56 Facts About Delta Sigma Theta

1.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc is a historically African American sorority.

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2.

Delta Sigma Theta was founded on, by twenty-two women at Howard University in Washington, DC Membership is open to any woman who meets the requirements, regardless of religion, race, or nationality.

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3.

Delta Sigma Theta is a member of the umbrella organization National Pan-Hellenic Council – an organization of nine international Black Greek-letter sororities and fraternities.

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4.

Since its founding, Delta Sigma Theta has created programming to improve political, education, and social and economic conditions, particularly within black communities.

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5.

On January 13,1913, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated was founded by twenty-two women at Howard University, a few of whom had earlier been initiated into the Alpha chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

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6.

The official Delta Sigma Theta Hymn, written by Florence Cole Talbert and Alice Dunbar Nelson, was adopted in 1924.

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7.

In 1945, Delta Sigma Theta donated its first $1,000 to the United Negro College Fund.

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8.

In continuing with assisting persons in need abroad, Delta Sigma Theta established the Maternity ward at Thika Memorial Hospital in 1955.

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9.

Delta Sigma Theta had previously moved toward having some uniformity of programming among chapters, with two international programs abroad.

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10.

The five-point thrust is the five areas under which all Delta Sigma Theta programming falls; the thrust are Educational Development, Economic Development, Physical and Mental Health, Political Awareness and Involvement and International Awareness and Involvement.

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11.

In 1960, Delta Sigma Theta co-sponsored the National Organization of Women for Equality in Education conference.

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12.

In 1963, while celebrating their 50th Anniversary, Delta Sigma Theta participated in the March on Washington, and established the Social Action Commission at the 27th National Convention.

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13.

In 1968, the Unwed Mothers program was established, and in 1970 Delta Sigma Theta sponsored the East African International Women's Seminar in Nairobi, Kenya.

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14.

Delta Sigma Theta understood the importance of education, and how educating communities would be essential in eradicating discrimination.

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15.

In 1975, Delta Sigma Theta established life development centers to focus on issues placed by individuals from early childhood to senior citizens.

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16.

Delta Sigma Theta "wears" a sleeveless dress, high heels and has short, straight hair.

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17.

Delta Sigma Theta is walking; with her proper left arm swinging above her head and her proper right arm back behind her.

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18.

Delta Sigma Theta felt the need to bring attention to issues that affect minorities and women that remained largely ignored in the United States.

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19.

In 1981, Delta Sigma Theta held Summit I which focused on issues affecting American women.

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20.

In 1992, Delta Sigma Theta became the first African American organization to collaborate with Habitat for Humanity, and has built hundreds of houses for those in need.

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21.

Delta Sigma Theta held its Summit III, preparing young men for manhood, in 1993, in response to alarming drop out and incarceration rates among young men.

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22.

Delta Sigma Theta adopted the Adelaide Tambo school for the Physically Disabled in South Africa.

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23.

In 2002, Delta Sigma Theta was the second African American organization, after NCNW, to receive Special Consultative NGO status with the United Nations.

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24.

Less than two months after the sorority's founding, the Founders of Delta Sigma Theta began their political activism by participating in the historic 1913 Women's Suffrage March on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC, on March 3,1913.

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25.

The first graduate chapters were authorized in 1920 at the Second National Convention for graduate members in New York City and Washington, DC Delta Sigma Theta sought to expand west of the Rocky Mountains with the chartering of the Kappa Chapter at the University of California in February 1921, Delta Sigma Theta became the first black Greek-letter organization established on the Pacific Coast.

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26.

In 1930, the Grand Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was incorporated as a perpetual body, which eliminated the need for each individual chapter to seek its own charter.

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27.

Delta Sigma Theta realized the need for advocacy in the United States, and throughout the world.

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28.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority began a four-point approach to address these concerns:.

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29.

Delta Sigma Theta has more than 1,000 chapters, located in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, England, Germany, Korea, Japan, Bermuda, Jamaica, Virgin Islands, West Africa, South Africa and Bahamas.

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30.

Many Delta Sigma Theta women have been recognized as leaders in community activism, athletics, business, education and scholarship, entertainment, media and literature, as well as in government.

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31.

Many Delta Sigma Theta members continue to be active in alumnae chapters after graduating from college, and many join at the alumnae level.

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32.

In 1953, Delta Sigma Theta was the first African-American organization to purchase a national headquarters site located at 1814 M St NW in Washington, DC In 1972 the Sorority moved its headquarters to New Hampshire Ave.

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33.

Delta Sigma Theta has provided assistance to address the challenges faced by people in the United States and internationally as well.

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34.

Delta Sigma Theta provides public service initiatives through the Five-Point Program Thrust.

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35.

Delta Sigma Theta uses the Five-Point Programmatic Thrust as an organizing structure as it creates programs to benefit the African-American community.

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36.

Delta Sigma Theta Challenge offers mortgage loans, insurance, and other home buyers' discounts through The Delta Sigma Theta Chase Initiative.

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37.

Delta Sigma Theta was the first national African-American organization to collaborate with Habitat for Humanity International in 1992, during National President Bertha Roddey's administration.

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38.

Delta Sigma Theta established Delta Towers in the northeast area of Washington, DC Delta Towers is an apartment building for elderly and disabled individuals.

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39.

Delta Sigma Theta Towers was the first retirement center founded by any of the African-American sororities or fraternities in the United States.

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40.

Dr Betty Shabazz's Delta Sigma Theta Academy is designed for girls ages 11 to 14, who have an interest in developing leadership skills.

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41.

Delta Sigma Theta GEMS is an outgrowth and continuation of the Dr Betty Shabazz Delta Sigma Theta Academy Program.

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42.

Lawry's Foods partnered with Delta Sigma Theta to create the National Collegiate Public Service Caddy and Grant Recognition Program.

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43.

At the 2008 National Convention in Orlando, Florida, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was presented with an award for the most weight lost by any sorority or fraternity.

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44.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was the first sorority to join the American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" campaign as an organizational alliance working to educate women on heart disease.

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45.

Delta Sigma Theta Days is an annual legislative conference to increase sorority members' involvement in the national public policy-making process.

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46.

In 2009, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority celebrated the twentieth anniversary of Delta Days in the Nation's Capital.

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47.

On March 27,2003, Delta Sigma Theta became a Non-Governmental Organization with special consultative status at the United Nations.

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48.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority supported the World AIDS campaign in observance of World AIDS Day, on December 1,2008.

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49.

In 1955, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority established a maternity wing and health services in Thika Town.

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50.

In October 2011, a serial rapist in the Dallas area was reported to be targeting Delta Sigma Theta alumnae, attacking four alumnae in their mid-50s to mid-60s over an eleven-month period.

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51.

At Western Illinois University in January 1999, a Delta Sigma Theta pledge was hospitalized due to torn skin on her lower back and buttock from severe beatings by Delta Sigma Theta women.

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52.

At Norfolk State University in February 1999, a Delta Sigma Theta pledge was hospitalized in an Intensive Care Unit after a series of physical beatings and strenuous activities.

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53.

In January 2015, the highest leadership of Delta Sigma Theta Inc expelled the five cast members from the sorority.

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54.

The Delta Sigma Theta cast members were the only cast members that had their sorority memberships permanently revoked.

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55.

On Thursday January 10,2013, hundreds of members of Delta Sigma Theta gathered in New York City in Times Square for appearances on the Today Show and Good Morning America, followed by a massive caravan to Washington, DC, which included busses bearing the Centennial logo.

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56.

On March 3,2013, during the Delta Days at the Nation's capital event, Delta Sigma Theta organized a re-enactment of the Woman Suffrage Parade of 1913.

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