Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. – Key Terms & Programs

Vocabulary flashcards covering Delta Sigma Theta’s history, programs, founders, international projects, and key initiatives for exam preparation.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

A historically Black, college-educated women’s organization founded on January 13, 1913, at Howard University by 22 collegiate women.

Four Founding Principles

Sisterhood, scholarship, service, and social action—core values guiding all Delta initiatives.

ShopRedBuyBlack

Slogan encouraging support of Black-owned businesses featured in the Delta Red Pages directory.

Delta Red Pages

An online directory spotlighting Delta business owners; promotes economic support within the Black community.

Economic Development Subcommittee

DST National Program Planning & Development body that launched the Delta Red Pages initiative.

Financial Fortitude

DST’s signature Economic Development program that teaches goal setting, planning, and action toward personal financial stability.

Ten Components of Financial Fortitude

Goal Setting, Financial Planning, Budgeting, Debt Management, Savings & Investments, Retirement Planning, Homeownership, Insurance, Estate Planning, Entrepreneurship.

Goal Setting (Financial Fortitude)

Component that helps participants define clear, achievable financial objectives.

Financial Planning (Financial Fortitude)

Creating strategies to meet short- and long-term monetary goals.

Budgeting (Financial Fortitude)

Developing a spending plan to manage income and expenses.

Debt Management (Financial Fortitude)

Strategies to reduce, restructure, or eliminate personal debt.

Savings & Investments (Financial Fortitude)

Building emergency funds and growing wealth through diversified assets.

Retirement Planning (Financial Fortitude)

Preparing financially for life after employment through pensions, 401(k)s, IRAs, etc.

Homeownership (Financial Fortitude)

Education on mortgages, equity, and maintaining property as an asset.

Insurance (Financial Fortitude)

Protecting income and assets through life, health, property, and liability policies.

Estate Planning (Financial Fortitude)

Managing wills, trusts, and asset transfer to heirs.

Entrepreneurship (Financial Fortitude)

Guidance on starting, managing, and growing a business.

Five-Point Programmatic Thrust

DST’s framework: Economic Development, Educational Development, International Awareness & Involvement, Physical & Mental Health, Political Awareness & Involvement.

EMBODI

Empowering Males to Build Opportunities for Developing Independence—program targeting African-American males.

Delta GEMS

Growing and Empowering Myself Successfully—leadership and academic program for at-risk girls ages 14-18.

Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy

‘Catching the Dreams of Tomorrow’ program (ages 11-14) emphasizing math, science, and technology.

“Discover Their Individual Brilliance”

Inspirational phrase associated with Delta GEMS participants.

Healthy Lifestyle: Total Woman

DST Physical & Mental Health initiative focused on mind, body, and spirit wellness.

DeltaCare

Internal wellness program with pillars of physical, emotional, and advocacy awareness.

Red S.H.O.E. Challenge

Physical-health arm of DeltaCare; stands for Self-care, Healthy Options, and Exercise.

National Social Action Commission

Established in 1963 to coordinate DST’s civil-rights and public-policy advocacy.

Vigilance Committee

Early DST body whose work led to the National Social Action Commission.

May Week

1921 educational program emphasizing higher education for Black women, celebrated annually by chapters.

Jabberwock

1925 cultural/fund-raising event supporting scholarships and charities; started by Iota Chapter.

National Library Project

DST’s first national program (1937) that provided traveling libraries to rural Southern communities.

Career Development Program (1941)

First Black sorority employment-counseling service for Black women.

National Headquarters (1953)

DST became the first Black Greek-letter organization to acquire and operate its own headquarters.

Distinguished Professor Endowed Chair (1977)

DST fund supporting professors and scholarship at HBCUs.

Habitat for Humanity Partnership (1992)

DST collaboration to build homes in the U.S. and Africa for underserved families.

NGO Status at United Nations (2003)

DST recognized as the first Black Greek-letter organization with consultative UN status.

Financial Fortitude Blueprint

Comprehensive guide addressing all aspects of personal finance for program participants and communities.

Adelaide Tambo School

School for students with disabilities in Soweto, South Africa, supported by DST.

Delta House (Swaziland)

Orphanage in Vashti Village for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS; dedicated in 2002.

TREE – Training & Resources for Early Education

Durban, South Africa nonprofit focused on holistic early childhood development (ages 0-4).

Mary Help of the Sick Mission Hospital

Maternal hospital in Thika, Kenya, originally funded with DST assistance (opened early 1960s).

I Can Fly High School

2013 Kenyan school providing education and teacher empowerment for under-resourced youth.

Muindi Mbingu Secondary School

Boys’ school in Machakos, Kenya; DST supports its 369 students and faculty.

Cynthia M.A. Butler-McIntyre Campus

Delta Sigma Theta Elementary School in Chérettes, Haiti, opened June 15, 2013.

WEI School Project (Haiti)

DST & Water in Education International collaboration supplying clean water and education facilities.

Political Awareness & Involvement

DST thrust that includes voter registration, education, mobilization, and advocacy training.

Enlightened Citizenship

DST goal of providing fact-based information to officials and voters for informed civic participation.

22 Founders of Delta Sigma Theta

The collegiate women who established DST in 1913; each contributed unique talents to the sorority.

Osceola Macarthy Adams

Founder; Broadway actress, national treasurer, helped form first graduate chapter (NY Alumnae).

Marguerite Young Alexander

Founder; French & Spanish teacher, civic advocate, charter member of Chicago Alumnae.

Winona Cargile Alexander

Founder; first Black social worker in NYC; championed community welfare services.

Ethel Cuff Black

Founder; first DST Vice President; organized 1913 Suffrage March participation.

Bertha Pitts Campbell

Founder; marched in 1913 Suffrage March and 1963 50-year reenactment.

Zephyr Chisom Carter

Founder; journalist and performer who promoted cultural arts in DST.

Edna Brown Coleman

Founder; valedictorian who hosted the first Delta meetings in her home.

Jessie McGuire Dent

Founder; won lawsuit for equal pay for Black teachers in Galveston, TX.

Frederica Chase Dodd

Founder; first Sergeant-at-Arms and co-founder of Dallas Alumnae Chapter.

Myra Davis Hemmings

Founder; first Alpha Chapter President; educator and theater director.

Olive Claire Jones

Founder; music educator who integrated arts into DST programs.

Jimmie Bugg Middleton

Founder; secured Howard’s approval for DST’s role in the 1913 Suffrage March.

Pauline Oberdorfer Minor

Founder; first DST Treasurer; published hymnal 'Get Off the Judgment Seat'.

Vashti Turley Murphy

Founder; co-founded Baltimore Alumnae, promoted women’s education.

Naomi Sewell Richardson

Founder; desegregation advocate; last surviving Founder (d. 1993).

Mamie Reddy Rose

Founder; educator remembered for Christian values; first Founder to enter Omega Omega Chapter.

Eliza Pearl Shippen

Founder; only Founder to earn a Ph.D.; principal and academic excellence advocate.

Florence Letcher Toms

Founder; civic leader who introduced First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to a Black audience.

Ethel Carr Watson

Founder; 30-year teacher devoted to literacy and service learning.

Wertie Blackwell Weaver

Founder; author of 'The Valley of the Poor' and educational advocate.

Madree Penn White

Founder; first DST Secretary; designed the sorority’s emblem and founded The Delta newsletter.

Edith Motte Young

Founder; first Recording Secretary of Alpha Chapter; championed academic achievement.

Lambda Kappa Chapter (UMBC)

DST chapter chartered April 8, 1977, first Greek-letter organization at UMBC.

Cheryl W. Turner

Current International President & Chair of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (2025-2027 biennium).

Red Pages Disclaimer

DST does not endorse or hold liability for businesses listed in the Delta Red Pages directory.

DST Purpose Statement

Private, not-for-profit organization committed to public service with primary focus on the Black community.

DST Membership

Over 350,000 members in 1,050+ chapters worldwide, primarily Black, college-educated women.

DST International Reach

Chapters located in the U.S., Canada, Japan, Germany, Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Bahamas, Jamaica, West & Southern Africa, UAE, Republic of Korea.

First Public Act (1913)

DST Founders marched in the Women’s Suffrage Parade two months after founding.

Kenya Hospital Project (1963)

DST opened Mary Help of the Sick Mission Hospital to improve maternal health in East Africa.

Centennial Celebration (2013)

DST marked 100 years with over 38,000 members attending the 51st National Convention.

Lambda Kappa Chapter

Delta Sigma Theta sorority established its UMBC Lambda Kappa chapter. Sorority members would go on to hold voter education campaigns, pack boxes of donations for charities, and nominate UMBC students for their Black Girl Excellence awards.

When was Lamba Kappa Charter?

April 5, 1974