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Celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
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WHEREAS, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated was founded on January 13, 1913 by 22 collegiate women at Howard University. The organization is committed to “the constructive development of its members and to public service with a primary focus on the Black Community.” Since its founding, more than 200,000 women have joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority; and
WHEREAS, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated currently has 1,000 collegiate and alumnae chapters, operating in the United States, England, Japan, Germany, the Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Jamaica and the Republic of Korea; and
WHEREAS, In 1927, eleven members of the Gamma Chapter formed the nucleus of the Xi Sigma Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Sadie T. M. Alexander, the first National President of Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated and the first African-American woman to receive a Ph.D. in Economics in the United States, was among the charter members of the chapter. Another trailblazing charter member of the chapter was Anna Johnson Julian, who became the National President in 1929. Anna Johnson Julian was the first African-American woman to earn Phi Beta Kappa at the University of Pennsylvania and be awarded a Ph.D. in Sociology; and
WHEREAS, During the 1940s, chapter members sponsored panel discussions in local junior high schools to raise the awareness of academic excellence and introduced students of African descent at Lincoln University to African Americans in Philadelphia who were interested in promoting educational opportunities for them. Xi Sigma sorors also volunteered at Fort Dix during World War II; and
WHEREAS, At the national level, the Grand Chapter encouraged local chapters to deal head-on with issues relating to political and civil unrest in the country. Xi Sigma Chapter protested against un-American acts and discriminatory practices. The chapter became a life member of the NAACP, and established a Job Opportunities Project taking area students by bus to various work sites. Chapter members also served as YMCA and YWCA volunteers, sponsored panel discussions in schools, and supported our men and women serving in World War II; and
WHEREAS, At the 1958 Convention, it was determined that Alumnae chapters would adopt the name of the city where they were seated. Thus, Xi Sigma Chapter became the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, The Golden Anniversary of Delta Sigma Theta occurred during the height of the Civil Rights movement and members of the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter were at the frontlines, marching, registering voters and working with the NAACP to raise awareness about equal access to jobs and education. In concert with the Grand chapter, the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter supported sorors who were jailed in Mississippi for registering blacks to vote; and
WHEREAS, During the 1990s, Deltas everywhere were challenged to execute programs in response to the needs of local communities and global community at large. Philadelphia Alumnae addressed the economic challenges facing the Philadelphia Community. The chapter partnered with Habitat for Humanity International and rehabilitated a house in Camden, New Jersey, contributing with their time and sweat and providing financial support; and
WHEREAS, In recent years, the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta has continued its long tradition of service, scholarship and excellence. In 2014, the chapter was honored as regional chapter of the year in front of more than 2,000 members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc who attended the Delta Sigma Theta regional conference in Boston. In that year, the chapter also received the first place award for its International Awareness and Involvement Programming, which focused on AIDS education, HIV testing, supporting students in Kenya and Gambia and building water access facilities in Africa and Haiti; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the sorority’s Five-Point Programmatic Thrust and continues to focus on and implement service to the Philadelphia Community, addressing needs in the areas of Educational Development, Economic Development, International Awareness, Political Awareness, and Physical and Mental Health; and
WHEREAS, The members of the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Incorporated are actively engaged in service of these areas through organization and implementation of successful volunteer engagements, fundraising campaigns, mentorship opportunities, scholarship drives, social justice convenings, days of service and more; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby celebrate the 90th Anniversary of the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the President of the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Dr. Monica Johnson Taylor, the officers and members as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
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