City to sponsor Alpha Kappa Alpha Southeastern regional conference; regional director projects more than 6,000 attendees

The Birmingham City Council on March 24 approved a resolution authorizing an event sponsorship agreement with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Southeastern Region, to host the sorority's 94th Southeastern Regional Conference at the Birmingham‑Jefferson Convention Complex from April 29 to May 2, 2026.

Clerk read the resolution summary and said the city will contribute up to $30,000 in financial incentives to support hosting the conference. Council president invited the regional director to address the council.

Dr. Tracy Moran Adams, recorded in the minutes as the Southeastern Region's regional director, told councilors the conference will bring more than 6,000 members from Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee for the annual business meeting and said the event will include service initiatives and economic benefits for the city: "We are excited, that, the Southeastern region of Alpha Kappa Alpha will be hosting over 6,000 of our members," Dr. Adams said.

The council voted to approve the sponsorship. The clerk's record shows two abstentions were entered during the roll call on this item with the remarks "I must abstain, and I'm abstaining as well," but the minutes do not identify by name which councilors abstained in the text that is in the record.

The city and the sorority plan to proceed with event logistics and promotion; the council voiced enthusiasm and asked staff to provide any additional information needed to support attendance and hospitality.

Next steps: administration will finalize the sponsorship agreement and coordinate city services for the conference dates.