The collaboration between Jaz's Jammies and the AKA South Eastern Regional Conference yielded a bounty for children at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital and St. Jude Children's Hospital. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri- State Defender)

As the pink and green colors of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. began to envelop Downtown Memphis this week, arrivals for the 90th South Eastern Regional Conference came packing special pajamas, with the sorority’s historic focus on community service in mind.

Specifically, the sorority marshaled its considerable forces – in collaboration with the non-profit Jaz’s Jammies, Inc. – to add to the comfort of children under the care of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.

South Eastern Regional Director Mitzi Dease Paige said thousands are gathering in Memphis for the regional conference. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)

South Eastern Regional Director Mitzi Dease Paige provided this context:

 

Memphis native Jasmine Gray founded Jaz’s Jammies in 2006, the year she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Germantown High School. Originally a Girl Scout Gold Award project, the non-profit has collected 5,000-pairs of new pajamas since then – and counting.

Jaz’s Jammies founder Jasmine “Jaz” is a filmmaker. Her first feature-length documentary — “More Than Skin Deep” — chronicles survivors of a rare vascular birth defect, arteriovenous malformation, for which she has had nearly 40 surgeries. (Photo: Gary S. Whitlow/GSW Enterprises/The New Tri-State Defender)

Gray adds this:

 

The AKA 90th South Eastern Regional Conference, which began Tuesday (March 1) continues through Sunday (March 6).

GALLERY: