Chartered January 9, 1988

The vision for a chapter in East Palo Alto began blossoming amongst Sorors who wanted to be more active in their service but found that the rapid growth and wide expanse of the San Jose and Peninsula area made it difficult for them to make it to other local chapter meetings and events. In the spring of 1987, what was once an idea took root as a serious endeavor when Soror Omonike Weusi-Puryear invited 18 Sorors to an exploratory organizational meeting. From a small group of 18, the number of interested and dedicated Sorors grew quickly to nearly 40. Finally, on January 9th, 1988, Rho Delta Omega Chapter became an official graduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated under the 17th Far Western Regional Director, Mrs. Archalene Amos-Martin. The values of cultural affinity, community building, and providing much needed services for African Americans in Silicon Valley was of paramount importance to the charter members and RDO carries on that legacy by continuing to prioritize the uplift of those who need it most. 

At the chapter’s founding, the compounding issues of educational disparities, economic hardship, and gentrification were becoming more apparent in East Palo Alto, much as they were across the country. Over the past three decades, the chapter, affectionately known as “RDO,” has continued to strengthen sisterly ties while providing supreme service to East Palo Alto and other cities throughout San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. As a result, our local community has come to enthusiastically anticipate our many signature programs. Our annual Wine, Music, and Croquet Fundraiser continued to be a rousing success through its 13th year – raising over $29,000 in one day for college scholarships and other service projects. Most notably, in 2024, RDO’s annual Black College Awareness Fair will celebrate its 34th year of providing access and information about the importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities to over 300 middle and high school aged youth and their parents. Likewise, the chapter has supported initiatives of increasing financial literacy by hosting workshops for local teens and their families, is an active sponsor of the Silicon Valley African Film Festival, and proudly adopted a 20-year vanguard nonprofit organization, Project WeHOPE, that is dedicated to eradicating homelessness and restoring dignity to unhoused persons in East Palo Alto, California. Exceling in leadership as well as in service, the chapter is also exorbitantly proud to be the home of the 25th Far Western Regional Director, Soror Carol R. Dixon. 

 An award-winning chapter, the work of Rho Delta Omega has been celebrated within the sorority, as well as by those we serve. In 2019, RDO was celebrated as the inaugural “Community Partner of the Year” by the Northern California HBCU Associations Coalition, as well as the 2019 “HBCU for Life: A Call to Action” Far-Western Regional Conference award winner. Both awards acknowledge that Rho Delta Omega continually works to increase access to higher education and emphasize the need for more equitable resources by providing assistance with the college application, housing, and financial aid processes, identifying current students and alumni of HBCUs as mentors, and familiarizing students with academic and career advising. Over 36 years have come and gone with the members of Rho Delta Omega chapter continuing to push the bar high for themselves and those who are to come. There has yet to be a challenge or need that has not been met in the name of sisterhood and service. As the saying goes, “the best is yet to come.” 

Alpha Kappa Alpha History

Click here to visit the Alpha Kappa Alpha international website and learn about our sorority’s history.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Mission

Click here to visit the Alpha Kappa Alpha international website and learn about our sorority’s mission.