Visionary Organizer, Carol Moore Cutting
Xi Xi Omega Chapter History
The Xi Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is located in Springfield or “The City of Firsts” in Western Massachusetts, North Atlantic Region.
After Alpha Kappa Alpha member Carol Moore Cutting graduated from Tuskegee University in 1969, her and her husband Dr. G. Bruce Cutting moved to Springfield, Massachusetts. Once she arrived, she became aware that there was no graduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha in the Western Massachusetts area.
A network of Alpha Kappa Alpha women in Western Massachusetts was identified largely by word of mouth and many efforts were made to meet with as many Alpha Kappa Alpha members as possible over the years. A luncheon was hosted by Alpha Kappa Alpha member Evangeline Darity in the spring of 1981. Carol Moore Cutting and Francis Kerr assisted with the Pink and Green themed luncheon.
Taking more formal steps to organization, Carol Moore Cutting and Edna Gardner designed and distributed a survey in the area to determine if there was enough interest in the area to have a graduate chapter.
After the survey was conducted, a meeting was held at Carol Moore Cutting’s home on December 13th, 1981. At this meeting it was decided to form an interest group called “The Greater Springfield Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Alumnae Interest Group.” Carol Moore Cutting was the president of the interest group.
The history of this chapter began with the eighteen women from Springfield and neighboring cities who formed The Greater Springfield Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Alumnae Interest Group: Agnes Arnold, Phyllis V. Blount, Brenda Buchanon, Carol Moore Cutting (President), Evangeline Darity, Vivian S. Fudge, Edna Gardner, Alberta Gary, Rebecca M. Johnson, Frances Kerr, Edna Mapp, Blanche Martin, Vera Joseph Peterson, Dorothy Jordan Pryor, Muriel Wiggins, Adrienne Williams, and Suewilla Woodfork.
The Chapter was chartered on July 14, 1982, a few days before the Golden Boule in Boston, Massachusetts. Xi Xi Omega entered the sisterhood of Alpha Kappa Alpha during the “Facets of Dynamic Power” era with International President Faye B. Bryant, and immediately began to implement dynamic programs, establish community relationships, and guide and oversee a newly formed area-wide undergraduate chapter. Edna Gardner was the first president of Xi Xi Omega Chapter.
Committed to upholding the goals and ideals of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Incorporated, the members of Xi Xi Omega took leading roles as they volunteered in a broad range of projects, such as area reading and Partnership in Math and Science programs and food pantry initiatives with family service centers. From the very beginning, scholarship was a priority. Engaging directly with area students, members of the chapter hosted “Pink Tea” for high school students and their advisors from Amherst Regional High School (Amherst, MA) and Northfield Mt. Hermon (Northfield, MA).
On June 2nd, 1984, the newly chartered Xi Xi Omega Chapter had its grand introduction to the greater Springfield community with a formal gala called “An Evening of Elegance Benefit Dinner Dance.” This event was held at Chez Josef in Agawam, Massachusetts as a fundraiser for area college-bound high school graduates. That event evolved into one of the chapter’s signature programs, the Hats Off luncheon, during which a community advocate is acknowledged for outstanding work, service, and effort to effect change, and area high school students are recognized for their academic success and presented a scholarship or book award to support them in their first year of college. Physicians, entrepreneurs, artists, and non-profit executives have been recognized at the Hats Off luncheons.
After Xi Xi Omega’s chartering and introduction to the community, the members actively identified and recruited women in the community who were making vital contributions and performing services that would benefit the greater Springfield community. The first five candidates initiated after the chartering were Janice Denton, Ruth Bass Green, Judith Kerr, Wendy Winters, and Dorothy Yancy. They were initiated into Xi Xi Omega Chapter on November 11th, 1984. By the end of the 1980’s, Xi Xi Omega had become a positive force in Springfield and by 1988, twenty-two new members had been initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated through the chapter. Alberta C. Gary was Xi Xi Omega’s first Ivy Beyond the Wall.
Over the years, members of Xi Xi Omega have served the greater Springfield community through other signature programs, such as Pink Ice Breast Cancer Awareness Soiree and Lunch with Santa. The Xi Xi Omega Chapter has also been closely connected to undergraduate members for most of its existence. The chapter oversees Xi Nu, the undergraduate city-wide chapter for Greater Springfield (chartered in 1983), and Rho Kappa, the undergraduate chapter at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (chartered in 1995).