Programs

Since its founding in 1913 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. has clearly distinguished itself as a public service organization that boldly confronts the challenges of African Americans and, hence, all Americans. Over the years, a wide range of programs addressing education, health, international development, and strengthening of the African American family have evolved. In realizing its mission, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. provides an extensive array of public service initiatives through its Five-Point Programmatic Thrust of:

Economic Development

Financial Fortitude

National economic trends, such as unstable employment, the threat to Social Security as we know it, and the widening gap between wealth and poverty are the basis for the development of Financial Fortitude, the current Economic Development program initiative of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

The Financial Fortitude initiative has ten components and provides a collaboration of information from major economic corporations and other well-known financial institutions. The ten components include: Goal Setting, Financial Planning, Budgeting, Debt Management, Savings & Investments, Retirement Planning, Homeownership, Insurance, Estate Planning, and Entrepreneurship.

The initiative helps members of the Sorority spread financial education throughout their local communities.

Educational Development

The Delta GEMS program offers a road map for college and career planning through activities that provide opportunities for self-reflection and individual growth. Delta GEMS is implemented by the Kinston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated to provide participants the opportunity to define and “Discover their individual Brilliance.”

The goals for Delta GEMS are:

• To instill the need to excel academically;
• To provide tools that enable girls to sharpen and enhance their skills to achieve high levels of academic success;
• To assist girls in proper goal setting and planning for their futures in high school and beyond; and
• To create compassionate, caring, and community-minded young women by actively involving them in service learning and community service opportunities

                     

 

DR. BETTY SHABAZZ DELTA ACADEMY

The Delta Academy was created in 1996 out of an urgent sense that bold action was needed to save our young females (ages 11-14) from the perils of academic failure, low self-esteem, and crippled futures. Delta Academy provides an opportunity for the Kinston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated to enrich and enhance the education that our young teens receive in public schools across the nation. Specifically, we augment their scholarship in math, science, and technology, their opportunities to provide service in the form of leadership through service learning defined as the cultivation and maintenance of relationships.

The Kinston Alumnae Chapter has held Delta Academy as a monthly program on Saturday typically during the September through May timeframe.  The activities implemented most often include self-esteem and etiquette workshops, field trips for science experiences, and special outings to cultural events, and concerts.

Chapter email for inquiries:   KAC235ed@gmail.com

International Awareness & Involvement

The primary focus of the International Awareness and Involvement Subcommittee is to promote, preserve and sustain the Sorority’s IAI Sustainability Plan through donations made from chapters and individual members to support the Sorority’s seven approved international projects and initiatives.  Our primary focus for these projects is women and girls.

 

Projects in South Africa

• JOHANNESBURG: ADELAIDE TAMBO SCHOOL FOR THE PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED/2002
• SWAZILAND: DELTA HOUSE/VASHTI VILLAGE/2002 – ORPHANAGE FOR CHILDREN OF AIDS VICTIMS
• DURBAN: TRAINING RESOURCES IN EARLY EDUCATION- T.R.E.E./1984

Projects in Kenya

• THIKA: MARY HELP OF THE SICK MISSION HOSPITAL /1969 – MATERNAL HOSPITAL
• I CAN FLY HIGH SCHOOL /2013
• MANCAKOS: MUINDI MBINGA SECONDARY SCHOOL

Projects in Haiti

• CHἘRETTE: DELTA SIGMA THETA SCHOOL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL /2013

Political Awareness & Involvement / SOCIAL ACTION

Delta Sigma Theta has been committed to service through social action since our founding in 1913. Our 22 Founders participated in the Suffrage March of 1913, just two months after establishing the Sorority, and our members have been at the forefront of social and political struggles ever since.

Members of the Kinston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated are engaged in a variety of social action activities focused on enacting laws and policies to sustain and expand the rights and privileges of citizenship to all people and to protect the most vulnerable amongst us.

These activities include:

• Delta Days at the NC General Assembly
• Actively engaging in the legislative, executive, judicial and regulatory affairs of the county, state and nation
• Promoting an enlightened citizenship by providing fact-based information to elected officials and voters
• Participating in research and advocacy of critical issues
• Monitoring legislation at national, state, and local levels
• Promoting voter registration, education, and mobilization
• Educating the public on public policy issues
• Encouraging Deltas to run for elected office

       

Physical and Mental Health

As an organization of predominantly African American women, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is uniquely positioned to impact not only the well-being of its membership, but also the families and communities we serve. The DeltaCare initiative is an internal wellness initiative under the programmatic thrust of Physical and Mental Health. It was created to promote self-care through physical wellness, emotional wellness, and awareness/advocacy.

Specifically, the Red S.H.O.E. challenge is the physical health component of DeltaCare that encourages members to engage in healthy behaviors. S.H.O.E. is an acronym for Self-care, Healthy Options, and Exercise.

• Red S.H.O.E. challenge
• Blood Drive
• COVID-19 Outreach (Masks and tests, Supported efforts to do booster shots)
• Healthy Lifestyles (walking, zoom exercise night once a month), mental health talks
• Breast Cancer Awareness/Heart Healthy 5k Walk/Run
• Go Red for Women! (Heart and Stroke Prevention)
• Collect can tabs in support of the Ronald McDonald House

The National Arts and Letters Commission was launched on September 24, 1973, under the presidency of 15th National President Lillian Pierce Benbow. Dr. Jeanne L. Noble, 12th National President (1958-63) and university professor, was named chair of the commission. Sorors Leontyne Price and Lena Horne were named co-chairs. The ultimate goal of the National Commission of Arts and Letters has been to boldly advance the black experience; highlighting the artistic contributions of African American people of the past and present and elevating them to public attention with particular emphasis on the positive roles of Black women. The programming is carried out via the Delta Authors, Delta Red Carpet, Pride in Our Heritage and Music Ministry

MISSION:

To promote awareness and appreciation of different art forms, facilitate skill development and foster cultural enrichment and creativity.

PURPOSE:

To communicate, preserve and promote all forms of art that express the Black Experience in positive and liberating ways, especially those that present Black women in positive roles.

ACTIVITIES:

• DSTv – encouraging members and the community to watch African-American television programming
• Red Carpet Events – attending movie premieres, movie screenings, etc.
• Book Reviews – local author Soror LaKeysha Moore
• Name the Black Female Artist
• Delta Authors on Tour – This colossal event is presented by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. National Arts and Letters Commission to promote the talents of our Delta authors.

Service Programs and Community Outreach

• Jabberwock
  Jabberwock is a traditional program of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. that was introduced in 1925 by members of Iota Chapter in Boston, Massachusetts, as an effort to find a new method of raising money for the chapter’s scholarship fund.  Today, Jabberwock is a Delta tradition that the Kinston Alumnae Chapter sponsors biennially, where scholarship funds are given to young ladies and men of promise in the Kinston community.
• May Week –
  May Week is a national program of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. that was created at Delta’s second National Convention in 1920 at Wilberforce University. May Week is a week in May that is set aside each year for events which emphasize the importance of higher education and the achievements of women in the community across the service area, especially for Black women along with other activities related to the Sorority’s Five-Point Programmatic Thrust.

The Kinston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority has sponsored various activities during May week which includes:

• Service Project Monday (Collecting “Cups of Cheer for Senior Citizens)
• Mental Health Matters – “Identifying and Addressing Blind Spots”
• Woman Crush (Sisterly Love Activity)
• Delta Movie Night
• Fit Friday (Physical and Mental Health)
• High Tea Senior Brunch Hospitality