The Love Letter

Sisterhood Edition

Ascension Alumnae Chapter 2023 Founders Day Celebration: Continuous Commitment to Preserving Our Past, Engaging Our Present, and Fortifying Our Future with Love

by Soror Ashanti Corey

Powerful. Invigorating. Rejuvenating. Inspiring. Unforgettable. These are just a few of the words sorors used to describe their experience at Ascension Alumnae’s 2023 Founders Day Celebration Sunday, February 5, 2023, was a day filled with hugs, smiles, laughter, and happy tears. The celebration began with a Rededication Ceremony to remind us of the fundamental principles and the rich legacy of our sisterhood. After a musical interlude, sorors were in awe as they witnessed a recreation of our illustrious Founders’ photo Each Soror proudly stated the name of the Founder she represented after Soror Stayce Palmer-McBride introduced the Founder with a brief bio. After the last Founders’ name was stated, the room erupted in applause and camera flashes.

AAC Soror Tiffani Mitchell received recognition for 25 years of service and commitment in Delta Sigma Theta. The celebration continued with a keynote address from our dynamic Southwest Regional Director, Crystal T. Barker. Soror Barker delivered a charge to be compassionate to one another as we are all facing unspoken battles In order for God to bless us, Soror Barker said we must “clear the runway” of our hearts. Soror Barker spoke about the positively exponential impact on our communities if all members of the Divine Nine banned together in our fight for social action She made sorors laugh and smile with pride by imagining what our Founders said and did as they worked to create our beloved sorority.

AAC is eternally grateful to Soror Barker for sharing her time and powerful message with us. Thank you to our amazing, tirelessly working Founders Day Committee Chair and Co-Chair, Soror Stacey Legard and Soror Terry Washington-Joseph. To the entire Founders Day Committee, thank you for your time and dedication. To our Chapter President, Soror Shunekia McAuleySpears, thank you for your continued support and encouragement AAC will continue to honor the legacy of our Founders, not just for Founders Day but every day as we do the work of Delta.

Promoting Sisterhood through

Chapter’s Sisterhood Connect Activities

by Dr. Vanessa M. Nason and

Working in a virtual environment can sometimes be challenging for many organizations and groups. As such, the Bexar Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated prides itself on ensuring that chapter members stay connected throughout the year One method for bringing chapter members together (in person and virtually) more consistently is through the Sisterhood Connect activities.

Each month, BAAC Membership Services hosts at least one engaging virtual or inperson activity that allows chapter members to gather, collaborate, and unite with one another. BAAC Membership Services and other chapter committees occasionally collaborate when hosting various events or activities

The BAAC Reclamation Program was the first activity to kick off the Sisterhood Connect initiative. This event enabled chapter members to brainstorm ideas, plan an evening of fun and sisterly fellowship, and actively reclaim our sorors The Reclamation event occurred last year, 2022. It began with a powerful and riveting prayer led by our BAAC Chaplain and Charter Member, Reverend Joyce M. Williams, that helped to set the virtual atmosphere for the event The program activities began with a Get to Know your Soror activity that enabled sorors to introduce themselves and learn about each other through a series of questions. The Delta Scavenger Hunt proved to be one of the evening's liveliest, physically energizing activities The Delta Most Memorable Moment segment allowed sorors to reflect on their time as a Delta and share a Delta moment that was fun, heartfelt, sentimental, enjoyable, spiritual, or emotional. Sorors also learned about the chapter's history, charter members, programs, and projects, which were pertinent to their obtainment of knowledge about the Bexar Area Alumnae Chapter. Though other noteworthy occurrences took place throughout the evening, the BAAC Expressions of Gratitude video presentation was central to culminating all the events of the night and demonstrating the efforts being made by BAAC to serve in our communities, prepare for action, and highlight sisterhood within the chapter

Bexar Area Alumnae Chapter Reclamation Roundup Program was one for the history books. Sorors were entertained, informed, and elevated. Chapter members showed their support and Delta love for invited sorors in a unique and heartfelt manner, which was pivotal in making sorors feel special.

Other Sisterhood Connect activities have included: Take a Soror to Church, Attend Lunch After Church with a Soror, a BAAC Christmas Party with a Purpose, a Founders Day Dinner Meet Up, and others.

The BAAC Christmas Party with a Purpose was a collaborative effort between Membership Services and the Physical and Mental Health Committees The party started with "the purpose" of actively serving and supporting community efforts BAAC members donated and labeled 177 motivational and inspirational children's books for the March of Dimes – Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Book Project. The books are used for parents to read to their babies in the neonatal centers and to encourage the reading development of older siblings while visiting the hospital. Once all books were labeled and boxed, the party began, which included great food, fun games, and a white elephant gift exchange Immediately after the party, the books were delivered by committee members to the NICU at the Baptist Central and Methodist Children's Hospitals This was a great way to demonstrate the spirit of giving during the holidays.

To kick off the 2023 New Year, sorors from BAAC engaged in a Dinner Meet Up on Friday, January 13, 2023, in honor of Founders Day. This intimate engagement enabled chapter members who did not have dinner plans to come out and fellowship at one of the black-owned restaurants in the Bexar County Area The food was mouthwatering, and the conversation was authentic and good for the soul. It allowed sorors to get to know each other outside the business of a chapter meeting.

Overall, the 2022-2023 Bexar Area Alumnae Chapter Membership Services Sisterhood Connect activities have proven advantageous for the chapter as a whole Members are reaching out more often talking and collaborating with chapter members they may not have spoken to as much

SAAC Celebrates International Day of the Girl Child

by Soror Pamela Isaacs - Chair, International Awareness and Involvement Committee & Dr. Debbie C. Hamilton – Chair, Social Action-School to Prison Pipeline Committee

Over 200 community members, local students, and Delta Sorors gathered on October 11, 2022, in observance of the 10th Annual International Day of the Girl Child, a United Nations-recognized holiday. The occasion marks the importance of adolescent girl children. It highlights the barriers they face with human rights and gender inequalities and attempts to identify their power and potential by opening opportunities for them. It also aims at amplifying and empowering the voices of adolescent girls around the globe.

The event included a screening of the documentary, PushOut: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools by Delta Soror and author Dr. Monique Morris. The event was designed to raise awareness of excessive discipline policies and how such policies can lead to girls being “pushed out” of the school system into the criminal justice system. The 79-minute documentary was shown in its entirety and followed by a brief, facilitated Q&A session by Soror Jo Angelia Waters, M.A., M.Div. In addition, attendees received a copy of the “Let Her Learn” Pledge Attendees also received a call to action to share information they learned with at least three other individuals They were encouraged to solicit both school and public libraries to include the PushOut documentary and the book in their collections.

"SISTERHOOD IS the definition of true love and friendship. To have a sister is to always have someone you can call on, no matter what the situation may be. The best thing about sisterhood in Delta Sigma

Theta is that no matter where you go in the world, you are not alone." Zoria Goodley. Regional Journalist

The event was held at St. Philip’s College (SPC), Watson Fine Arts Auditorium. SPC was selected as a venue because of the historic role the institution has played in the education of girls and students of color in the San Antonio and surrounding areas SPC is the only community college in the nation designated as both a Historically Black College/University (HBCU) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). The SPC “I AM Woman” Student Club and the Office of Student Life served as our community partners for this event.

The International Awareness Initiative Committee, Social Action - School to Prison Pipeline Subcommittee, and Arts and Letters Committee served as the primary leads for the San Antonio Alumnae Chapter Additional internal contributors and collaborators include the Delta Gems and Delta Academy Committees and student members who reviewed segments of the documentary prior to the public showing. They discussed various aspects of school discipline and signed a modified, student-focused “Let Her Learn” Pledge, which was on display at the event.

Special thanks to the San Antonio Community, SPC Nursing students and faculty, SAAC Retired Educators, and all who joined us to make this event an overwhelming success

Sisterhood Month

DELTA WEEK 2023

Sisterhood Month

Delta Week 2023

The Greater Houston Area Chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Joint Founders Day Observance 2023

by Soror Courtney White and Soror Maia Bean

On Saturday, January 28, 2023, the Greater Houston Area Chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated hosted the 2023 Joint Founders Day Observance: "35 Years of Fanning the Flame of Excellence in Our Sisterhood and Service in Our Communities" The observance was celebrated by approximately 1,000 alumnae and collegiate sorors at The Community Collective. A sea of uninterrupted red, warm greetings, and an atmosphere of sisterhood resonated throughout the building.

The morning began with a Rededication ceremony led by Soror Tracy Malloy. The Presiding Officer was our Southwest Regional Representative, Soror Aniecia Browning Our Founders were truly honored as hundreds of sorors rededicated their time and efforts back to the sorority.

Following the ceremony, the Joint Founder's Day celebration commenced. Attendees fellowshipped, sang, and were inspired by the Joint Founders Day choir led by Soror Sabrina Woodard The ladies showed a dynamic display of reverence by ushering in the Holy Spirit in true Delta fashion Hands were raised, and spirits were high as the JFD choir sang multiple selections to set the tone for our keynote speaker.

This year, the Joint Founders Day special guest was none other than Soror Carla Harris, an accomplished author, singer, and speaker. As Soror Tracee Fletcher introduced her and read her accolades, you could hear the crowd, ooh and aww! Soror Harris' accomplishments were