Featured – The Destination for AKA News

Alisha Nesbitt is the proud owner of the Black, family-owned ocean front Bed and Breakfast, My Beach Retreat by Nick. The eclectic jungalow retreat is located in the Fort Morgan area of Gulf Shores, Alabama and is exactly 23 minutes from the Hangout, a premier area for family fun and entertainment, and it’s also right next door Kiva Dunes Golf Course. With two colorfully themed bedrooms and pretty in pink decor, the space is perfect for small birthdays, couples getaways, bachelorettes and small families.

The four bedroom, oceanfront condo is sprawling with amenities and features a zen garden on the balcony with unobstructed views of the gulf, indoor/outdoor pools, a sauna, fitness center, stunning pink flamingo wallpaper, and a neon selfie wall that makes for the perfect photo backdrop. It even has a restaurant and an outdoor bar on-site. This two bedroom gram-worthy gem is tucked away on the quiet end of the beach. Check out the property on Instagram @mybeach.retreat

This BNB is more than a stunning vacation destination, it is a legacy for Alicia’s family. Prior to acquiring the property, her son, Nicholas, came to her and expressed an interest in real estate, property management and entrepreneurship. From there, Alicia decided this was the perfect opportunity to introduce him to the industry and set him up with an avenue to build generational wealth. The property is named after Alisha’s son, Nicholas, and it is an ode to his love of the water and their shared love of the beach.

While designing the property, the Nesbitt family was inspired by their international travels and decor from around the world, and Alisha certainly had the illustrious sisterhood of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in her heart as the property is decked out in pink and green!

There’s no shortage of things to enjoy at At My Beach Retreat by Nick. Guests can soak in the two, large walk-in showers comprised of Moroccan and Spanish tiles. sip your morning coffee while looking out at the Gulf of Mexico, partake in card games, lounge and work remotely, relax in one of the 3 hot tubs, or take a dip in 1 of the 4 pools. Guests are also free to partake in their fully stocked bar cart and can watch their favorite shows on Hulu and Netflix on any of the three smart TVs.

That’s not all! The newly renovated kitchen is a home cook’s dream. However, if cooking on vacay isn’t your thing, then the Sassy Bass Grill Amazin’ Grill restaurant can serve up breakfast, lunch and dinner. Additionally, guests can dine in on the ground floor of the building, or call their order in for pick up to enjoy inside the beach house.

The beach retreat is a safe space for people of all ages and backgrounds to come and enjoy. Visit the website here to see the properties availability, for bookings, and all other inquiries.

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This year, Ivy Storehouse wanted to give back to our youth and our extraordinary cohort of AKA Educators who all faced challenging times during last year’s unprecedented school year due to the impact of COVID-19. It was then that we started dreaming up what is now the #ProjectBackpack initiative. It all began with a vision to design and deliver custom backpacks equipped with all of the necessities students need for a successful school year. We spent months designing pink and green backpacks for both boys and girls and all in demand school supplies. We then used the power of our supply chain and volumes to manufacture the stocked backpacks at a significant discount in addition to bolstering the number of backpacks purchased by Sorority members.

From the color selection of the crayons, to the inspiring quotes on the journals, and the note to students from Sorority members that were placed in the backpacks, we left no stone unturned during the creative process and gave the students our absolute best. After completing the design process, it was time to get you all involved! The second phase of Project Backpack launched during this year’s Christmas in July Sale. During check-out, Ivy Box subscribers had the option to add-on a backpack for $20 to their cart. Since Alpha women are all about community, it was no surprise that many of you decided to purchase a backpack and change a life.

Next, it was time to engage our educators, so we put out a call to action to all of our AKA educators via e-mail and asked them to apply for a chance to become Project Backpack recipients. The response was simply overwhelming! Though Sorority members purchased thousands of backpacks and we bolstered the purchase, the need was so great that all backpacks were distributed within minutes of launching the application process – preference was given to low income Title 1 schools.

In their applications, our wonderful educators wrote about the love they have for their students and the many challenges they faced. Many educators personally supplement students with supplies and backpacks, purchase water bottles for students-as many water fountains have closed in schools as a COVID-19 precaution, and rely on donations to aid in getting students the supplies they need.

While reading the applications, it was very evident that this old saying rings true, teaching is not just a job, it is a calling! We are honored that so many of you have answered your calling and are committed to uplifting the next generation through education.

Though we already knew this, another point that was highlighted in many applications, is the fact that Alpha educators are extremely proud! Many of our educators wrote about how often they tell their students about their beloved sisterhood, its rich history, and the Sorority’s commitment to excellence and service.

Though we would have loved to deliver backpacks to all of those in need, we were able to select institutions from around the nation as recipients, and we began delivering the thousands of backpacks at the beginning of this month.

Project Backpack was an initiative created out of love, and we are truly touched at the overflow of sisterly support that was shown by all of you. To all of the wonderful members who purchased a backpack, you have planted a seed of sisterhood, service, and solidarity that will be embedded into these children’s minds forever. You’re a movement by yourself, but a force when you’re together! Thank you, thank you, thank you for partnering with us to pour back into our youth and the Sorors who educate them! You have shown these students what sisterhood is all about. #wehelpeachother

Due to the great need for school supplies, Ivy Storehouse has decided to keep the program running all year long in order to earn more donations for students. Project Backpack will continue during our annual Pink Friday Sale! Likewise, we are looking to increase the size of the program and add sponsors for Project Backpack in 2022. Please contact us at pr@ivystorehouse.com if you or your corporation would like to get involved and help us create magic for the next generation of innovators and leaders!

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On January 18th, 2021, just three days before the inauguration, the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. , and members of the Ivy Navy, were featured on the CBS news article entitled, “Meet Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ “secret weapon”: Her sorority sisters from Alpha Kappa Alpha.” Esteemed news anchor, Pretty Girl, and Howard University alumnae,

Michelle Miller, traveled back to the Mecca to meet Vice President Kamala Harris’s line sisters who spoke on how both Alpha Kappa Alpha and Howard University prepared her path to the Vice Presidency. Monique Poydras, Dr. Elaine Witter, and Carla Mannings were initiated with Vice President Kamala Harris in 1986 in the Alpha Chapter at Howard University, the birthplace of this illustrious sisterhood. While the world was suddenly becoming more acquainted with salmon pink and apple green, Kamala Harris’s vice-presidential bid came as no surprise to her line sisters as they recalled how she was a natural born leader, always lending a hand to her Sorors, and performing at optimal levels as a student at Howard University.

Additionally, they spoke on how Alpha Kappa Alpha was at the helm of the election cycle, its long-standing history of civic engagement, and the collective power of its nearly 300,000 members. It is no secret that it was the Black women in major metropolises who despite extremely long voting lines, shortages of ballots, and technical issues with machines strolled to the polls in numbers and made way for Kamala Harris to become the first woman, the first African American, the first South Asian American, and the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) graduate to be elected as Vice President of the United States.

The women of Alpha Kappa Alpha were especially visible this election cycle and sported their Ivy Box Stroll to the Polls t-shirts and Vote 2020 crewneck sweaters at voting booths across the nation. To capture and commemorate the moment, we launched our Voting While Gorgeous Virtual Photo Booth where thousands of Pretty Girls documented their civic activism. We then transformed the photos into a White House mosaic that was included in January’s Ivy Box!

The Ivy Times is very honored to have been a part of this historic moment in history, honored to call the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha our family, and honored to create fashions that you wear in your most important moments!

Category: Featured

Category: Featured

Category: Featured