Educational Development

The Delta Academy was created out of an urgent sense that bold action was needed to save our young females (ages 11-14) from the perils of academic failure, low self-esteem, and crippled futures. Delta Academy provides an opportunity for local Delta chapters to enrich and enhance the education that our young teens receive in public schools across the nation.

Specifically, we augment their scholarship in math, science, and technology, their opportunities to provide service in the form of leadership through service learning, and their sisterhood, defined as the cultivation and maintenance of relationships. A primary goal of the program is to prepare young girls for full participation as leaders in the 21st Century.

A natural outgrowth and expansion for the continuation of the highly successful Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy: Catching the Dreams of Tomorrow, Delta GEMS was created to catch the dreams of African American at-risk, adolescent girls aged 14-18. Delta GEMS provides the framework to actualize those dreams through the performance of specific tasks that develop a CAN DO attitude.

In an interpretation of the immortal classic “Alice in Wonderland,” Lewis Carroll created the delightful character known as “Jabberwock” who summoned all of the creatures in the kingdom to perform a gala event. Being mindful of this concept, Delta member Marian G. Conover Hope of Iota Chapter (Boston, Massachusetts) creatively recalled this mystical character, but in a dramatically different manner, when faced with the challenge of devising plans for a fundraising project.

Conceptualized in 1925 as a musical variety show that consisted of skits and dances, the Jabberwock has since evolved into a more diverse program that continues to raise funds for scholarships and other Delta sponsored public service projects. The word Jabberwock, copyrighted by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., has evolved in its symbolism over the past eighty years.

Annual Brunch presenting the five point programmatic thrust program to the community. This program also honors women that have made public service contributions to the community in various ways, reflecting the sorority’s five point programmatic thrust.

The “I AM” conference also known as I Advance Myself. Is an invitational conference held in the Fall each year for students in grades 9-12, as well as their parents.

The goal of this conference is to encourage students to make educational and employment plans for the future that will assist in sustainable activities that will contribute directly to the development of realistic and operational long term plans for education and self-improvement.

Held in March of each year, sorors gather at various schools in the community and read to the students. This helps to motivate children and teaches them the importance of reading.