Delta Sigma Theta Delta Sigma Theta ( ΔΣΘ ) is a not - for profit Greek - lettered sorority of college - educated women who perform public service and place emphasis on the African American community . Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13 , 1913 , by 22 collegiate women at Howard University . These students wanted to use their collective strength to promote academic excellence and to provide assistance to persons in need . The first public act performed by the Delta Founders involved their participation in the Women ' s Suffrage March in Washington D . C . , March 1913 . Delta Sigma Theta was incorporated in 1930 . Today , Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is the largest African - American Greek - lettered sorority in the world . Membership in Delta Sigma Theta is open to any woman who meets the membership requirements , regardless of religion , race , or nationality . Women may join through undergraduate chapters at a college or university , or after acquiring a college degree through an alumnae chapter . A sisterhood of more than 300 , 000 predominantly Black college - educated women , the sorority currently has over 1 , 000 chapters located in the United States , England , Japan ( Tokyo and Okinawa ) , Germany , the Virgin Islands , Bermuda , the Bahamas and the Republic of Korea . Delta Sigma Theta is a member of multiple organizations , including the National Pan - Hellenic Council ( NPHC ) – an organization of nine international Greek - letter sororities and fraternities - as well as the NAACP and the National Council of Negro Women ( NCNW ) . The current 24th national president is Cynthia M . A . Butler - McIntyre . The organization will celebrate its 100th birthday with a float entitled " " Transforming Communities through Sisterhood and Service " " in the 2013 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena , CA . History . Creation of Delta Sigma Theta . Delta Sigma Theta was founded by 22 students who had earlier been initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha . Seven of them were the elected officers of the chapter : Myra Davis Hemmings , president ; Ethel Cuff Black , vice - president ; Edith Motte Young , secretary ; Jessie McGuire Dent , corresponding secretary ; Winona Cargile Alexander , custodian ; Frederica Chase Dodd , sergeant - at - arms ; and Pauline Oberdorfer Minor , treasurer . The 22 were dismayed at progress and wanted to reorganize the sorority . The new initiates wanted to establish a national organization , enlarge the scope of the sorority ' s activities , and change its name to reflect a true purpose . They felt Alpha Kappa Alpha was solely a female derivative of Alpha Phi Alpha with no individual meaning and were not " Greek distinctive " letters . They also wanted to change the symbols , change the sorority colors and be more politically oriented . In 1912 at Howard University , these 22 undergraduates voted to change the organization ' s name to Delta Sigma Theta . This new name was to reflect the group ' s desire to change the direction of the group and change in the philosophical underpinnings . The collegiate students sought to move towards social activism and greater public service , rather than social activities . According to Delta Sigma Theta ' s historian Paula Giddings , the 22 young women were concerned that since Alpha Kappa Alpha was not incorporated , there was no " legal entity " . Since there was no charter , there was no authority to form other chapters . " The undergraduate members wanted to establish a national organization , enlarge the scope of activities of the sorority , change the sorority ' s name and symbols , and be more politically oriented . However , conflict arose between one alumnae member who wished to keep the previous name and the remaining collegiate members who voted to change the name to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority . When the graduate member Nellie Quander heard about their desire to change the sorority ' s name , she disagreed and gave the students a deadline to stop the efforts to reorganize the sorority . The 22 declined and unanimously voted to reorganize . Thus Delta Sigma Theta was founded on January 13 , 1913 , by the 22 students . The new sorority was officially incorporated on February 18 , 1913 . On January 20 , 1930 , the organization ' s Grand Chapter was nationally incorporated . Participation in the 1913 Women Suffrage March . Less than two months after the sorority ' s founding , the Founders of Delta Sigma Theta began their political activism by participating in the historic 1913 Women ' s Suffrage March on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington , D . C . on March 3 , 1913 . The twenty - two Founders of Delta Sigma Theta marched with honorary member Mary Church Terrell under the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority banner on the day prior to Woodrow Wilson ' s inauguration ; they were the " only " Black women ' s organization to walk in the march . They believed that Black women needed the right to vote to protect against sexual exploitation , promote quality education , assist in the work force , and empower their race . Black female marchers were subjected to racism , not only by people who were opposed to the enfranchisement of women , but by march organizers reluctant to advocate suffrage for Black women . Since 1890 , white Democrats of the southern states of the former Confederacy had ratified new state constitutional amendments and passed legislation that effectively disfranchised most Blacks and many poor Whites . Black women marching for the right to vote reminded many that Black men had also been disenfranchised . Also , in those years , Washington was effectively a segregated city in public areas . Mary Church Terrell recounted that she and the Delta Sigma Theta Founders had to assemble in an area specifically allocated for Black women . Several years later , Terrell confided her feelings about the National American Woman Suffrage Association and suffragist leader Alice Paul to NAACP representative Walter White . Terrell questioned Paul ' s loyalty to Black women ' s rights , saying , " If [ Paul ] and other White suffragist leaders could get the Anthony Amendment through without enfranchising African American women , they would do so . " Although the young Founders were criticized for their participation in the suffrage march , none regretted her participation . Florence Letcher Toms commented , " We marched that day in order that women might come into their own , because we believed that women not only needed an education , but they needed a broader horizon in which they may use that education . And the right to vote would give them that privilege . " Expansion . The sorority expanded with a second chapter , Beta Chapter , established at Wilberforce University , February 5 , 1914 . The third chapter , Gamma Chapter , was established in 1918 at the University of Pennsylvania . Soon after , Delta Chapter was established ( April 4 , 1919 ) at the University of Iowa and Epsilon Chapter at Ohio State University ( November 19 , 1919 ) . The first graduate chapters were authorized in 1920 at the Second National Convention for graduate members in New York City and Washington , D . C . With the chartering of the Kappa Chapter at the University of California in February 1921 , Delta Sigma Theta became the first Black Greek - letter organization established on the Pacific Coast . In 1930 , the Grand Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was incorporated . Expansion programs . Jabberwock . Jabberwock , an annual variety show consisting of cultural expression and talent - such as music , skits , and dance - was initiated by Marion Conover - Hope in 1925 in Boston , Massachusetts . Locally produced Jabberwock shows served as fundraisers for many chapters of the sorority . Funds from the programs support scholarships for youths and other public service projects . The program encourages and assists in the development of young individual talents . On December 28 , 1947 , the Delta Jabberwock was formally adopted and copyrighted by Delta Sigma Theta . May Week . May Week was created at the second national convention in 1920 at Wilberforce University . Local chapters began to observe it beginning in 1921 . The purpose of May Week is to emphasize the importance of higher education in the community , especially for Black women . The slogan " Invest in Education " was adopted . A week in May is set aside for programs highlighting academic and professional achievement . The National Library Project . The sorority ' s first nationwide effort to provide library services in the rural South was the National Library Project , which it authorized in 1937 . The program was implemented in 1945 , with the goal to establish a traveling library in the South , where library services were not generally available for blacks , both because of segregation and because so many blacks lived in rural areas , which had fewer services . The project arose from concerns that few adequate resources were available , outside of those provided by segregated school systems . In 1939 , only 94 out of 774 public libraries in the South served blacks . Additionally , only 5 % of rural blacks had access to any public institution at all . The first traveling library was based in Franklin County , South Carolina , where 23 book baskets , with 33 books , were circulated . Job Analysis and Opportunity Project . The Job Analysis and Opportunity Project began in 1941 . It was to provide career , employment counseling , and job exposure for black women . The sorority created the program to address concerns that black women were limited in their choices of occupations , and that they lacked training because of the economy and World War II . Some of the project ' s goals were to improve working conditions and to improve black women ' s opportunities to acquire a job . Delta Sigma Theta Sorority began a four - point approach to address these concerns : Delta Founders . The twenty - two Founders of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority are : Membership . Many Delta women have been recognized as leaders in community activism , athletics , business , education and scholarship , entertainment , media and literature , as well as in government . Members excel in these roles at the local , national and international level . Many Delta members continue to be active in alumnae chapters after graduating from college . Often alumnae and undergraduate chapters will collaborate on large projects to benefit their community . National headquarters . In 1954 , Delta Sigma Theta was the first African - American organization to purchase a national headquarters site . Their headquarters is in Washington , D . C . The sorority owns property located at 1703 , 1705 , 1707 , and 1709 New Hampshire Avenue , N . W . in the historic Dupont Circle neighborhood . In addition to serving as the national headquarters , the buildings house the Delta Research and Education Foundation ( DREF ) , national staff and records , and equipment systems necessary to conduct Delta Sigma Theta ' s business . Regions . In 1925 , the sorority began to organize its chapters into geographical regions . Initially , it created four regions : Eastern , Midwest , Far West , and Southern . Seven years later , the Central Region was established . In 1960 , the Mid - Atlantic region was created . North and South Carolina left the Southern Region to become part of the new South Atlantic Region . Each of the seven regions is led by a regional director and a collegiate regional representative , who provides a voice for the sorority ' s college - based members . Programs . Delta Sigma Theta has provided assistance to address the challenges faced by people in the United States and internationally as well . Over the years , the sorority has established programs to provide and improve education , health care , and international development , and strengthen the African - American family . Delta Sigma Theta provides public service initiatives through the Five - Point Program Thrust . Five - Point Thrust . Delta Sigma Theta uses the Five - Point Thrust as an organizing structure as it creates programs to benefit the African - American community . The Five - Point Programmatic Thrust , which was established in 1955 , includes : Each program ' s development and implementation operates cooperatively , coordinated by committees , the national executive board , and national headquarters staff . Leaders belonging to the Program Planning and Development Committee , Social Action Commission , Commission on Arts and Letters , Information and Communications Committee , Membership Services Committee and Regional Officers also participate in developing programming to meet the Five - Point Thrust . Economic development . The Delta Challenge : Delta Homeownership Initiative . In 2003 , the " Delta Challenge : DST Homeownership Initiative " was created to assist sorority members , family , friends , and the general public with owning their homes and investing in homeownership . The program is a resource for individuals seeking information about homeownership ; wishing to locate a loan representatives who partners with the Delta Challenge ; information about mortgage insurance or other benefits ; or who has questions regarding real estate or related financial topics . In three years , the program has helped more than 400 families purchase homes . The DST Homeownership Initiative is a partnership between Delta Sigma Theta ' s 950 chapters , Chase Bank , and Genworth Financial . The national directors of the DST Homeownership Initiative are Lori Jones Gibson and Lynn Richardson . Gibson is the Genworth Financial ' s Vice - President of Affordable Housing and Industry Affairs , and Richardson is Chase Bank ' s Vice President of National Strategic Partnerships . The Delta Challenge offers mortgage loans , insurance , and other home buyers ' discounts through The Delta Chase Initiative . The Delta Chase Initiative resulted in more than 100 , 000 consumer touch points worldwide and $ 35 million in closings for Chase , a staggering 389 % increase over those closed over the previous three years . 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 . Between 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 , where they built forty Delta Habitat for Humanity homes . Financial Fortitude : Smart Women Finish Rich . Financial Fortitude was designed to help sorority members and local 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 . Delta Towers I . In 1979 , Delta Sigma Theta ' s Washington D . C . Alumnae Chapter and Delta ' s Housing Corporation planned and constructed Delta Towers as a multi - million dollar , ten - story building . Delta Towers opened for occupancy in 1980 . Delta Sigma Theta established Delta Towers in the northeast area of Washington , D . C . Delta Towers is an apartment building for elderly and disabled individuals . Delta Towers was the first retirement center founded by any of the African - American sororities or fraternities in the United States . However , many of the African - American sororities and fraternities are planning to or have established retirement centers . Delta Towers currently has 150 independent - living residential apartments . Because of the success of Delta Towers , the chapter and housing corporation are constructing a second apartment building , Delta Towers II , near the first . Delta Towers II . The Washington D . C . Alumnae Chapter ' s Delta Housing Corporation is planning to construct Delta Towers II . Delta Towers II will provide 150 additional safe and affordable apartments for low to moderate income senior citizens . Delta Towers II will be designed to provide a senior citizen wellness center , ground level commercial office and retail services , and a community room . Together , Delta Towers I and Delta Towers II will offer 300 affordable apartments for senior housing ( affordable to households earning 60 % or less of the area ' s median income ) . Construction on Delta Towers II is scheduled to begin in March 2009 . Educational development . Dr . Betty Shabazz Delta Academy . Dr . Betty Shabazz ' s Delta Academy ( " Catching the Dreams of Tomorrow , Preparing Young Women For the 21st Century " ) is designed for girls ages 11 to 14 , who have an interest in developing leadership skills . The program is named in honor of sorority member , the late Dr . Betty Shabazz , wife of Malcolm X . It is for girls who demonstrate the potential for success , but may not have support systems or access to financial resources . Participants are exposed to math , science , technology , and non - traditional careers . The Delta Academy sessions may also include service learning activities , field trips and book clubs . Delta Academy ' s symbol is the dream catcher . In Native American culture , the dream catcher possesses power to capture bad dreams and entangle them into a web . The good dreams pass through the dream hoop ' s open center into the person . Delta GEMS : Growing and Empowering Myself Successfully . Delta GEMS 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 : 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 . Delta GEMS , like Delta Academy , is implemented by Delta Sigma Theta ' s chapters . Lawry ' s Delta GEMS Collegiate Challenge . Lawry ' s Foods partnered with Delta Sigma Theta to create the National Collegiate Public Service Caddy and Grant Recognition Program . The Collegiate Challenge recognizes and rewards a Delta collegiate chapter in each of Delta ' s regions for the Delta GEMS program ' s outstanding implementation . Regional winners receive $ 1 , 000 , and the grand prize winner receives $ 5 , 000 . In 2006 , collegiate chapters were asked to partner with other collegiate chapters , alumnae chapters or community organizations in their municipality . Maryland Educational Opportunity Center ( MEOC ) . The Maryland Educational Opportunity Center was established in 1979 and created with a special service grant of $ 450 , 000 – the largest grant awarded by the United States Department of Health , Education , and Welfare . MEOC is a free program in Baltimore which provides information and counseling services to adults and youths interested attending college or vocational / technical school . Having seven outreach centers , the program is sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta and funded by the federal government . The MEOC is a federal TRIO program and one of 130 Educational Opportunity Centers ( EOC ) in the country . From 1979 to 2006 , MEOC has served more than 78 , 000 individuals . Nearly 20 , 000 participants were enrolled in postsecondary institutions . Empowering Males to Build Opportunities for Developing Independence ( EMBODI ) . The EMBODI ( Empowering Males to Build Opportunities for Developing Independence ) program is designed to refocus the efforts of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority , Inc . , with the support and action of other major organizations , on the plight of African - American males . Both informal and empirical data suggests that the vast majority of African - American males continues to be in crisis and is not reaching its fullest potential educationally , socially and emotionally . EMBODI is designed to address these issues through dialogue , and recommendations for change and action . EMBODI will include a program format and information template . The delivery options may include a town hall meeting , workshops , and / or teen leadership summits . Physical and mental health . The Total Woman : Mind , Body , and Spirit Lifestyle Change Initiative . The Total Woman : Mind , Body , and Spirit Lifestyle Change Initiative impacts the well - being of sorority members and members ' families and communities at - large . The Lifestyle Change initiative was started in 2004 by the Health Taskforce , providing physical and mental health expertise . Some of the program ' s goals are to educate on the importance and benefits of lifestyle changes affecting longevity , morbidity , and mortality ; to identify organizational alliances that work towards address pertinent health issues ; and to develop and implement health - focused programs . Through the Initiative , the sorority is working to combat the high incidence of women ' s obesity . The program ' s first component is a challenge to chapter members to achieve and maintain healthier weights . 50 Million Pound Challenge Partnership . In 2006 , Delta Sigma Theta Sorority , in collaboration with Dr . Ian K . Smith and State Farm Insurance , began a partnership , encouraging members to become healthier by exercising and eating properly . Members joined with others in the African - American community to reverse the deadly effects of obesity . At the 2008 National Convention in Orlando , Florida , Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was presented with an award for the most weight lost by any sorority or fraternity . American Heart Association Partnership “ Go Red for Women ” Campaign . Heart disease is the leading killer of women and of women of color in the United States . Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was the first sorority to join the American Heart Association ' s " Go Red for Women " campaign as an organizational alliance working to educate women on heart disease . Political awareness and involvement . Delta Days in the Nation ' s Capital . In 1989 , the National Social Action Commission instituted Delta Days in the Nation ' s Capital . Delta Days is an annual legislative conference to increase sorority members ' involvement in the national public policy - making process . The annual conference includes legislative briefings , issue forums , and developing advocacy skills . Featured speakers include key policy makers , members of the United States Congress , staff members , and national policy experts . In 2009 , Delta Sigma Theta Sorority celebrated the twentieth anniversary of Delta Days in the Nation ' s Capital . The theme was " Advocacy in Action : Strengthening Our Legacy " . Topics included empowering membership to be effective social action advocates in the areas of quality education , affordable health care , Census 2010 , and economic viability . An orientation for first - time attendees providing " how to ' s " on navigating the legislative process , legislative letter writing , congressional testimony , resolution writing , and coalition building was provided . Delta Days at the United Nations . On March 27 , 2003 , Delta Sigma Theta became a Non - Governmental Organization ( NGO ) with special consultative status at the United Nations . 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 . Delta Sigma Theta Sorority , Inc . is the first African American Sorority , and one of only three African - American organizations with the NGO special consultative status with the United Nations , the other two African American organizations with this status are the National Council of Negro Women , Inc . and The Links , Inc . Voting rights . The sorority made a commitment to creating programs advocating : International awareness and involvement . World AIDS Day . Delta Sigma Theta Sorority supported the World AIDS campaign in observance of World AIDS Day , on December 1 , 2008 . With the slogan " Stop AIDS ! Keep the Promise , " Delta Sigma Theta promotes workshops , programs , and information dissemination . Individual chapters and members continue increasing awareness of HIV / AIDS in the community Mary Help of the Sick Mission Hospital ( formerly Thika Memorial Hospital ) . Concerns about inadequate prenatal and maternity care for women in Africa prompted Delta Sigma Theta to invest in health care for women in Kenya . In 1955 , Delta Sigma Theta Sorority established a maternity wing and health services in Thika Town . The sorority began planning for a larger facility in the early 1960s , and financed construction of Thika Maternity Hospital . The first hospital to open after Kenya gained independence in 1963 , it is now known as Mary Help of the Sick Mission Hospital . Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary operate the facility . In 1985 , Delta Sigma Theta members visited the hospital . They were able to see the positive results of an increased population and improved infant mortality rate in and around Thika . In response , the sorority donated another $ 20 , 000 , to establish two additional maternity wards and an administrative office . Mary Help of the Sick Mission Hospital now has 121 beds , and provides affordable prenatal and postnatal care , nutritional education , child immunization , and family planning . The hospital gives prenatal care , including lab work , blood tests , and examinations for 200 women each day . The facility also has a special - care nursery for newborn babies . The hospital serves to educate nurses and midwives . Over 66 students are trained each year . Summit VI : Health Issues Impacting Women of African Descent . In April 2006 , Delta Sigma Theta commemorated 25 years of providing summit programs with an International Awareness Program : " Summit VI : Health Issues Impacting Women of African Descent " . Held in Jamaica , the health issues summit heightened awareness of increases in diabetes , heart disease and obesity among African - American women . The conference included various formats for a variety of health care experts to disseminate information , such as workshops , panels , and town hall formats . Texas rapist . In October 2011 , a serial rapist in the Dallas area was reported to be targeting Delta Sigma Theta alumnae , attacking four alumnae in their mid - 50s to mid - 60s over an eleven - month period . The sorority issued a release advising its members not to identify their affiliation with the sorority via their cars , key chains , clothing , or Facebook postings . The case was featured on the December 9 , 2011 , episode of " America ' s Most Wanted " .