Phi Sigma Omega Chapter, a chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated located in the South Central Region, was chartered in Gonzales, Louisiana on June 25, 2000 after eighteen months of community service, planning meetings, conferences, and sisterly relations activities led by Soror Janice Montague-Myles. Seventeen sorors joined their pink and green vines together to become charter members. The charter members, who were formerly known as Sisters (Sorors in Service To Establish Real Sisterhood) in 2000, are: Vita Archie, Andrea Baham, Toni Booker, Hopelanda Clark-Montgomery, Paula Dennis, Vanessa Ferchaud, Adina Moore, Sarah Holliday, Talawanga Johnson, Robin Lavergne, Trina Lyons, Janice Montague-Myles, Sharon Steib, Alison Stevens-Tucker, Shalonda Walker, Vallarie Woods, and Dwuena Wyre.

 

The following sorors have served as presidents of Phi Sigma Omega Chapter: Sarah Holliday, Toni Booker, Janice Montague-Myles, Vallarie Woods, Chandra Darville, Donna L. Newsome Shalonda Walker and presently, Sharon R. Steib.

 

Phi Sigma Omega has been “Proudly Serving Others” in the River Parishes for over twenty-four (24) years. In June 2025, the chapter will be celebrating its Silver Anniversary with a gala which will also include honoring some of the chapter’s community partners over the past 25 years.

From its inception, the chapter has successfully implemented and completed all previous program initiatives including: providing college scholarships to local students, hosting youth enrichment and academic programs, providing holiday meal baskets, conducting voter registration drives, sponsoring an annual community luncheon, supporting emergency and disaster relief efforts, volunteering with the American Heart Association and Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, supporting Toys for Tots, donating pillowcase shirts and shoes, delivering slipper socks to nursing home residents, collecting eyeglasses and participating in community health fairs. Special Phi Sigma Omega highlights included the Debutante Cotillion from 2006-2010, the Young Author’s Book Program that produced two published books, participation in Southern University’s Homecoming Parade, Dresses for Africa that included a fashion show, the annual award-winning Princess Dress Project, and hosting an annual Mother’s Day Luncheon. 

Additionally, the chapter hosts HBCU cultural and educational workshops, chapter retreats, chapter anniversary socials, and provides donations to local children in the form of school supplies, uniforms, and shoes. Phi Sigma Omega annually awards $2250.00 in college scholarships to a female student attending an HBCU. In 2025, Phi Sigma Omega will be awarding an additional scholarship to a student attending Southern University thanks to the generous donation from the family of one of our dearly departed sorors.
 

Phi Sigma Omega has served as one of the sponsors of the HBCU Expo held in Lutcher, LA each year. The chapter’s signature event “The Pink Party” is held to honor breast cancer survivors. PSO also hosts a wellness booth at local college health fairs and an annual event to support the Alzheimer's Association Longest Day. The chapter partnered with Regions Bank to host a “Managing Your Money” financial workshop. Retirement and budgeting workshops are also hosted for the public.
 

 

Phi Sigma Omega Chapter is now Soaring to Greater Heights in Service and Sisterhood with a programmatic focus on youth leadership, empowering women, building our economic wealth through the support of black-owned businesses, and partnering with local non-profits and for-profits for impactful programs that focus on health and well-being, curbing hunger and homelessness in our communities, and educational opportunities for all ages.  Some of the chapter’s current and most recent programs include:  Youth Leadership Institute designed to empower and engage youth ages 11 through 13;  Empowering Our Families through the Student Wellbeing Night, Escape the Vape Campaign, Mental Health Matters event, Sister to Sister chat led by a certified mental health professional, Heart Healthy Month chapter members salad competition, Workout Wednesdays and Thirsty Thursdays which encourages sorors to drink more water and track water intake; Build Our Economic Wealth through its Shop and Lunch (PSO Ca$h Mob) event which supported black female and other black owned businesses, regularly scheduled financial wellness workshops and events and Sister Circles which encourages chapter members to set and achieve personal savings, investing, and giving goals; Enhance Our Environment by planting several trees in the chapter service areas, creating community and home gardens, and participating in community sponsored shredding and electronics recycling events; Uplift Our Local Community  through volunteering with American Heart Association and its annual heart walk, participation in Breast and Prostate Cancer Walk and Health Fair, collaborating with other D-9 organizations on community resource fairs, Standing with the Pink Warriors (victims and survivors of breast cancer) program and participating in ARC of East Ascension annual trunk or treat event which supports citizens with development disabilities; Advocate for Social Justice through voter registration drives, voter education events, volunteering with phone banks and collaboration with a state representative and other D9 organizations to conduct an Expungement event.

Phi Sigma Omega Chapter in partnership with La Fondation Rose et Verte de Louisiane presently sponsors an annual benefit Golf tournament "Pinkies on the Green" to raise critical funds to meet needs, maintain and grow its current programs with a focus on service to all mankind.

Over the past 24 years, Phi Sigma Omega has also been the recipient of many awards including Outstanding Chapter Program, Outstanding Chapter Exhibit, Outstanding Chapter Scrapbook, Honorable Mention- Exemplary Ivy Reading AKAdemy, Standards Award for Excellence, 2009 South Central Region Chapter of the Year-Small Chapter Award and the AKA-EAF Community Assistance Award for its Princess Dress Project. Phi Sigma Omega has also received the STAR Award and Strategic Planning Award.  More recently, Phi Sigma Omega has received awards for Excellence in Standards Award and has become a Gold Sponsor for the Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation.

 

 It has been a sensational twenty-four years of service and sisterhood!