Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc

Chapter Name	Elk Grove Alumnae Chapter
Charter Date	December 11, 2004
Charter Location	Elk Grove, California
Service Areas	Sacramento County, Florin Road South to the County Line, Natomas Area, and Yolo County
Performed Chartering Ceremony	Thelma James Day, Farwest Regional Director Danielle Moore, Farwest Regional Representative

Chartering Members (25)

Cynthia R. Baker	Georgetta Coleman-Griffith	Emily McDougall
Kathryn Benton Bert M. Bettis  Gloria Blanchette Charlotte Broussard Lillie B. Campbell	Carrie Douglas Otashe N. Golden Lois Reed Graham  Leilani T. Gyening Kristee L. Haggins	Karma Nelson Gwendolyn E. Smith Edith Spencer Tosca Toussaint Jacquelyn M. Ward
Elaine Carey-Key Dorthey Crawford-Brown	Sharron A. Mackey Hazel Mahone	Carolyn N. Watts Jacqueline B. Webster Barbara Hawkins Yonemura

Just like the amazing 22 Founders, four remarkable women had a vision to start a chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for members from the outskirts of the South Sacramento Region such as Elk Grove, Natomas, and Yolo County to provide services, programs, community action, and mentoring for young women and families.

On December 11, 2004, the Elk Grove Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was chartered through the efforts of Jacquelyn M. Ward, Lillie B. Campbell, Jacqueline B. Webster, Carolyn N. Watts, and 21 reclaimed Sorors.

Sorors who were reclaimed after the chartering date are:

Marianne Bennett	Linda Orum	Margaret Ware
Blondell Gage Chism	Hortense Simmons	Tessa Wilbert
Gladys Love Mitchell	Alondra L. Thompson	Sheron R. Wright

On April 7, 2007, Elk Grove Alumnae Chapter initiated 20 Ladies of Virtue and Excellence (20 L.O.V.E) into the chapter, and they are:

Ebony Sylvester Aaron	Shirley Golden	Okeema Polite
Shene’ Bowie	LaTonya Harris	Elizabeth Sherrell-Smith
Janee Camp	Patricia Hite-Leach	Tiffany Smith-Simmons
Johnson LaVoria Chandler	Samira Jones	Mary Stewart
Barbara Curry Jr.	Cynthia Jones Mack	Tyra Taylor
Shaunte’ Derrick	Sean Mateo	Cynthia Williams
Janice Edwards	Veronica Piazza

The Elk Grove Alumnae Chapter is a dynamic chapter made up of prominent women dedicated to sisterhood and community service.  As part of the Chapter’s commitment to community service and involvement, Elk Grove Alumnae Chapter develops programs based on the National organization’s five-point thrust.

Annual Chapter Programs:

Elk Grove Unified School District (EGUSD) Liaison.  The Chapter formed a liaison with the District Superintendent and Staff of EGUSD, as some of our programs involve their students.  This partnership prompted the Superintendent and some of his staff to accompany one of our members on the Historical Black College Tour during the summer of 2007, and is an ongoing collaboration.

Growing and Empowering Myself Successfully (GEMS).  The GEMS program is a mentor/ support group from our membership that meets with and assists 14-18 year-old African American girls in achieving goals successfully.  We encourage, support, and motivate these young ladies as they strive to reach academic excellence as they participate in goal setting and community service projects.  Role models are invited to speak to the group.  The Chapter participates on two campuses:  River City High School in West Sacramento, CA, and Monterey Trail High School in Elk Grove, CA.

Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy.  The Academy prepares today’s girls to assume roles and responsibilities imperative to being successful in the future.  It is the Delta’s and the Chapter’s vision to turn our resources and energies into developing new purposes, skills, and leaders from the ranks of 9-12 year-old African American girls.  Role models are invited to speak to the group.  We have met with these young girls at the Franklin Library in Sacramento, CA, and at Irene B. West Elementary School in Elk Grove, CA.

Science and Everyday Experiences Project (SEE).  Project SEE is a program that involves all children and their parents with hands-on science activities.  The sessions focus on presentations and teaching science through various activities and experiments.  It stresses the sciences for fifth through eight graders, and their parents, striving to change family attitudes about the role of science through everyday activities.  Role models are invited to speak to the group.  The program meets at Ed Harris Middle School in Elk Grove, CA, and at the Elk Grove Public Library.

Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) Tutorial.  In an effort assist students in raising their scores, and to familiarize and make them more comfortable with taking the SAT, the Chapter sponsored SAT tutorial classes on Saturday mornings for African American students.  The classes were held at River City High School in West Sacramento, CA.

River City High School Boys Outreach.  The Chapter’s service projects focus on girls and women, but because we saw a great need, we developed an outreach program for the African American males at River City High School and secured a male mentor for these young men.

Partnering with Vision 2000 Math and Reading Academy.  The Math and Reading Academy is a five-day, six-week academic program hosted by Vision 2000 Educational Foundation, a community-service based program.  The program is held each summer at California State University, Sacramento, in conjunction with Sacramento City Unified School District, and Twin Rivers Unified School District.  The students that are recruited are either basic, below-basic or far-below basic levels in math and reading.  At the end of this academy, math and reading scores are increased significantly.  Our Chapter has, in passed years, been a financial sponsor of this project.  This year we have voted to take on a more active role and partner with the Academy in a more financial, and a physical role by volunteering ourselves during the actual academy period.

Community and Chapter Members Mental and Physical Health.  This program concentrates our expertise and focuses on the well-being of our members, and the families in our communities.  In keeping with the alliance of our National Five-Point Programmatic Thrust, the following projects will be undertaken:  The Chapter is joining “Power to End Stroke” where we will bring awareness to the African-American community regarding stroke and its risk factors.  Use the American Hearth Association’s “Search Your Heart” program to encourage and show the community and our members how to take the necessary steps to reduce the risk of heart disease, including how to make healthy lifestyle changes and develop heart-healthy habits.  Provide monthly health/fitness activities for our Chapter members.  This will be culminated in our “Annual Nutrition and Fitness Expo” that emphasizes preventing chronic disease, adult and childhood obesity in the community.

Voter Registration.  Voter registration is an ongoing project of the Chapter.  As part of our Political Awareness and Involvement Thrust, the Chapter sponsors forums for Deltas and community friends to come together to watch the political debates, and hold discussions regarding these debates.  The groups also discuss propositions on the ballot in order to have a forum for all to ask questions and get clarity on the propositions.  Questions are fielded regarding many aspects of the voting process.  Our intent is to educate and inform as many voters as we can reach.

To raise funds to support our programs, the Chapter hosts two signature events:  the Crimson and Cream Affair, and the Wine and Jazz Evening with Friends.  The Deltas of Elk Grove Alumnae Chapter are highly motivated and committed to the community, the mission of our organization, and making a difference in the lives of those in our service areas in the Elk Grove, Natomas, and Yolo County areas.  The members of the Elk Grove Alumnae Chapter are one sisterhood, empowering communities through committed service.