Delta Sigma Theta has a long history of sisterhood in the DMV

Good morning, Larry. I think it’s already started our get up meet up right, because all of my beautiful sisters from Delta Sigma Theta are out here this morning. We’re feeling the love, right? Yeah, feeling the love. Many locals, but also from elsewhere across the country. This is our regional, yes, our regional conference,

So lots of local chapters, but we’ll get into all of that. I’m just so excited. We can’t wait for you to come out here and see us this morning again. We’ll be out here till 9:00 AM today right in front of the Jumbotron in the main Plaza. And while we are here,

We’re looking at some of the big events that are happening at the National Harbor. Of course, they’re Sigma Theta sorority is holding. Our 53rd annual Eastern Regional Conference here, which kicks off this evening. So of course this is a wonderful sisterhood that has helped nurture the futures of so many women,

Majority African American women, including several here at our home station. WSPA 9. So we wanted to take a look back at this long sisterhood that started right here in the DMV. With the goal of forming a sorority to address public service, social activism, and the advancement of women’s causes, Delta Sigma Theta was

Founded on January 13th, 1913 by 22 women at Howard University. Two months after its founding, these young women took part in the suffrage March of 1913. Although relegated to the back of the parade by its white organizers, it established the African American sorority as a political and social justice.

Group of women and not simply a college social group. In January of 1930, Delta Sigma Theta was incorporated, allowing the ability to improve the growth of its chapters. In 1937, the sorority embarked on its first national program, the National Library Project. This traveling library served rural southern communities where there was

No access to libraries for blacks. Four years later, another first DST became the first sorority. To offer a program of career development and counseling for black women. In 1953, Delta Sigma Theta established its first national headquarters. The sorority has the distinction of being the first black Greek letter organization to establish

A national headquarters property. In 1992, Delta became the first black organization to partnership with Habitat for Humanity and has built hundreds of homes both nationally and internationally. In 2003, Delta was named a non governmental organization by the United Nations, another first for any black fraternity or sorority, and in 2013,

Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated celebrated its 100th anniversary. Where it all started in Washington DC what began with 22 young women on one campus has now grown to 1000 collegiate and alumni chapters located around the world with more than 350,000 initiated members. Wow, over 350,000 around the world. That’s an initiated member. So yeah,

And I think it’s really cool that this is when you sign up. It’s a lifelong commitment. Doesn’t end just at the college it doesn’t. It doesn’t end. So no, it doesn’t end, it continues and they’re basically it’s a we like to send it around like a five point thrust that

Deals with economic development, educational development. I’m helping out in the communities too. So you know, I don’t know that. A lot of us at the collegiate level understand what that really means, but man, it’s so rewarding once you get out here in the real world and you

See the good that the sorority does. So I’m so proud to be a member. Fantastic, OK?

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