OUR HISTORY

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., was founded on the campus of Howard University on January 13, 1913 by a group of 22 collegiate women.  The founders envisioned an organization of college-educated women pledged to serious endeavors developing sisterhood, fostering high academic standards and performing community service.

Today, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide services and programs to promote human welfare.  The major programs of the sorority are based upon the organization's Five Point Program Thrust:  

1. Economic Development
2. Educational Development
3. International Awareness and Involvement
4. Physical and Mental Health
5. Political Awareness and Involvement

The Grand Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. has a membership of over 250,000 predominately African  American college educated women.  There are over 900 chapters located in the United States, England, Japan, Germany, Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Republic of Korea and the Virgin Islands.

ALBANY (NY) ALUMNAE CHAPTER

The Albany (NY) Alumnae Chapter was charted on June 17, 1967 by 13 college educated women. Since its inception, the Chapter has initiated over 60 new members who actively support  Chapter programs in support of the organization's Five Point Program Thrust.  Some of these programs include:

• Delta Pearls, Delta GEMS, Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy and the EMBODI youth mentoring programs
• Scholarship: awarded over $100,000 in incentive awards to Capital District youth in pursuit of higher education
• Biennial Debutante Cotillion
• Black History Month Creative Expression Contest
• Youth Empowerment Summit
• Homeowner's Seminar
• Delta Days at the State Capitol
• "Adopt-a-Family" Program
• Voter Registration/ Education
• Support for AIDS Awareness and Prevention
• Participation in the American Heart Association/American Stroke
• Association's "Power to End Stroke" Campaign

The Albany (NY) Alumnae Chapter and members are committed to addressing the needs of the Capital District community and has been recognized for its efforts with the following awards:

• Soror D. Deane Turner was selected as the Eastern Regional "Delta Dear of the Year" at the Eastern Regional Conference in July 2007
• Designated as an Eastern Regional Red Ribbon Chapter at the 2004 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. National Convention
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Service Award
• Selected as a Capital Region Finalist for the National JC Penny Gold Torch Award