Leading on the front lines of change, education, and advocacy.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® seeks to build upon our rich legacy of service by galvanizing the legacy of our sisterhood to lead on the front lines of change, education, and advocacy. The Iota Zeta Omega chapter is dedicated to carrying out the sorority's mission.

Service in our community

Interested in membership or reactivating?

Membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha is by invitation only. Learn how graduate and undergraduate membership works.

The Alpha Kappa Alpha legacy

Alpha Kappa Alpha was founded on January 15, 1908, on the campus of Howard University in Minor Hall, in Washington, DC. Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, our guiding light, and eight other collegiate women establish the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African American college-trained women.

AKA member Nellie M. Quander led the effort to incorporate Alpha Kappa Alpha to maintain perpetuity on January 29, 1913. This incorporation provided AKA with the right to broaden its service concept and create subordinate chapters. By 1921, AKA had established the first 10 undergraduate chapters.

For more information, visit our national website at www.aka1908.com

A rich chapter history

A Des Moines city chapter was chartered on November 22, 1932, as the Beta Gamma Chapter. Charter members were: Lucille Baker, Anna Mae Manuel, Gwendolyn Wilson Fowler, Wilda B. Hester, Marie Johnson, Azalia Mitchell, and Ruth Marie Brown. At the time, the chapter included graduate and undergraduate members.

During the Great Depression and war years that followed, sorority members were engaged in active support of the military men and women who were located at Fort Des Moines, which housed African American soldiers. Later, during those years, the chapter sponsored a life membership in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

During the turbulent ’60s and ’70s members supported a free breakfast program provided by the local Black Panthers. In 1971, Beta Gamma made a formal request to the AKA national office to separate the graduate and undergraduate members. This move allowed undergraduates to charter the Eta Tau chapter which was associated with Drake University and now includes Iowa State University. At that time, Beta Gamma was given a new name and re-chartered as Iota Zeta Omega (IZO).

IZO continues its active engagement through community programs emphasizing education, health, supporting Black-owned businesses, and voter engagement. The annual Scholarship Cotillion Program has had more than 400 young men and women participate and receive scholarships.

Golden Members

A Golden Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® has served the sorority for 50 years. Iota Zeta Omega has two golden members.

Silver Stars

A Silver Star of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.® has served the sorority for 25 years. Iota Zeta Omega has 15 Silver Stars.

History makers

Iota Zeta Omega members have often been at the forefront of change in our community. Here are a few of our members who have made an indelible mark on Des Moines.

Community awardees

Recently several Iota Zeta Omega members have been honored with community recognition. Here are a few:

AKA Foster the Future: From Here to Hope

AKA Foster the Future: From Here to Hope is a compassionate call to action designed to uplift vulnerable children and families by addressing immediate needs while creating long-term opportunities for stability, success, and belonging.

Ivy League AKAdemy and Scholarship Cotillion

The Iowa Ivy Foundation, in partnership with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Iota Zeta Omega Chapter, presents the Ivy AKAdemy & Scholarship Cotillion, a program for young men and women in grades 9–12. Students can join the Ivy AKAdemy as early as 9th grade. Each year, participants complete a semester of workshops on civic engagement, leadership, social media awareness, etiquette, entrepreneurship, the arts and wellness. The program builds toward senior year, when participants are presented as debutantes and Beaux at the Scholarship Cotillion.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Expungement Clinic

Beginning in 2023, Iota Zeta Omega has hosted an annual Expungement Clinic in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. Since its inception, the chapter has partnered with Iowa Legal Aid to help more Iowans expunge their records, receive court debt relief, and obtain valid driver's licenses. The clinic also provides voter registration information and mental health resources to clinic registrants.