By Genoa Barrow | OBSERVER SENIOR STAFF WRITER

They're poised and ready to face what lies ahead. With the help of an area sorority, a group of local girls have completed a program designed to prepare them for the future.

"The Ivyettes: Rites of Passage" is the signature program for the Sigma Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. The program was created in 2005 to provide mentoring to middle-school aged girls. The young ladies participate in a series of monthly workshops on topics ranging from higher education and careers to health and etiquette.

The 2009-2010 Ivyettes are Taiyah Betty, Leslie B. Bonham, Alexa Duverseau, Alayzia Jackson, Leilah-Marie E. Lockett, Cheyenne Marigny, Cierra Rivers, Cheyenne Vance and Kiari Williams.

The Sigma Delta Omega Chapter hosted the graduation ceremony for the young ladies recently. The event was held at the Hilton-Sacramento Arden West.

"The program has grown in numbers each year and has expanded with more ideas for workshops and community service events for the young ladies to participate in," shared Program Chair Rosalind Erby. "This year we taught the girls about healthy eating, hygiene, learning how to prepare a meal, and cyber-safety. We believe that these are very important topics in today's society among teens and the awareness needs to be spread abroad."

The pre-teen years are a "critical time" for young ladies, she says.

"They are just beginning to find out who they are, what they want to do, who to hang with, peer pressure and so many other things. We found it important to work with this age group and try to keep them focused and encouraged on pursuing positive things in life as they transition through junior high to high school," she added.

This year's event was "Elevate, Serve and Perform." The graduation event included remarks from Ms. Erby; Chapter President Dorothy J. Smith; keynote speaker Felicia Bessent, an AKA and principal of Elk Grove's Edward Harris, Jr. Middle School; and 2006 Ivyette Chelsi Davis. Acting as Mistress of Ceremony was chapter member Wanda Pratt.

Rena Frances performed the Rites of Passage Ceremony. The Ivyettes also performed a dance routine arranged by teen choreographer Brianna James of Monterey Trails High School.

The Sigma Delta Omega Chapter is looking for young ladies who want to participate in the 2010-2011 program.

Ivyettes: Rites of Passage runs over a nine-month period, beginning in August or September with a parent orientation and concluding in May with the luncheon celebration.

For more information, call (916) 995-0901.