Delta Sigma Theta

The African Violet is one of Delta Sigma Theta's recognized symbols.

On January 13, 1913, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated was founded by twenty-two women at Howard University, some who had earlier been initiated into the Alpha chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, including the elected officers of Alpha Kappa Alpha: 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.[8] The twenty-two were dismayed at the lack of progress of Alpha Kappa Alpha to move beyond its function of orchestrating the affairs of campus society at Howard and wanted to reorganize the sorority to address a variety of purposes like public service and women's advancement. The new initiates wanted to establish a national organization, enlarge the scope of the sorority's activities, and change the sorority's name to reflect a new purpose. They felt Alpha Kappa Alpha was solely a female derivative of the Beta chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity with no individual meaning and were not "Greek distinctive" letters. They also wanted to change the symbols, motto, change the sorority colors, and be more politically oriented. In 1912, they 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[9] and change in the philosophical underpinnings. The members of the new organization sought to move towards social activism and greater public service, rather than continue to focus on social activities.[10] According to Delta Sigma Theta's historian Paula Giddings, the twenty-two 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, thus limiting their ability to enlarge the scope of activity."[9]

The undergraduate members push to establish a national organization, to engage in activities that were national in scope, to change the sorority's name and symbols as well as to be more politically oriented[11] caused conflict between one alumnae member who wished to keep the previous name and functional status quo, and the remaining collegiate Alpha Chapter members who voted to change the name of Alpha Kappa Alpha to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.[10] When the graduate member, Nellie Quander, was informed about some of the students' desire to change the sorority's name, colors and constitution, she disagreed and gave the students a deadline to stop the efforts to reorganize the sorority.[12] The women declined and unanimously voted to reorganize, even prior to Delta Sigma Theta being approved by the Howard University administration.[13] Thus Delta Sigma Theta was founded on January 13, 1913.[10][14] The new sorority's Alpha Chapter was incorporated on February 18, 1913 making Delta the second sorority composed of undergraduate African American women to apply to the trustees of any university for the right to become an incorporated body.[15] On January 20, 1930, the organization's Grand Chapter was nationally incorporated. Delta Sigma Theta was among the women of Howard to participate in the Women's Suffrage March on March 3, 1913.

Immediately following the founding, Delta Sigma Theta members quickly mobilized to build and develop infrastructure and implement programming. One of the first orders of business was to have an oath, which was written by Mary Church Terrell in 1914. In the early years, individual chapters would implement various programs to meet the needs of their local communities. The 1920s began a decade of significant development within Delta Sigma Theta. The organization began to develop uniformity in programming and communication between the chapters of the sorority. In 1920, May Week, was developed to encourage Black women to attend college and the Official Publication of the Sorority was established as "The Delta." Also in 1920, Omega Chapter was established to recognize deceased Sorors, and Sadie T.M. Alexander was voted first Honorary Grand President of Delta Sigma Theta. The official Delta Sigma Theta Hymn, written by Florence Cole Talbert and Alice Dunbar Nelson, was adopted in 1924. Regions were established in 1925, and the Jabberwock was established as the scholarship fundraiser. The scholarship and standards committee was established in 1929, and the organization was incorporated as a perpetual body on February 17, 1930.

The incorporation of the Sorority allowed for Delta Sigma Theta to improve expansion of chapters. Prior to incorporation as a perpetual body, new chapters were required to seek individual charters locally. However, with the national organization incorporated, chartering chapters became easier on regional leadership. The National Library Project was established in 1937 to provide access to books for Blacks in rural areas in the South where either no libraries were located, or they were not accessible to Blacks. The National Victory Book Drive occurred in 1943 to provide books to servicemen. In 1945, Delta Sigma Theta donated its first $1,000 to the United Negro College Fund. Also in 1945, Delta Sigma Theta, along with Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Zeta Phi Beta, and Sigma Gamma Rho established the American Council on Human Rights which had the goal to "mobilize the influence and resources of its members in the struggle for justice and equal opportunity for all U.S. Citizens." While there were many struggles for minorities and women within the United States, Delta leadership also realized the great struggle others of African descent faced around the world, which led to the establishment of the first foreign chapter in Port-au-Prince, Haiti in 1950. Given the great expansion of programming, and the increasing number of chapters and members, Delta Sigma Theta leadership realized there needed to be one central location in which all properties and records could be housed, and in 1953, Delta had the dedication of its first National Headquarters. In continuing with assisting persons in need abroad, Delta established the Maternity ward at Thika Memorial Hospital in 1955.

Delta had previously moved toward having some uniformity of programming among chapters, with two international programs abroad. As it began its fifth decade of existence, the organization wanted to ensure that all chapters would focus their programming around one national centralized theme. Thus, the Five Point Thrust was implemented in 1956 by 10th National President Dorothy Height. The five-point thrust is the five areas under which all Delta programming falls; the thrust are Educational Development, Economic Development, Physical and Mental Health, Political Awareness and Involvement and International Awareness and Involvement. In 1960, Delta co-sponsored the National Organization of Women for Equality in Education conference. In 1963, while celebrating their 50th Anniversary, Delta participated in the March on Washington, and established the Social Action Commission at the 27th National Convention. In 1966, Delta Teen Lift was established and the Delta Sigma Theta Executive Board was received in the White House by President Lyndon B. Johnson to discuss community issues and concerns in 1967. In 1968, the Unwed Mothers program was established, and in 1970 Delta sponsored the East African International Women's Seminar in Nairobi, Kenya.

While many strides had been made in the fifties and sixties to outlaw de jure segregation and discriminatory practices in schooling and public accommodations, much de facto discriminatory practices persisted. Delta understood the importance of education, and how educating communities would be essential in eradicating discrimination. In 1971, Delta and the Congressional Black Caucus co-sponsored National Policy Conferences on Education for Blacks, which focused on disparities and deficiencies in schools with high Black populations. The right to read program was established in 1973 to help the functionally illiterate. In 1975, Delta established life development centers to focus on issues placed by individuals from early childhood to senior citizens.

In 1979, the Fortitude sculpture was unveiled on the campus of Howard University. "Fortitude" was originally surveyed as part of the Smithsonian's Save Outdoor Sculpture survey in 1993.[16] The sculpture depicts a figure of a woman cut from a thin piece of metal. She "wears" a sleeveless dress, high heels and has short, straight hair. She is walking; with her proper left arm swinging above her head and her proper right arm back behind her.[17] The sculpture was unveiled on April 28, 1979, at 3:15 p.m. by members of Delta Sigma Theta, to honor the founders of the service sorority. The sculpture is described as symbolizing "the attributes of strength, courage, hope, wisdom, beauty and femininity as depicted by the 22 founders of Delta Sigma Theta".[17]

In the early 1980s, the sorority began holding "Summits" which focused on various issues within the African American Community. Delta felt the need to bring attention to issues that affect minorities and women that remained largely ignored in the United States. In 1981, Delta held Summit I which focused on issues affecting American women. Summit II, a call to action in support of single parenting, was held in 1984. The Delta Research and Education Foundation sponsored an international conference in Nassau, Bahamas entitled, "Woman to Woman: Single parenting from a global perspective" in 1987. In 1989, the School America program was established.

With significant scope and depth in the existing programming, Delta members felt the need to establish programming that enlarged the scope and reach of sorority activity. The First Delta Days in the Nations Capital was held in 1990 in Washington, D.C. At the event Delta members met with congressional members to discuss policy that affected minorities and women. In 1992, Delta Sigma Theta became the first African American organization to collaborate with Habitat for Humanity, and has built hundreds of houses for those in need. Delta held its Summit III, preparing young men for manhood, in 1993, in response to alarming drop out and incarceration rates among young men. And in 1996, in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity, Delta traveled to Ghana and built 40 homes. Delta adopted the Adelaide Tambo school for the Physically Disabled in South Africa. In that same year, Delta received $1.6 million from NSF for project SEE [Science and Everyday Experiences], and traveled to Swaziland, South Africa to break ground for the Delta house that would be housing for children who became orphans due to their parents dying from HIV/AIDS, and dedicated the computer training center in Lesotho. In 2002, Delta was the second African American organization, after NCNW, to receive Special Consultative NGO status with the United Nations.

Delta Jabberwock Contestants 1945

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.[30] Funds from the programs support scholarships for youths and other public service projects.[31] The program encourages and assists in the development of young individual talents.[31] On December 28, 1947, the Delta Jabberwock was formally adopted and copyrighted by Delta Sigma Theta.[32]

May Week was created at the second national convention in 1920 at Wilberforce University. Local chapters began to observe it beginning in 1921.[33] The purpose of May Week is to emphasize the importance of higher education in the community, especially for black women.[33] The slogan "Invest in Education" was adopted. A week in May is set aside for programs highlighting academic and professional achievement.[34]

The sorority's first nationwide effort to provide library services in the rural South was the National Library Project, which it authorized in 1937.[35] 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.[35] The project arose from concerns that few adequate resources were available, outside of those provided by segregated school systems.[35] In 1939, only 94 out of 774 public libraries in the South served blacks.[35] Additionally, only 5% of rural blacks had access to any public institution at all.[35] The first traveling library was based in Franklin County, North Carolina,[36] where 23 book baskets, with 33 books, were circulated.[35]

The Job Analysis and Opportunity Project began in 1941.[37] It was to provide career, employment counseling, and job exposure for black women.[37] 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.[37]

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority began a four-point approach to address these concerns:

• fact-finding;
• counseling workers on problem solving;
• providing guidance and encouragement; and
• assisting in changing public perception on working African-American women.[37]

Delta Sigma Theta's seven regions

In 1925, the sorority began to organize its chapters into geographical regions. Initially, it created four regions: Eastern, Midwest, Far West, and Southern.[44] Seven years later, the Central Region was established.[45] In 1960, the Mid-Atlantic region was created.[46] North and South Carolina left the Southern Region to become part of the new South Atlantic Region.[46]

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.[47] Regional conferences are held biennially, alternating with the years in which National Conventions are held.

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.

1. Economic Development;
2. Educational Development;
3. International Awareness and Involvement;
4. Physical and Mental Health; and
5. Political Awareness and Involvement.

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.[48]

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.[49] 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.[49] In three years, the program has helped more than 400 families purchase homes.[49] The DST Homeownership Initiative is a partnership between Delta Sigma Theta's 950 chapters, Chase Bank, and Genworth Financial.[49]

The national directors of the DST Homeownership Initiative are Lori Jones Gibbs and Lynn Richardson.[50] Gibbs is the Genworth Financial's Vice-President of Affordable Housing and Industry Affairs,[50] and Richardson is Chase Bank's Vice President of National Strategic Partnerships.[51]

The Delta Challenge offers mortgage loans, insurance, and other home buyers' discounts through The Delta Chase Initiative.[52] 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.[51]

Delta Sigma Theta was the first national African-American organization to collaborate with Habitat for Humanity International in 1992, during National President Bertha Roddey's administration.[53] 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.[54] Houses are sold to families without profit, and no-interest mortgages are issued over a fixed period.[54] Between 1992–1994, Delta Sigma Theta and Habitat for Humanity built twenty-two homes throughout the United States.[53] In 1996, sorority members and supporters traveled to Ghana, where they built forty Delta Habitat for Humanity homes.[54]

Financial Fortitude was designed to help sorority members and local communities to attain personal wealth and financial security.[55] 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.[55]

In 1979, Delta Sigma Theta's Washington D.C. Alumnae Chapter and Delta's Housing Corporation planned and constructed Delta Towers as a multimillion-dollar, ten-story building.[56] Delta Towers opened for occupancy in 1980.[56] 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.[57] Delta Towers was the first retirement center founded by any of the African-American sororities or fraternities in the United States.[58] While, many African-American sororities and fraternities subsequently established, or have plans to establish, retirement centers, Delta Sigma Theta, once again, remains a leader in setting the standard for others to follow.[59] Delta Towers currently has 150 independent-living residential apartments.[56] Because of the success of Delta Towers, the chapter and housing corporation are constructing a second apartment building, Delta Towers II, near the first.[56]

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.[60] Delta Towers II will be designed to provide a senior citizen wellness center, ground level commercial office and retail services, and a community room.[60] 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).[60] Construction on Delta Towers II began in March 2009.[60]

The Sorority established the Delta Hurricane Katrina Relief Task Force to facilitate the needs of gulf Coast residents affected by the national disaster. The Hurricane Relief Task Force is responsible for creating strategies to address the numerous difficulties impacting persons displaced by Hurricane Katrina as it relates to housing, health and wellness, emotional and financial needs. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. made a major commitment to three Historically Black Colleges and Universities that were affected by Hurricane Katrina. Collectively $700,000 was awarded to Dillard, Xavier, and Southern Universities over a period of four years and a total of more than $1.2 million was committed to agencies, organizations, members, and other residents of the affected Gulf areas.[61]

A dreamcatcher, Delta Academy's symbol

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.[62] 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.[63] Participants are exposed to math, science, technology, and non-traditional careers.[62] The Delta Academy sessions may also include service learning activities, field trips and book clubs.[62]

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.[62]

Delta GEMS is an outgrowth and continuation of the Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy Program.[64] Delta GEMS was created to assist in facilitating the dreams and goals of at-risk, adolescent African-American girls, aged 14–18.[64] Goals for Delta GEMS are:

1. To instill academic excellence
2. To provide tools permitting the girls to sharpen and enhance their skills to achieve academic success
3. To assist girls in setting and planning proper goal for their futures in high school and beyond
4. To create compassionate, caring, and community minded young women by active involvement in community service opportunities.[64]

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.[64] Topics within the five major components provide interactive lessons and activities which allow opportunities for individual growth.[64] Delta GEMS, like Delta Academy, is implemented by Delta Sigma Theta's chapters.[64]

Lawry's Foods partnered with Delta Sigma Theta to create the National Collegiate Public Service Caddy and Grant Recognition Program.[65] The Collegiate Challenge recognizes and rewards a Delta collegiate chapter in each of Delta's regions for the Delta GEMS program's outstanding implementation.[65] Regional winners receive $1,000, and the grand prize winner receives $5,000.[66] In 2006, collegiate chapters were asked to partner with other collegiate chapters, alumnae chapters or community organizations in their municipality.[66]

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.[67] MEOC is a free program in Baltimore which provides information and counseling services to adults and youths interested attending college or vocational/technical school.[68] Having seven outreach centers, the program is sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta and funded by the federal government.[67] The MEOC is a federal TRIO program and one of 130 Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) in the country.[67] From 1979 to 2006, MEOC has served more than 78,000 individuals. Nearly 20,000 participants were enrolled in postsecondary institutions.[69]

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.[70]

In honor of the 22 Founders, in January 2003, members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., as a part of the four-day celebration of the Sorority's 90th anniversary, then National President Gwendolyn Boyd, presented Howard University President H. Patrick Swygert with a check for $1 million as an endowed scholarship, completely paid in full.[71]

The Distinguished Professor Endowed Chair Award, established in 1977 at the 34th National Convention as a perpetual trust fund, confirms and extends the Sorority's longstanding commitment to educational excellence through quality instruction at historically Black colleges and universities. Delta Sigma Theta's purpose it to support and sustain these historical institutions, supply assistance to enable the expansion of educational opportunities, and to give long overdue recognition to distinguished Black instructors and professors. Biennially, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. makes a grant to a historically Black college or university that provides support for a professor of distinction to be in residence.[72]

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.[73] 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.[73]

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.[73]

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.[74] Members joined with others in the African-American community to reverse the deadly effects of obesity.[75] 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.[75]

Heart disease is the leading killer of women and of women of color in the United States.[73] 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.[76]

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.[77] The annual conference includes legislative briefings, issue forums, and developing advocacy skills.[77] Featured speakers include key policy makers, members of the United States Congress, staff members, and national policy experts.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski meets with Delta Members.

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".[77] Topics included empowering membership to be effective social action advocates in the areas of quality education, affordable health care, Census 2010, and economic viability.[77] 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.[77]

In addition to Delta Days in the Nation's Capital, each state organizes annual events in which members discuss and advocate state and local issues with their state legislative bodies.

On March 27, 2003, Delta Sigma Theta became a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with special consultative status at the United Nations.[78] 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).[78] 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."[78] 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.[79] 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, Incorporated.[80]

Both other organizations have significant ties to Delta Sigma Theta. National Council of Negro Women, Inc. was founded by Delta member Mary McLeod Bethune, and headed by many Delta members including Delta 10th National President, Dorothy Irene Height for more than five decades, and currently by Delta member Ingrid Saunders Jones.[81] The Links, Incorporated Co-Founder and First President, Sarah Strickland Scott was a member of Delta Sigma Theta,[82] and several National Presidents of the Links, Incorporated are also Delta members including Immediate Past National President Margot James Copeland.[83]

The sorority made a commitment to creating programs advocating:

1. Reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act.
2. Repeal of Voter Disenfranchisement laws.
3. Full restoration of Voting Rights for former Felons.
4. Full implementation of the Help America Vote Act.[84]

As part of their advocacy for voting rights, Delta Sigma Theta has partnered with VoteRiders, an organization that seeks to assist eligible voters in exercising their right to vote.[85]

• Sadie T. M. Alexander, Ph.D, was appointed to President Harry S. Truman's Commission on Civil Rights (1945).
• Brigadier General Hazel Johnson-Brown, Ph.D., was the first African American woman general in the United States Army.
• Mary McLeod Bethune, founder, National Council of Negro Women, Inc.
• Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman member of the U.S. Congress, was the first African American and first woman to run as a major party candidate for the presidency of the United States.
• Carol Moseley Braun First Black woman elected to the United States Senate
• Stormie Forte, First black woman and first openly LGBTQ woman to serve on the Raleigh City Council
• Frankie Muse Freeman, noted attorney and 14th national president (1967–1971), was the first woman appointed to the Civil Rights Commission by President Lyndon B. Johnson and served 16 years.
• Patricia Roberts Harris served as Delta Sigma Theta's first executive director. She was the first black woman to be appointed ambassador to a European country (Luxembourg) and to be appointed to a presidential cabinet post as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). She was later appointed as Secretary of Health and Human Services. She was honored on the 23rd commemorative stamp in the United States Postal Service's Black Heritage Series. Other Deltas that have been ambassadors are Ann Holloway and Bynthis Perry.
• Alexis Herman was the Secretary of Labor and a cabinet member in the administration of President Bill Clinton.
• Jewel Lafontant was the first American woman to be admitted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. She was also the first female Deputy Solicitor General of the U.S. during the Nixon Administration.
• Mary Church Terrell was the first African American chosen to represent the United States at the International Congress of Women held in Berlin in 1904.[86] She was also the first African American woman to serve on the board of education of a major city.
• Barbara Watson was the first African American woman to serve as chief of a State Department bureau. She became administrator of the Bureau of Security and Consular Affairs on July 31, 1968, served until December 31, 1974, and was re-appointed on April 7, 1977. On August 17 of that year, she became Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs.[87]
• Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, representing the 11th District of Ohio, is now serving in her third consecutive full term. She was elected in a special election in November 2008, re-elected in the general election that was held that same month and most recently in 2012. In 2012, the Congresswoman was unanimously elected by her colleagues to serve as Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus in the 113th Congress. Congresswoman Fudge is past National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.[88] Fudge was the first woman and first African American mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, where she served from January 2000 – November 2008.
• Loretta Lynch is an attorney from the Eastern District of New York. On April 24, 2015, she was confirmed as Attorney General of the United States of America, making her the first African American woman to hold the position.[89]
• Althea T. L. Simmons was a civil rights activist and attorney, who was the head of the Washington D.C. branch of the NAACP from 1979 to 1990.[90] The Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Social Action Award is named for her.

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[91]

Concerns about inadequate prenatal and maternity care for women in Africa prompted Delta Sigma Theta to invest in health care for women in Kenya.[92] 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.[92]

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.[92]

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.[92]

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".[66] Held in Jamaica, the health issues summit heightened awareness of increases in diabetes, heart disease and obesity among African-American women.[93] The conference included various formats for a variety of health care experts to disseminate information, such as workshops, panels, and town hall formats.

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.[94] 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.[94]

The case was featured on the December 9, 2011, episode of America's Most Wanted. As of 2014, no arrests have been made.[95]

At Western Illinois University in January 1999, a Delta pledge was hospitalized due to torn skin on her lower back and buttock from severe beatings by Delta women. She sued the sorority for an undisclosed amount.[96]

At Norfolk State University in February 1999, a Delta pledge was hospitalized in an Intensive Care Unit after a series of physical beatings and strenuous activities. Nine sorority members, two of whom were about to graduate, were expelled from the university in May.[97][98]

At McNeese State University in September 2006, the sorority was found guilty of severely hazing pledges. 11 members involved were each fined $1,000 and the chapter was fined $1,000 by the sorority's headquarters. The university banned the sorority from campus for four years.[99]

At the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, April 2009, one Delta was arrested on two counts of simple battery and several other Deltas were disciplined for the physical and mental abuse of pledges. One pledge was admitted to the hospital due to internal bleeding and stomach pains she developed because of physical abuse by members of the sorority.[100]

At Northern Kentucky University in 2009, the chapter was suspended from campus for beating three pledges repeated and severely with paddles.[101]

At the University of Tampa in 2010, three high-ranking Deltas of the university's chapter had a complaint filed against them by the university in a circuit court for hazing pledges. These three Deltas forced pledges to run long distances, do push-ups, squats, eat garlic wrapped in Big Red gum and drink hot sauce, hold a match between their fingers while reciting a pledge, had rocks and grass thrown at them and paddled them. The Deltas accused of hazing filed a petition against the university stating they were unfairly targeted as black women because all-white fraternities on campus engaged in similar hazing rituals, including tasering pledges, but were collectively sanctioned and given probation for one semester. The Hillsborough County Circuit Court dismissed their petition stating that the university was not at fault.[102]

At East Carolina University, November 2010, Delta pledges Victoria Carter and Briana Gather died in a traffic accident around 6:30 am on the way to a hair appointment that had been set up to prepare for initiation. Gather and Carter had undergone a number of grueling hazing activities that week, including the "Delta TV," in which the pledges were forced to get into and hold a push-up position, do "wall sits" and maintain that stance for a long period of time, and do the "Delta Chair": standing on one leg and holding heavy bricks over their heads. The pledges also wore "Delta Lipstick": hot sauce rubbed on their lips, and ate a "Delta Apple," a large raw onion; they were also asked to eat large amounts of cottage cheese, and drink buttermilk. The driver of the vehicle, a fellow pledge who survived, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. According to the lawsuit filed by the family, she was suffering from "excessive and overwhelming fatigue, exhaustion and sleep deprivation and fell asleep behind the wheel" due to the pledging exercises. The night and morning hours prior to the accident, the pledges had been practicing the "probate death march," an aspect of the initiation ceremony. They did not have the opportunity to sleep as a result of the long hours of practice. Members of the sorority were also accused of lying and attempting to destroy all evidence of hazing throughout the investigation process in the lawsuit filed.[103][104]

In 2010, the sorority was banned from Winston-Salem State University for ten years following a hazing investigation, however, the suspension was lifted 5 years after the initial ruling. The sorority was previously suspended for endangering pledges and other hazing activity.[105]

In 2011, Emory University suspended Delta Sigma Theta for four years due to hazing violations.[106]

At Baylor University in 2012, the sorority was placed on suspension by the university for a few years due to reports of hazing. Delta Sigma Theta and Alpha Kappa Alpha were the only sororities on campus suspended for hazing between 2010 and 2015.[107]

At Florida A&M University in 2013, it was anonymously reported a Delta pledge lost consciousness one night after being forced to do squats for a long period of time. Women pledging were physically and verbally punished if any forgot information they were asked to remember about each of their 54 "line sisters." Members of the sorority initially denied all hazing allegations but a thorough investigation led to the sorority being placed on suspension until at least June 2016 and the 2013 pledge line was dropped.[108][109]

At Ohio State University in 2013, the university banned Delta Sigma Theta from campus until at least fall 2016. The sorority was found guilty of hazing and violating the university's codes of conduct.[110]

The chapter at Louisiana State University (LSU) was banned from campus for several years (ended July 2019) for repeated hazing violations and putting eggs, whipped cream and syrup in their pledges' hair.[111] Delta Sigma Theta is the first and only sorority ever to be banned from LSU's campus, the banning of fraternities is common.[112]

In December 2014, VH1 debuted a reality TV show named Sorority Sisters that followed the personal and professional lives of several alumnae members of National Pan-Hellenic Council sororities in Atlanta, Georgia. Five members of the cast were Deltas that complained about death threats and harassment they received from those displeased with their appearance on the show. In January 2015, the highest leadership of Delta Sigma Theta Inc. expelled the five cast members from the sorority. The expelled members maintain their innocence and feel like they were mistreated by their former sorority. The Delta cast members were the only cast members that had their sorority memberships permanently revoked.[113] Two cast members of Alpha Kappa Alpha had their memberships temporarily suspended.[114] Cast members having Zeta Phi Beta or Sigma Gamma Rho memberships never had them jeopardized.[115] The show was cancelled before the last three scheduled episodes aired.[116]

In January 2018, one of the expelled members filed a lawsuit against Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. In her lawsuit it states the sorority never reprimanded members that she alleged publicly harassed her and sending death threats, never expelled a celebrity sorority member who starred in similar shows on VH1, she never claimed on the show to represent the sorority, and she lost many paid opportunities due to the sorority involvement in vilifying the show and getting it cancelled. As the plaintiff in the lawsuit, she is seeking to be compensated for lost wages and for mental and emotional distress.[117]