Programs

National Five Point Program Thrust:

Since its founding in 1913 Delta Sigma Theta 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 provides an extensive array of public service initiatives through its Five-Point Program Thrust:

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

Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy

The Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy was created 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.” The symbol for the Delta Academy is the Dream Catcher, which in Native American culture is believed to possess the power to capture bad dreams, entangling them in a web; thus allowing only the good dreams to pass through the center of the dream hoop into the person's being. The Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy is a program based on self-enrichment and promotes the principles of Sisterhood, Scholarship and Service. “Specifically, we augment their scholarship in math, science, and technology, their opportunities to provide service in the form of leadership through service learning, and their sisterhood, defined as the cultivation and maintenance of relationships.” The Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy program was recognized as an “Empowering National Organization for Young Girls” by Essence Magazine in its August 2002 issue.

In 1998, the Queens Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority implemented the Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy geared towards young women of color 11-14 years old primarily residing in the South Queens area, emphasizing leadership skills development, scholastic achievement and cultural enrichment all within a warm sisterly atmosphere. The program was named in honor after the late Dr. Betty Shabazz to recognize her contributions as and outstanding educator and exceptional role model. Dr. Betty Shabazz was a longtime member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, a public service women’s organization founded on the campus of Howard University on January 13, 1913 by 22 college educated women.

Delta Days at the United Nations

In March 2003, Delta Sigma Theta became a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) at the United Nations. Past National President Gwendolyn Boyd accepted the credentials on behalf of the sorority, before 150 UN members from across the world, in a presentation by Hanifa Mezoui, Chief NGO Secretary in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the UN (ECOSOC). Delta Sigma Theta was welcomed to the United Nations by Assistant Secretary General for External Affairs, Gillian Sorensen, who advised the sorority, "[to] use your NGO status to monitor the status of women and children in the world and bind together with other NGOs to insure that the UN honors its commitments." Delta Sigma Theta was granted Special Consultative Status as an NGO to the Economic and Social Council of the UN as a result of volunteer services and humanitarian efforts around the world. Queens Alumnae continues to participate in sharing their concerns and ideals for the betterment of women and children.

The Dr. Jeanne L. Noble G.E.M.S. Institute: Growing and Empowering Myself Successfully

Dr. Jeanne L. Noble Delta GEMS Institute is an outgrowth and continuation of the Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy Program. Delta GEMS was created to assist in facilitating the dreams and goals of at-risk, adolescent African-American girls, aged 14-18. Goals for Delta GEMS are:

To instill academic excellence
To provide tools permitting the girls to sharpen and enhance their skills to achieve academic success
To assist girls in setting and planning proper goal for their futures in ”high school and beyond
To create compassionate, caring, and community minded young women by active involvement in community service opportunities.

The Delta GEMS framework has five major components (Scholarship, Sisterhood, "Show Me the Money", Service, and Infinitely Complete), which forms a road map for college and career planning. Topics within the five major components provide interactive lessons and activities which allow opportunities for individual growth.

Financial Fortitude Workshops: Smart Women Finish Rich

Financial Fortitude was designed to help sorority members and the local Queens communities to attain personal wealth and financial security. Financial Fortitude was established as a result of increasing unemployment, Social Security debts, and the widening gap between wealth and poverty. Financial Fortitude helps participants to set and define goals, to develop a financial plan to achieve goals, and to put their plan into action. Workshops are focused on topics, such as debt management and reduction, retirement, financing for college, investing, insurance, estate and home ownership, savings, and entrepreneurship

Health Task Force

Health Task Force's mission is to promote education, awareness and accessibility of information regarding health issues that significantly impact the African-American community. This initiative targets the health and well-being of Chapter members and our community. These objectives are:

Raise awareness about the importance and benefits of lifestyle changes that effect longevity, morbidity, and mortality,
Identify organizational alliances for the Sorority that will work to address pertinent health issues.
Develop and implement health-focused programs within the Sorority and the communities we serve.

The committees sponsors and participate in a number of events in the Queens community:

Blood drive
Health Fair
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
Walk to Fight Diabetes
Walk for Lupus

Project Cherish – Lewis Latimer House Fund

Project Cherish is a national preservation and beautification program of African-American landmarks, monuments and historic sites, was created in 1992. Queens Alumnae Chapter has a strong commitment to the preservation of African-American in Queens. Along with other projects, Queens Alumnae has been a proud sponsor of the Lewis Latimer House Fund, Inc. supporting and sponsoring fund raising events. The Lewis Latimer House was the home of the African-American inventor and electrical pioneer from 1903 until his death in 1928.

Scholarships Awards

Queens Alumnae is steadfast in our commitment to promote college education. Annually, we provide more than $20,000 in scholarships to local high school and undergraduate college-enrolled Queens student residents.

Teen Lift Program and Annual Historically Black Colleges & Universities Tours

Teen Lift was established as a national program in 1966, providing 1st-hand educational and travel experiences for participating youngsters. The goal is to help youth in the Queens community build their sense of pride, self-esteem, commitment in their community and to strive for higher education. The students participate in workshops, community services. Workshops cover life-skills topics around health, political, cultural, educational and economic awareness. Each year Queens Alumnae sponsors tours to Historically Black Colleges & Universities.

Annual Tutorial Program

The tutorial program has been a signature project of Queens Alumnae servicing the Queens community since our inception in 1951. The program offers students often labeled underachievers, at-risk or impoverished with supplemental education and training in their reading and math skills. The program also provides preparatory services for NY state exams.

Voting Rights

In March of 1913, nearly six weeks after its founding, several Delta Sigma Theta Founders marched in the historic Suffragist March under the Delta Sigma Theta 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.
The Queens Alumnae has made a commitment to create programs such as voter registration, voting rights education in advocating:

Reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act.
Repeal of Voter Disenfranchisement laws.
Full restoration of Voting Rights for former Felons.