Five-Point Programmatic Thrust
Since its founding in 1913 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. has clearly distinguished itself as a public service organization that boldly confronts the challenges of African Americans and, hence, all Americans. Over the years, a wide range of programs addressing education, health, international development, and strengthening of the African American family have evolved. In realizing its mission, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. provides an extensive array of public service initiatives through its Five-Point Program Thrust of Economic Development, Educational Development, International Awareness and Involvement, Physical and Mental Health, and Political Awareness and Involvement.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
Economic stability is a key element in creating and maintaining strong communities. To address the need for economic development, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., put forth Financial Fortitude, a process specifically designed to promote understanding of all aspects of the financial system, including but not limited to, budgeting, home ownership, personal wealth management, entrepreneurship, and the steps to financial freedom. For further information regarding our Economic Development programs, please contact us at info@salisburydst.org.
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The Delta Challenge: Home ownership Initiative
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Financial Fortitude
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 bases for the development of Financial Fortitude, the current Economic Development Program Initiative of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Financial Fortitude is a process that will help program participants to set and define goals, develop a plan to achieve them, and to put the plan into action. 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 the FDIC, the National Endowment for Financial Education and other well-known financial institutions. The initiative help members of the sorority spread financial education throughout their local communities.
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
Delta Academy
Catching the Dreams of Tomorrow, Preparing Young Women for the 21st Century: The Delta Academy
EMBODI
Empowering Males to Build Opportunities for Developing Independence
Delta GEMS
Growing and Empowering Myself Successfully
Jabberwock
Growing and Empowering Myself Successfully
INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT:
Salisbury Alumnae Chapter strives to increase international awareness and promotes participation and education of global issues. The International Awareness and Involvement Committee is dedicated to developing community programs designed to provide assistance, relief and resources to developing countries; as well as fostering local advocacy for social injustices and helping those in need. The chapter’s commitment to organizing change and encouraging cultural awareness is proudly demonstrated by its current initiatives and past projects. For further information regarding our International Awareness and Involvement programs, please contact us at info@salisburydst.org.
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Mary Help of the Sick Mission Hospital (Formerly Thika Maternity Hospital in Thika, Kenya)
In 1955, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. began making plans and laying the groundwork to establish a maternity hospital in the east African country of Kenya. With a major donation from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the construction of a facility began and the first hospital to open after Kenya gained its independence was opened in the early 1960s. In 1985, members of the Sorority visited the hospital and saw first-hand the increased population and infant mortality rate in and around Thika. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. responded by donating over $20,000 which was used to establish two additional maternity wards and an administrative office. Today, Mary Help of the Sick Mission Hospital has grown to 120 beds and provides affordable prenatal and postnatal care, nutritional education, child immunization, and family planning to more than 200 women daily. The facility also has a special care nursery and serves as an educational institution for nurses and midwives where 66 students are trained each year.
Each year, SAC mails Christmas and Get Well cards to the children and families at the hospital.
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World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day is held on December 1st each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. The first World AIDS Day was held in 1988.
The SAC's activities are designed to promote valuable information and awareness of HIV/AIDS among members of our community, particularly among African-Americans.
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Lott-Carey Home and Foreign Mission Association
Each year, SAC implements the "Change to Keep the Chain Connected" program to support the Lott-Carey Home and Foreign Mission Association. The Lott-Carey Global Christian Missional Community is a multi-cultural, ecumenical global Christian missional community that provides prayer partnership, financial support, and technical assistance to indigenous communities around the world who engage in ministries of evangelism, compassion, empowerment, and advocacy to build a better world.
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​Samaritan's Purse
The Salisbury Alumnae Chapter (SAC) participates in Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan's Purse to provide for the collection and delivery of millions of gift-filled shoeboxes to children during Christmas in more than 150 countries and territories. This past Christmas, the Chapter partnered with St. John's Lutheran Church, a prominent church in our community, to fill shoeboxes with personal and other useful items.
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH:
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The Physical & Mental Health program seeks to educate and facilitate lifestyle changes for the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of sorority members and the communities that we serve; raise awareness about the importance and benefits of lifestyle changes that affect longevity, morbidity, and mortality; and develop and implement health-focused programs that benefit the communities we serve. For further information regarding our Physical and Mental Health programs, please contact us at health@salisburydst.org.
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Healthy Lifestyle: Total Woman: Mind, Body, and Spirit
The Salisbury Alumnae Chapter (SAC) strives to promote this thrust’s objectives to raise awareness about health issues; identify organizational alliances to support us in addressing pertinent health issues; and implement health-focused programs within the Rowan and Stanly counties. SAC is excited about our commitment to work with you toward better health & overall wellness!
POLITICAL AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT:
Through the Social Action Committee, SAC aims to promote the importance of and the need for an informed electorate by providing voter registration and voter education programs, workshops and seminars highlighting elected public official assessment and accountability. We promote social activism, targeted advocacy, and ongoing education specific to current and evolving county, local, state, national and international issues. For further information regarding our Political Awareness programs, please contact us at info@salisburydst.org.
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Delta Days in the Nations Capital
In 1989, the National Social Action Commission instituted Delta Days in the Nation's Capital, an annual legislative conference to increase members' involvement in the national public policy-making process. The annual conference includes legislative briefings, issue forums, and advocacy skills development. Featured speakers include key policy makers, members of the United States Congress, Congressional staff members, and national issues experts.
The activities of Delta Days in the Nation's Capital are briefings on legislative issues which impact the African-American community; skill development sessions such as "How to Advocate Effectively," "Understanding the Role of Congressional Staffers," "How to Monitor and Track Legislation;" and legislative visits to members of Congress. The participants, who come from all geographical areas of the country, also have opportunities to observe the legislators in session, participate in Senate Press Tours and White House briefings. Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and others with expertise on various issues, conduct the skills development and discussion sessions. In addition, the members also participates in the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Town Hall Meetings, and conducts Delta Days at the State Capitol, Delta Days at City Hall, and Delta Days at the School Board.
Social Action
In March of 1913, nearly six weeks after its founding, several Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Founders marched in the historic Suffragist March under the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Banner, the Sorority's first public act. Today, low voter turnout statistics highlight the need to continue to identify ways to include opportunities for all citizens to exercise their voting power. Each of Delta's programmatic initiatives has an advocacy component that is implemented under the auspices of social action when it is appropriate or necessary to do so.
Under the auspices of the National Social Action Commission, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., continues to institute activities that foster:
1. Sponsoring Voter Registration and voter education programs
2. Combating Voter Suppression
3. The full restoration of voting rights for individuals who have paid their debt to society (ex-offenders)
4. Affordable Health Care and access to quality health care
5. Financial Literacy and Economic Empowerment
6. Support for HBCU's
7. Political Awareness and Involvement
8. Gender Equality
9. Racial Profiling