Elma Idna Lewis (September 15, 1921 – January 1, 2004) was the founder of the National Center of Afro-American Artists (including a museum) and the Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts. Events 668 - Eastern Roman Emperor Constans II is assassinated in his bath at Syracuse Italy. Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The National Center of Afro-American Artists ( NCAAA) is an institution founded in 1968 by Elma Lewis to " preserv and foster the cultural arts She received the MacArther Fellows Grant in 1981. The MacArthur Fellows Program or MacArthur Fellowship (sometimes Nicknamed the "genius grant") is an award given by the John D She was also given a Presidential Medal for the Arts by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is a decoration bestowed by the President of the United States and is along with the equivalent Congressional Gold Medal bestowed She is also an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Alpha Kappa Alpha ( ΆΚΆ) is the first Greek-lettered Sorority established and incorporated by African American college women