Programs
Economic Development
Economic development is the process by which the economic well-being and quality of life of a nation, region or local community are improved. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated provide programs that target Goal Setting, Financial Planning, Budgeting, Debt Management, Savings & Investments, Retirement Planning, Homeownership, Insurance, Estate Planning, and Entrepreneurship to members and individuals in an effort to spread financial education throughout the local communities.
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. Financial Fortitude is a process that will help program participants to set and define goals, develop a plan to achieve them, and to put the plan into action. The process serves as a blueprint to address all aspects of personal finances. This initiative helps DAC spread financial education throughout our local community.
For more information email: economicdev@dstdac.org
Economic Development Initiatives
-Financial Fortitude
-Dfree Financial Freedom Movement
-Personal Wealth Management through all life cycles
-Small Business Webinars
-Local Business Spotlight
-Consumer Education
Delta Academy
Catching the Dreams of Tomorrow, Preparing Young Women For the 21st Century: The Delta Academy was created 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 local chapters 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. A primary goal of the program is to prepare young girls for full participation as leaders in the 21st Century. Delta Academy has taken many forms. In some chapters, the Academies are after-school or Saturday programs; others are weekly or biweekly throughout the school year; and still other programs occur monthly. At a minimum, chapters plan and implement varied activities based upon the needs of the early adolescents in their areas. The activities implemented most often include computer training, self-esteem and etiquette workshops, field trips for science experiences and for college exposure, and special outings to cultural events, fancy dinners, museums, plays, and concerts.
For more information email: academy@dstdac.org
Delta GEMS
A natural outgrowth and expansion for the continuation of the highly successful Dr. Betty Shabaaz Delta Academy: Catching the Dreams of Tomorrow, Delta GEMS was created to catch the dreams of African American at-risk, adolescent girls ages 14-18. Delta GEMS provides the framework to actualize those dreams through the performance of specific tasks that develop a CAN DO attitude. The goals for Delta GEMS are:
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To instill the need to excel academically
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To provide tools that enable girls to sharpen and enhance their skills to achieve high levels of academic success;
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To assist girls in proper goal setting and planning for their futures high school and beyond; and
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To create compassionate, caring, and community minded young women by actively involving them in service learning and community service opportunities.
The Delta GEMS program offers a road map for college and career planning conducts activities that provide opportunities for self-reflection and individual growth. Delta GEMS, like Delta Academy, is implemented by chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
For more information email: gems@dstdac.org
Educational Development
EMBODI
The EMBODI (Empowering Males to Build Opportunities for Developing Independence) program is designed to refocus the efforts of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, with the support and action of other major organizations, on the plight of African-American males. Both informal and empirical data suggests that the vast majority of African-American males continue to be in crisis and are not reaching their fullest potential educationally, socially and emotionally. EMBODI is designed to address these issues through dialogue and recommendations for change and action. EMBODI addresses issues related to STEM education, culture, self-efficacy, leadership, physical and mental health, healthy lifestyle choices, character, ethics, relationships, college readiness, fiscal management, civic engagement, and service learning.
For more information email: embodi@dstdac.org
International Awareness and Involvement
It is sometimes easy to forget how big the world is when going about your day-to-day. Our International Awareness and Involvement Committee (IA&I) is responsible for increasing cultural awareness in our local community as well as internationally; and, also responsible for having an impact in the international community. The committee makes the world a better place by conducting service projects to benefit those in need. IA&I develops programming that helps to educate and inform our community of global happenings including global literacy, HIV/AIDS Awareness, supporting local refugee women from African countries, improving the quality of life by sorting and packing critical medical supplies; and, internationally, we support pregnant domestic workers in Kuwait who are primarily from African countries.
IA&I Initiatives
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Global Literacy
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Mobile Little Free Library for Refugee and Immigrant Children and their families
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Books for Africa Donation
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HIV/AIDS Awareness
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AIDS Walk Atlanta in partnership with AID Atlanta
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World AIDS Day programming in partnership with Positive Impact Health Centers (Decatur)
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Serving refugee women and their families in partnership with Amani Women Center
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MedShare Medical Supply Sorting Volunteers
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Diapers and Care (DAC) to Kuwait
In addition to our World AIDS Day programming, we acknowledge the following National HIV/AIDS Awareness Days through social media campaigns:
August 20th – Southern HIV Day
September 18th – National HIV/AIDS and Aging Day
February 7th – National Black HIV/AIDS
March 10th – National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Day
April 10th – National Youth HIV & AIDS Day
June 27th – National HIV Testing Day
For more information email: internationalaware@dstdac.org
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.
Political Awareness and Involvement
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.
Under the direction of the National Social Action Commission, Delta Sigma Theta mobilizes our members, chapters, and national leaders to advocate for the Sorority’s predetermined positions and objectives. The National Social Action Commission was officially established in 1963 to provide information and direction to the membership on current civil rights issues. It traces its roots back to the Vigilance Committee, which was created to strengthen and unify the social action efforts of the Sorority. As a result of these efforts, Delta Sigma Theta has become an integral part of the movement to secure equal political, educational, and economic rights for all Black people.
Chapters and members are engaged in a variety of social action activities focused on enacting laws and polices to sustain and expand the rights and privileges of citizenship to all people and to protect the most vulnerable amongst us. These activities include:
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Active engagement in the legislative, executive, judicial and regulatory affairs of the nation
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Promoting enlightened citizenship by providing fact-based information to elected officials and voters
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Research and advocacy of critical issues
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Monitoring legislation at national, state, and local levels
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Voter registration, education, and mobilization
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Educating the public on public policy issues
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Encourage Deltas to run for elected office