15th Anniversary Heart & Soul Scholarship Fundraiser
Elegant community service
Elegant community service
By Jonathan Gramling
While the individual active members may come and go according to the
demands of their personal lives, the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority remains a
powerful force of community service in Madison. Although Soror Michelle
DeBose went over as a Delta at Northeastern University back in 1974, the
demands of her personal and professional life didn’t allow her to become active
with Madison’s alumnae chapter when she moved to Madison. But as her
children became young adults, DeBose now had the time to pursue community
service beyond her professional life and activated with Madison’s chapter five
years ago.
The Deltas have a lot going on in Madison due to their commitment on
working in five programmatic areas. Their Educational Development program
features Delta GEMS and Delta Academy through which they work with young
women to develop the foundation for their personal success. “I think coming up,
we’ll be looking at doing an HBCU tour with them, just so they are aware of the
range of colleges there are, not just here in Madison, and understanding the
While the individual active members may come and go according to the
demands of their personal lives, the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority remains a
powerful force of community service in Madison. Although Soror Michelle
DeBose went over as a Delta at Northeastern University back in 1974, the
demands of her personal and professional life didn’t allow her to become active
with Madison’s alumnae chapter when she moved to Madison. But as her
children became young adults, DeBose now had the time to pursue community
service beyond her professional life and activated with Madison’s chapter five
years ago.
The Deltas have a lot going on in Madison due to their commitment on
working in five programmatic areas. Their Educational Development program
features Delta GEMS and Delta Academy through which they work with young
women to develop the foundation for their personal success. “I think coming up,
we’ll be looking at doing an HBCU tour with them, just so they are aware of the
range of colleges there are, not just here in Madison, and understanding the
history behind Black colleges,” DeBose said. “Right now, we’re doing some Black History information sharing with them.”
In the area of Economic Development, the Deltas have Financial Fortitude, which helps sorority members and members of the community
reach their goal of home ownership. In the area of Physical and Mental Health, the Deltas have a long history of working with the AIDS
Network and promoting awareness about AIDS/HIV. They have also co-sponsored many health education fairs and workshops.
In the area of International Awareness, the Haitian crisis has recently become their focus. “We’re trying to mobilize some funds for Haiti as
most people are,” DeBose said. “Our national president has charged each chapter member to go on our national website and log in the
monies and the organizations they have supported. Personally I supported Partners in Health, which has a 20 year experience of working in
Haiti. So I was really comfortable with knowing that the dollars I gave were actually going to be on the ground for the people of Haiti.”
Political and Social Awareness has always been an important thrust for the Deltas with members performing voter education and
registration with every major election cycle. This year, their sights are on Washington. “This year, we’re going to be working with the
Census, as most people are,” DeBose said. “Four of us are on our way to Washington, D.C. on Friday for Delta Days at the nation’s capitol.
Chapters from all across the country are coming to convene in Washington to speak to our local legislators about the issues that will affect
our community. We will specifically be talking about education and health.”
The Deltas have also kept close relations with the Delta Sigma Theta undergraduate chapter based on the UW-Madison campus.
Alumnae members act as advisors to the undergraduate chapter. “The goal is that once those young women cross over and become
Deltas, we strongly encourage them to continue their membership in the alumnae chapter,” DeBose said. “Some alumnae chapters have
actually waived local chapter dues in order to make it easier for those sorors to come into the chapter. We work very closely with the
undergraduate chapter, so it keeps us young and active.”
It also keeps the Madison Alumnae Chapter of the Deltas young and active as it stands tall in providing service and leadership to the
community.
In the area of Economic Development, the Deltas have Financial Fortitude, which helps sorority members and members of the community
reach their goal of home ownership. In the area of Physical and Mental Health, the Deltas have a long history of working with the AIDS
Network and promoting awareness about AIDS/HIV. They have also co-sponsored many health education fairs and workshops.
In the area of International Awareness, the Haitian crisis has recently become their focus. “We’re trying to mobilize some funds for Haiti as
most people are,” DeBose said. “Our national president has charged each chapter member to go on our national website and log in the
monies and the organizations they have supported. Personally I supported Partners in Health, which has a 20 year experience of working in
Haiti. So I was really comfortable with knowing that the dollars I gave were actually going to be on the ground for the people of Haiti.”
Political and Social Awareness has always been an important thrust for the Deltas with members performing voter education and
registration with every major election cycle. This year, their sights are on Washington. “This year, we’re going to be working with the
Census, as most people are,” DeBose said. “Four of us are on our way to Washington, D.C. on Friday for Delta Days at the nation’s capitol.
Chapters from all across the country are coming to convene in Washington to speak to our local legislators about the issues that will affect
our community. We will specifically be talking about education and health.”
The Deltas have also kept close relations with the Delta Sigma Theta undergraduate chapter based on the UW-Madison campus.
Alumnae members act as advisors to the undergraduate chapter. “The goal is that once those young women cross over and become
Deltas, we strongly encourage them to continue their membership in the alumnae chapter,” DeBose said. “Some alumnae chapters have
actually waived local chapter dues in order to make it easier for those sorors to come into the chapter. We work very closely with the
undergraduate chapter, so it keeps us young and active.”
It also keeps the Madison Alumnae Chapter of the Deltas young and active as it stands tall in providing service and leadership to the
community.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority members at Soror Milele
Chikasa Ana’s recognition party on January 24 at the
Radisson Hotel Madison.
Chikasa Ana’s recognition party on January 24 at the
Radisson Hotel Madison.
