By Rebecca Farmer
In the heart of Happy Valley, something beautiful is taking root. Amidst the hills, college town bustle, and Penn State pride, a new sisterhood of service has quietly emerged, and it’s changing lives in the most joyful, grounded way.
The Centre County Pearls of PA (CCP) is a newly launched service group formed by local members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, the nation’s first historically Black sorority. These women aren’t strangers to State College and the surrounding region. They are teachers, doctors, engineers, attorneys, mothers, daughters, and community leaders who live here, work here, raise their families here. And they decided Centre County deserved a steady, compassionate presence dedicated to uplifting neighbors across cultures and backgrounds.
The Pearls have stepped into that space with purpose and positivity.
Service with Heart
You may have seen them recently, raking leaves and planting flowers at the Unity Church of Jesus Christ. Or hosting a community-wide food and hygiene drive on Allen Street for the State College Food Bank. Or perhaps you joined their Community Unity Walk from the Nittany Lion Shrine to the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, an event that brought people of all backgrounds together to celebrate belonging and wellness.
It’s not just what the Pearls do that makes them stand out. It’s how they do it.
There is a consistent thread of joy that runs through every initiative. Smiles are abundant. Hugs are given freely. And there is a deep sense that this group is just getting started.
From Howard to Happy Valley
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® was founded in 1908 at Howard University and today boasts over 355,000 initiated members and 1,000+ chapters worldwide. The establishment of the Centre County Pearls marks a historic expansion of the sorority’s reach into Central Pennsylvania, bringing a legacy of sisterhood, scholarship, and service into one of the most vibrant communities in the state.
That legacy came to life recently when CCP partnered with Altoona Middle School to provide hygiene supplies, a collaboration grounded in care and dignity that gave students everyday essentials like soap, deodorant, and dental care products.
Looking Ahead
Next spring, the Pearls plan to host historical walking tours in Bellefonte, State College, and Altoona, inviting neighbors to reflect on the local stories that shape who we are.
“Centre County is a place full of heart,” I often say, and it’s the heart of this community that continues to inspire the Pearls’ work. We are here to honor that heart, to serve with joy, and to help strengthen the bonds that hold us all together, especially in these uncertain times.
To learn more or get involved, follow @centrecountypearls on social media or reach out to rebeccaforce5@gmail.com.
