Delta's Stories of Triumph (DST in the News)

[Ms Public Service]

NAACP Legal Defense Fund Receives $1 Million Gift From Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.


Largest African-American Women’s Sorority Challenges Others to Give
Washington, DC - Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. has pledged a million dollars to The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) to support its voting rights work. The gift will mark the 40th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Sorority President Louise Rice formally made the presentation to LDF Director-Counsel and President Theodore M. Shaw on May 17th, the anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark case argued by LDF founding Director-Counsel Thurgood Marshall before the U.S. Supreme Court. The gift was presented at the Delta headquarters in Washington, DC and awarded in the name of Shaw’s predecessor and Delta member Elaine R. Jones.
“This is an extension of our commitment to support social change that empowers the African American community. What better recipient than an organization with a stellar track record like LDF’s,” said Dr. Rice. “We recognize the role that LDF has played in the passage of the Voting Rights Act and their ongoing efforts to protect voting rights for disfranchised communities. LDF helps change lives and this requires resources. We also challenge other organizations to support this important work.”
“This generous gift embodies the strength, leadership and spirit of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,” said Shaw. “We are eternally grateful and will make our appreciation complete by working harder on behalf of our community.” He noted that LDF will argue an important case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in June defending the voting rights of New York citizens incarcerated or released on parole for a felony conviction.
The case, Muntaqim/Hayden v. Pataki, is part of a national movement to restore voting rights to individuals convicted of felony offenses. Nearly five million Americans are denied voting rights because of felony convictions, of which 1.4 million are African-American men. This reflects about 13 percent of the Black male population and results in dilution of voting strength of the entire Black community.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Social Action Commission, which facilitated the LDF gift, has supported voting rights campaigns along with other projects in criminal justice, education, economic development and public health. Dr. Rice described the gift as a “call to action” and challenge to other membership organizations and individuals to give back to the community. The nation’s largest African American sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is drawing on the resources of over 200,000 members and a tradition of philanthropy dating back to its inception in 1913.
About the NAACP Legal Defense Fund
LDF is one of the nation’s oldest civil rights and public interest law firms and is at the forefront of the struggle for political empowerment and racial justice. For 65 years, the organization has been involved in nearly all precedent-setting minority voting rights litigation and advocacy. This includes the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and its 1982 amendments, along with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.
About Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Founded in 1913 by 22 collegiate women at Howard University, the sorority has more than 200,000 members worldwide with over 900 alumnae and collegiate chapters in the U.S. and abroad. Since its founding, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority has demonstrated a commitment to supporting programs that address education, civil rights, health and housing. In addition to its national programs, the sorority maintains two national commissions: the Social Action Commission and the Arts and Letters Commission; both of which support programs that enhance the quality of life of families and individuals.

http://www.orlandotimes.dsiwebbuilde...sp?cat=86983#3

[Ms Public Service]

Here is an excerpt of an article in the Washington Post Newspaper on our $1 million donation to the NAACP LDF.

It has almost been a year since civil rights lawyer Elaine R. Jones stepped down as head of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, but as the group learned this week, it pays to have her in its corner: Her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, has made a $1 million donation in Jones's name. Though it's no Skull and Bones, the Deltas hold sway as a network for notable black women. Attending the event besides Jones were sorority sisters Mary Frances Berry , the outspoken former chair of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, and Cora Masters Barry , wife of D.C. Council member Marion Barry .

[jitterbug13]

The picture of the $1 million donation to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund is in this week's Jet (on page 25). Also featured is pictures from Oprah's ball with a lot of famous sorors!

[Visionary22]

DST had awesome representation from the actual 25 women she honored. If I recall correctly, about 9 or 10 of the 25 were sorors.
I think you had to be at least 60 years of age.

Nancy Wilson
Ruby Dee
Elizabeth Catlett
Roberta Flack
Aretha Franklin
Cicely Tyson
Lena Horne
Dorothy Height


Is Alice Walker a soror?

[jitterbug13]

I want to say she's an honorary AKA but I'll need to double check on that.

BTW...did Delta ever induct Hallie Berry into honorary status?

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally posted by jitterbug13
I want to say she's an honorary AKA but I'll need to double check on that.

BTW...did Delta ever induct Hallie Berry into honorary status?

2nd question -- NO.

Alice Walker is not a member of DST. Per an older thread on GC:
http://www.greeksource.com/gcforums/...light=authors, Alice Walker is not mentioned. Nor is she mentioned here: http://dickinsg.intrasun.tcnj.edu/ak...rs2/HomeLt.htm

Please do not bog this thread down with who is and who is not a member of our org or any other org.

[Senusret I]

Check out my interview with Kimberly Noelle, author of THERE WAS A SPIRIT and a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

http://interviews.oldgoldsoul.com/

And pick up her book at http://www.knoellepublishing.com/

[jitterbug13]

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
2nd question -- NO.

Alice Walker is not a member of DST. Per an older thread on GC:
http://www.greeksource.com/gcforums/...light=authors, Alice Walker is not mentioned. Nor is she mentioned here: http://dickinsg.intrasun.tcnj.edu/ak...rs2/HomeLt.htm

Please do not bog this thread down with who is and who is not a member of our org or any other org.

Sorry!

[Intense1920]

I hope this is the right thread. I just saw a Q&A session with your Soror Johnnetta B. Cole in the July issue of Black Enterprise magazine.

[Ms Public Service]

Soror Sheryl Lee Ralph Gets Married

Guests were there on time at 5 p.m. for the star-studded wedding of actress Sheryl Lee Ralph and Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes in Los Angeles Saturday, only to see the ceremony begin about an hour-and-a-half later, a witness told us.


The long day began with vows at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church. Among Ralph’s 10 bridesmaids were Patti LaBelle, Judge Mablean Ephriam, A.J. Johnson, Nicey Nash, Loretta Devine, Victoria Rowell and Jenifer Lewis – who strolled down the aisle diva style “like it was her wedding,” a source joked.

Ralph, 49, wore a champagne-colored silk charmeuse Tadashi gown with Swarovski crystal straps and a train stretching out seven feet behind her. A gold silk peu de soire brocaded coat completed the look, along with a $16,000 Mikimoto pearl-and-diamond tiara.

The 48-year-old groom sported a Jasper black tuxedo with a white tie, a stephanotis boutonniere, and $15,000 Mikimoto pearl-and-white gold cufflinks.


Miss Patti dabbed at tears as Ralph came down the aisle to a soloist singing Luther Vandross’ classic, “So Amazing.” The mothers of the couple were escorted down the aisle to Richard Smallwood’s “Total Praise.”

The ceremony before some 425 guests hit a small pothole, as Ralph’s matron of honor Dr. Sandra Swann grew dizzy and fainted just as the exchange of vows began, according to the witness. She later recovered.

The reception, held at L.A.'s City Club, featured Ralph in a Tadashi silk peu de soire ivory halter dress with a veil from her native Jamaica, courtesy of her mother. An R&B group sang Etta James’ "At Last" for the couple’s first dance as hungry guests got busy with the provided soul and Jamaican food buffet. The four-tiered wedding cake was comprised of carrot, chocolate, rum-cake and pink-champagne flavored layers.

Ralph and Hughes met through a mutual friend and have been engaged since 2003. It is the second marriage for both. On Sunday, the couple took off for a week-long honeymoon at the Paraiso de La Bonita Resort & Thalasso Resort on the Riviera Maya in Cancun, Mexico.

http://www.eurweb.com/story.cfm?id=21591

[The Truth]

My linesister Roniesha Copeland has just become the Eastern Regional Collegiate representative. In addition to that victory, Alpha chapter won Collegiate Chapter of the year. I am very proud Sorors!!!! I love my chapter and my 9.

[ladygreek]

I wondered if she was your ls--congrats to her and to the chapter!

[smlwonderdst]

Originally posted by The Truth
My linesister Roniesha Copeland has just become the Eastern Regional Collegiate representative. In addition to that victory, Alpha chapter won Collegiate Chapter of the year. I am very proud Sorors!!!! I love my chapter and my 9.

CONGRATS!!!

[CrimsonTide4]

Soror Rose Wiseman Endows Bowie State University with $30, 000 Scholarship: http://www.blacknews.com/pr/bowiestate101.html

[Ms Public Service]

CT4 this is a nice article. Soror Wiseman is a member of the Annapolis Alumnae chapter and she taught both my father and mother in high school.