Alpha Epsilon Zeta History

Southwestern Regional Director Soror E. Juanita Tate of Tulsa, Oklahoma introduced the new graduate chapter, Alpha Epsilon Zeta to the Greater Kansas City community on February 4, 1939 following a weekend celebration for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Soror Lee Ella Blake (Gaskin), a mathematics teacher at the historic Northeast Junior High School in Kansas City, Kansas became the chapter’s first elected President. In attendance at the introduction to the Kansas City community were several members from other Greek organizations.

New members of the chapter included: Lee Ella Blake Gaskin (Basileus), Cleta Bryan Saunders (1st Anti-Basileus), Carrie Long Johnson (Grammateus), Gertrude Booker (Tamias), Rowena J. Ewell (Phylacter), Birdie Lee Caldwell (Jerveler), Daisy McDavid (Chaplin), Clara Baker(Custodian), Lucy Belle Booker, Leota Alma Bryan, Lucy Branham Davis, Theola Brockman, Mayme Doanes Dodd, Alma Gilkes, Cozetta Payne, Madge Scott Yeargan.

Since the chartering in 1939 of the Alpha Epsilon Zeta Chapter, the region was re-aligned as the Midwestern Region of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Our own Lee Ella Blake Gaskin served as the first Regional Director, appointed from the chapter. Over the decades, the Alpha Epsilon Zeta Chapter has made itself a key component of the service and social community of the Greater Kansas City area. The organization has embraced and excelled in the programmatic thrusts of various national platforms.

The Zeta Amicae have been a part of the Zeta organizational family since the 1960’s, and youth auxiliaries have followed the program expansion of the organizations’ commitment to our youth. The Missouri graduate chapter of Eta Zeta Zeta actually began in Kansas City, KS. When the sorority decided that each state would have a graduate chapter, the women living in Missouri began a chapter in Kansas City, MO, once a part of our own Alpha Epsilon Zeta.

In the 1970’s, the chapter began a partnership with the National Foundation of the March of Dimes. Our own Eva Letcher and Ersaline I. Porchia were members of the Kansas City, Kansas Executive Board for many years. Out of this partnership evolved the Stork’s Nest Project which the chapter has operated in various forms over the last 35 years.

Under the leadership of Ersaline Porchia, Eva Letcher and Evelyn Townsend the chapter chartered groups on the campuses of Kansas University, Kansas State University and Pittsburg State University. Soror Porchia later became our chapter’s second Regional Director and later became the National Director of Music for many years. Our chapter has the distinction, thanks to Soror Porchia for composing Zeta’s National Sorority Love Song to be sang at traditional Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. weddings.

The chapter has received numerous awards and recognitions from the local community level to the international level. Alpha Epsilon Zeta has hosted some of the most well attended regional conferences with members represented on the state, regional and international levels. Several members have served as Midwestern Regional officers, including Sorors Frenchette Anderson, Eva Letcher, Helen Beteet, Josephine Terry and Carmen Hopkins.

A Social/Community trademark of the chapter began in June 1994, The Christian Women of the Year Luncheon held biennially to celebrate community women working on behalf of their churches for the betterment of the community. It was initiated by Soror Ernestine Neal-Ricks. The program serves as a fundraiser for the scholarship program of the chapter.

Another chapter tradition, running for 18 years was the Zeta Shopping Spree to Osage Beach. In past years, the organization combined the March of Dimes and Zeta Z-Hope Prematurity Awareness component to the trip. The chapter also sponsors on an alternating basis the Youth Auxiliary Highlight Event. This program has taken the form of the Zeta Blue Revue and the Zeta Blue and White Pageant in recent years. This program continues to provide scholarships to young ladies toward their college pursuits.

The chapter has led the Greater Kansas City Pan-Hellenic Council under the leadership of Christine Neely and Josie Terry. Members can be found in many community organizations from Phi Delta Kappa to the NAACP. The chapter has provided countless hours of community service to support the March of Dimes, Diabetes Walk America, Harvesters, and other community projects of need. In recent years, through our youth auxiliaries and Amicae, Alpha Epsilon Zeta has developed a presence with the Ronald McDonald’s House, Project Uplift, the City Union Mission and KC Hospice House and assisted living facilities in Johnson, Leavenworth and Wyandotte Counties. The Chapter and Amicae groups have received national awards for Z-HOPE (Zetas Helping Other People Excel) programming.

In 2014, the Alpha Epsilon Zeta Chapter the chapter celebrated its Diamond Jubilee, 75 years in the Greater Kansas City Community. Sorors came from the Midwestern Region to pay homage to the oldest continuous graduate chapter in the Midwestern United States.

In 2019, the chapter’s 80th Anniversary was celebrated with a formal dinner, program, and entertainment on the campus of Kansas University’s Edwards campus. Over 100 members of the Blue and White family and friends came together to recognize the community service achievements made by the chapter over the years. Special guest were five of the charter member of Omega Theta Chapter which recently celebrated 40 years. This chapter was chartered through the efforts of Alpha Epsilon Zeta Chapter on February 25, 1979.

The chapter’s charter was officially updated to reflect the service areas of Johnson County, Leavenworth County, Linn County, and Wyandotte County (KCK) in the state of Kansas on January 21, 2021 under International President Valerie Hollingsworth-Baker.

In 2022, the chapter was recognized for promotion of Prematurity Awareness internationally and received Midwestern Region recognition for top funds raised for the March of Dimes in the State of Kansas. Member Myrna Anderson, RN, BSN, MBA has lead projects including March of Dimes Walks, Prematurity Awareness Sundays and educational programs.

On February 4, 2024 Alpha Epsilon Zeta Chapter celebrated 85 years in the Greater Kansas City, Kansas community.

As we embark upon the future, the women of Alpha Epsilon Zeta salute the trailblazers in our past, so long ago in 1939. Onward, we say:

“We share so much laughter, we share so many tears,

We have a spiritual kinship that grows stronger each year.

We are not family by birth, but we knew from the start,

God put us together to be family by heart.”