Five-Point Programmatic Thrust

Programs

Since its founding in 1913, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated has clearly distinguished itself as a public service organization that boldly confronts the challenges of African Americans and, hence, all Americans. From the initial act of social action via the founding members' participation in the Women's Suffrage March in 1913 to the continuous support of programs supporting the African American community's growth and development.

Over the years, many programs addressing education, health, international development, and strengthening the African American family have evolved to realize Delta's mission. Glades Alumnae Chapter members provide extensive public service initiatives through its Five-Point Programmatic Thrust.

Economic Development

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 developing Financial Fortitude, the current Economic Development program initiative of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Financial Fortitude is a process that will help program participants set and define goals, develop a plan to achieve, and implement them. The process serves as a blueprint to address all aspects of personal finances.

The Financial Fortitude initiative is comprised of 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 Sorority members spread financial education throughout their local communities.

The Glades Alumnae Chapter supports local Black-Owned businesses and residents of the Glades by conducting Financial Literacy workshops to help foster financial literacy and financial management.

Educational Development

Catching the Dreams of Tomorrow, Preparing Young Women for the 21st Century: 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 local chapters to enrich and enhance the education our young teens receive in public schools nationwide. Specifically, we augment their scholarship in math, science, and technology, and their opportunities to provide service through leadership via service learning, defined as cultivating and maintaining 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 other programs occur monthly. At a minimum, chapters plan and implement various activities based on 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 college exposure, and special outings to cultural events, fancy dinners, museums, plays, and concerts.

A natural outgrowth and expansion for the continuation of the highly successful Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy: Catching the Dreams of Tomorrow, Delta GEMS was created to catch the dreams of African-American at-risk, adolescent girls aged 14-18. Delta GEMS provides the framework to actualize those dreams by performing specific tasks that develop a CAN DO attitude. 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.

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, like Delta Academy, is implemented by chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Delta GEMS participants have the opportunity to define and “Discover their individual Brilliance.”

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 suggest that the vast majority of African American males continue to be in crisis and need to reach their fullest potential educationally, socially, and emotionally.

EMBODI addresses 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.

International Awareness and Involvement

Delta has a rich history of involvement in the international arena. The building of the Maternity Wing at the Thika Memorial Hospital in Kenya, West Africa, the Delta Sigma Theta Elementary School in Haiti, and the Delta House in Swaziland are among the national organization's international efforts.

Locally, the Glades Alumnae Chapter fosters international initiatives, including supporting organizations by collecting school supplies and the water walk. Both benefit Food for the Poor, one of the largest international relief and development organizations in the United States. Glades Alumnae Chapter and its members raise awareness and funds to support the organization's efforts yearly.

As part of an ongoing effort to support International Awareness and Involvement, the Glades Alumnae Chapter has helped to fund the building of a home in Haiti and provide clean drinking water.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Glades Alumnae Chapter at the Walk for Haiti

Physical and Mental Health

As an organization of predominantly African American women, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated is uniquely positioned to impact the well-being of its membership and 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.

Locally, the Glades Alumnae Chapter hosts several events that support physical and mental health awareness, including the annual Glades Health Fair, Relay for Life, supporting St. Jude Children's Hospital, Zumba on the Lake, promoting healthy heart awareness through our "GO RED" campaign each February, and the Susan G. Komen's Race For the Cure Breast Cancer Walk.

Political Awareness and 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.

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 various 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 among us. These activities include:

Active engagement in the legislative, executive, judicial, and regulatory affairs of the nation
Promoting enlightened citizenship by providing fact-based information to elected officials and voters
Researching and advocating critical issues
Monitoring legislation at national, state, and local levels
Voter registration, education, and mobilization
Educating the public on public policy issues
Encouraging Deltas to run for elected office.

Additionally, our local efforts include monthly attendance of Palm Beach County School Board meetings and City Commissioner Meetings, Delta Days at the State Capital in Tallahassee, voter registration events, as well as hosting candidate forums to ensure that local constituents are at the forefront and able to ask questions of their legislators and local government officials.