By Cassandra Clady
Earlier this Spring of 2025, the Ebony Pearls Foundation of San Diego Inc®, hosted its 69th Annual Ebony Pearls Youth Leadership Academy (EPYLA) Gala of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., San Diego Epsilon Xi Omega (EXO) Chapter. The event was held at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina in Harbor Island.
The annual event featured 14 lovely young ladies who embodied this year’s theme as “Ebony Pearls…Powerful, Poised and Purposed”. They are highly accomplished for their academic achievements, community service and future career and educational goals. The event was attended by their proud parents, relatives, friends and were supported by their AKA, Inc. EXO mentors. Prior to the EPYLA gala, these talented and deserving high school juniors and seniors participated in various events including cultural activities and leadership enhancement workshops during the 2024-2025 season.
This year’s presenters were a trio of known standouts within the San Diego Community. They were Michael A. Allen, ChFC, of Allen Financial Advisement, KGTV 10 News Reporter Natay Holmes (AKA Member of EXO), and Dr. John Parker, Vice President of Finance and Administration of San Diego City College.
In addition, 18 young men of caliber served as Escorts and Marshalls, who accompanied the Ebony Pearls in the presence of their parents/guardians, relatives and friends.
The 2024-2025 Ebony Pearls Leadership Academy was led by the Reverend Tara R. Cador-Turner (General Chairman) and Dr. Donna L. Cook (Co-General Chairman), Deborah Davis-Gillespie (President of Epsilon Xi Omega Chapter), and Mary Castleberry (President of the Ebony Pearls Foundation of San Diego, Inc®).
