Black fraternities and sororities are much more than social organizations whose primary purpose is generating opportunities for on-campus parties. They have been a vital force in numerous communities for decades, and a prime example of that is evident in the new short documentary "To Capture a Vision Fair: Kappa Lambda Omega's Golden Legacy of Sisterhood and Service."
The 45-minute doc offers a comprehensive portrait of Nashville's local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The actual charter day is Jan. 25, but the documentary will debut at a Pink Carpet event this Thursday, Jan. 23, at the Belcourt Theatre.
"This documentary is the first film of any kind that really shows the history and impact of our chapter," says K. Dawn Rutledge, current chapter historian. "We knew as an organization that 2025 was going to be our 50th anniversary, and we wanted to have this documentary as a record of the things that the chapter has done both locally and across the region. It was also an opportunity to work with a Black-owned film company, and really provide for the audience a comprehensive look at both the things that we've done and what we're currently doing."
"To Capture a Vision" includes interviews with several past chapter presidents. It's a window into the chapter's various activities, and shows some of their earliest initiatives, milestones they've achieved and their philanthropic and educational pursuits, as well as the groups with whom they collaborate in doing them. Says Rutledge, "We've been involved in doing things to help the homeless, the Special Olympics, we have major fundraisers for scholarship programs, and we're also involved with local businesses like Goodwill, sponsoring events to encourage people to donate items."
It's also a showcase for the 353 Media Group, an award-winning digital media company with offices both in Nashville and Los Angeles. "It was very exciting for us to partner with them," Rutledge adds. "They're a definite full-service media organization, and they've provided us with the type of presentation that really shows the audience the things that makes the chapter so special, and the entire spectrum of Black sororities and the many great things they do in the community."
Some tickets still remain for the Pink Carpet showing of "To Capture a Vision Fair: Kappa Lambda Omega's Golden Legacy of Sisterhood and Service," which takes place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Belcourt. Tickets are $20 and are available either at the box office or at belcourt.org.
