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In These Divine Nine Friendships, Age Is But a Number
From Founders Day traditions to everyday check ins, Sorors bridge generation gaps to strengthen sisterhood bonds.
AARP
Have you discovered a close friendship that started with a shared affinity—such as a hobby, service organization, place of worship, or life challenge—that became a profound connection despite age differences or other distinctions? Bonding over a shared passion or purpose offers a rich opportunity to make new friends. Among Black women, sorority members of Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA), Delta Sigma Theta (DST), Zeta Phi Beta (ZPhiB), and Sigma Gamma Rho (SGRho) have modeled this for more than 100 years. They don’t limit close bonds to their own generations; they build strong relationships grounded in shared strengths across generations, sometimes spanning three to four generations within the same family.
During these challenging times of unprecedented job losses, racial trauma, medical disparities, and more, it’s hard enough to engage in self-care, let alone community care. But close intergenerational friendships within our sister circles can help us keep showing up for ourselves, each other, and our communities—just as family does.
Less than two months after celebrating the arrival of 2025, I was gut-punched. At the close of business, my entire staff and I were forced to depart from work that was dear to us. For months during the government shakeup, I checked and rechecked my email, waiting to learn my fate. Would my life of public service come to a halt? If I lost my job, would it take longer than ever to land a new one? How long could I wait it out financially, especially since I wasn’t eligible for early retirement? After more than six months, I was grateful to be called back to work—in an unfamiliar role—but saddened by a very different outcome for many of my colleagues. I didn’t know if I’d ever feel joy at work again.
Thanks to my AKA Sorors, that cloud of uncertainty finally began to lift. On Founders Day, January 15, 2026, a simple GroupMe message—“Who is in the building today?”—followed by, “I am, let’s meet at noon in the atrium for a photo,” gave me hope. The feeling of sisterhood, support, and pure joy was exactly what I needed as we gathered, from different agencies and career fields, for twenty short minutes, dressed in our pink and green. While it’s sometimes hard to tell our exact ages (if you know, you know), I would guess we represented at least four generations: Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. Our promise to each other was a new ritual—meeting for lunch occasionally to strengthen our bonds. I returned to my desk with renewed hope that we would get through this together.
Discovering shared joy
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Courtesy Kim Morgan-Craft
While some Sorors are creating new rituals, others are discovering joy through shared interests.
ZPhiB Sorors Kimberly Morgan-Craft, 55, and Tamika Sanders, 31, discovered they were kindred spirits when they traveled from Maryland to New York City to see Hamilton, fueled by their shared love of musical theater.
“We have a 24-year age gap that would seem to be a generational divide, but on the way home from a sorority event, Tamika played the Broadway cast album, and we both sang every lyric at the top of our lungs,” said Morgan-Craft. “I feel blessed to have a genuine relationship with a Soror who allows me to be my authentic self—vibrant, connected, and with a whole lot of life left to give.”
Embracing personal growth
We’re also showing each other that there’s a whole lot of life left to live.
TaJuana Jackson, 54, is planning a cruise—something she wouldn’t normally do—thanks to her close friend, a 31-year-old DST Soror who coordinates travel for others and travels extensively herself.
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We’re also showing each other that there’s a whole lot of life left to live.
TaJuana Jackson, 54, is planning a cruise—something she wouldn’t normally do—thanks to her close friend, a 31-year-old DST Soror who coordinates travel for others and travels extensively herself.
“She’s helped me see that it’s not selfish to take time for myself, even as a single mom with two girls,” said Jackson. “It will be fun to do something that’s just for me, without feeling guilty about it.”
Jackson believes that when you’re happy, healthy, and in a good mindset, you’re more open to doing things for others.
That matters because Black sororities believe our communities need us—and we strive to answer the call.
Connecting through community service
Courtesy Nika White
Dr. Nika White, 49, and Valerie Chatman, 63, AKA Sorors, met decades ago through community and business-related networking events. They deepened their connection through a shared passion for community service, economic inclusion, and sisterhood. Their intergenerational bond is one of beautiful reciprocity.
“We both intentionally pour into each other our unique strengths,” said White. “Valerie’s wisdom and grounding presence enrich my leadership and life. She says my energy and perspective help her stay connected and inspired.”
Karen Edmonson, 46, shares a passion for education with coworkers who are young enough to be her child and old enough to be her parent.
“She’s helped me see that it’s not selfish to take time for myself, even as a single mom with two girls,” said Jackson. “It will be fun to do something that’s just for me, without feeling guilty about it.”
Jackson believes that when you’re happy, healthy, and in a good mindset, you’re more open to doing things for others.
That matters because Black sororities believe our communities need us—and we strive to answer the call.
Connecting through community service
Dr. Nika White, 49, and Valerie Chatman, 63, AKA Sorors, met decades ago through community and business-related networking events. They deepened their connection through a shared passion for community service, economic inclusion, and sisterhood. Their intergenerational bond is one of beautiful reciprocity.
“We both intentionally pour into each other our unique strengths,” said White. “Valerie’s wisdom and grounding presence enrich my leadership and life. She says my energy and perspective help her stay connected and inspired.”
Karen Edmonson, 46, shares a passion for education with coworkers who are young enough to be her child and old enough to be her parent.
“The age gap disappears at work, and we learn from one another,” said Edmonson.
Being close to different generations can help Sorors feel more prepared to meet the needs of the communities we serve.
“I’m close to SGRho Sorors who are in their 20s and their 80s. Our youngest Sorors speak to what college students need for support. My older Sorors keep me humble and grounded in our organization’s traditions. The history lives within them and is passed down through the generations.”
With three generations of Sorors in her family, Edmonson receives traditions and history from her aunt, Cynthia Brame, 70, and passes them along to her daughter, Jade Jackson, 23.
Building family bonds
Courtesy Jazmin Jones
What started as an invitation for Jazmin Jones, 31, to serve on a committee alongside her DST Soror, Tamika Riggs, 50, quickly became a friendship that evolved into a bond that feels like family.
“We stay connected almost every day through text messages, voice notes, and phone calls,” said Jones. “We celebrate birthdays and holidays together, attend Tamika’s children’s sporting events, and share meaningful conversations.”
The pair never lets their age difference create distance. Instead, they create space to be open, listen deeply, and show up consistently.
“There’s something comforting about learning from someone who has lived more life, while also being valued for what I bring to the relationship,” said Jones. “Our bond is rooted in care, honesty, and the simple but powerful act of choosing each other again and again. It allows both of us to feel seen, heard, and held in ways that make the weight of the world feel just a little lighter.”
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