FOUNDER SPOTLIGHT

Marguerite Young Alexander - Born in Illinois, Marquerite Alexander was a French and Spanish correspondent and a constant supporter of Alpha Chapter’s activities and projects. She, along with Osceola Adams went on to co-found a chapter in Chicago, Illinois.

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Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is a private, non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide assistance and support through established programs in local communities throughout the world. A sisterhood of more than 200,000 predominately Black college educated women, the Sorority currently has over 900 chapters located in the United States, England, Japan (Tokyo and Okinawa), Germany, the Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Republic of Korea. The major programs of the sorority are based upon the organization’s Five Point Programmatic Thrust:

• Economic Development
• Educational Development
• International Awareness and Involvement
• Physical and Mental Health
• Political Awareness and Involvement

Did you know that Delta Sigma Theta has provided assistance to address the challenges faced by African American communities in the United States and internationally?

Several successful projects have been launched under Delta Sigma Theta’s Economic Development Program. Today we feature:

Delta Sigma Theta & Habitat for Humanity
Delta Sigma Theta was the first national African-American organization to collaborate with Habitat for Humanity International in 1992, during Delta President Bertha Roddey’s administration. Habitat for Humanity builds and rehabilitates homes with the help of selected homeowners, volunteer labor, management expertise, and tax-deductible donations of money and materials. Houses are sold to families without profit, and no-interest mortgages are issued over a fixed period. From 1992-1994, Delta Sigma Theta and Habitat for Humanity built twenty-two homes throughout the United States. In 1996, sorority members and supporters traveled to Ghana, and built forty Delta Habitat for Humanity homes.

Soror Patricia Roberts Harris (January 23, 1977 – September 10, 1979) was one of our most notable Sorors in the area of Economic Development. From 1977 thru 1979, Soror Harris served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under President Jimmy Carter’s administration.