Chapter Anniversaries

Berkeley Bay Area Celebrates 88 Years

The Berkeley Bay Area Alumnae Chapter (BBAAC) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc celebrated 88 years of Sisterhood, Scholarship, Service and Social Action on March 30th. Chartered in Berkeley, CA on March 30, 1934 by six dynamic women, including; 7th National President Vivian Osborne Marsh, Grace Hackett Churchill, Muriel Taylor Flory, Mae Edwards Hill, Marguerite Evelyn Ware, and Eleanor Carroll Watkins, BBAAC was founded to give Bay Area women an opportunity to continue their involvement in Delta Sigma Theta after leaving college. BBAAC is the oldest alumnae chapter in Northern California and currently has nearly 120 members in its chapter.

Past and current BBAAC members have held various leadership positions in Delta; from Farwest Regional Representative (Andrea Holloway Lowe (1991-1993), Jolene Lenore Cook (1993-1995)), Farwest Regional Director (Vivian Osborne Marsh (1925-1929), Eleanor Carroll (1932-1933), Marguerite Evelyn Ware (1934-1937), Mabel Lockett Martin (1939-1943), Doreene Johnson Scott Walton (1943-1945), Samantha Lee (1948-1951), Homoiselle Davis (1972-1976), Doris Jackson Britt (1997-2001), Tressa Latham Williams (2005-2009) and National Office (7th National President: Vivian Osborne Marsh (1935-1939)) and 2nd National Vice President: Khadija Fredericks (1992-1994).

Today, BBAAC continues to carry out our Sorority’s mission and vision, by providing consistent and unyielding community service, dedicated around our Five Point Programmatic Thrusts; Economic Development, Educational Development, International Awareness and Involvement, Physical and Mental Health and Political Awareness and Involvement.

BBAAC is now looking forward to celebrating 90 years in 2024.

Arizona West Valley Alumnae Celebrates One Year

Submitted by Soror Anya Burgess

The Arizona West Valley Alumnae Chapter celebrated its first year of establishment on 4/9/2022. The chapter was chartered on 4/17/2021 in Avondale, Arizona with 38 members. The Membership Services committee under the leadership of Soror Octavia Madden hosted an event at the Lola Restaurant in Glendale, AZ. The chapter members, and their Inaugural

Chapter President, Soror Lyssa Black celebrated the chapter’s chartering for the first time in person with family, friends, and members of the NPHC. During the event, the chapter held a service project for International Awareness and Involvement under the leadership of Soror Stephvanie Wynn, Committee Co-Chair, by collecting travel sized toiletries to give to a local organization responsible for the care of Haitian refugees that are in temporary housing. The Arizona West Valley Alumnae Chapter currently has 56 active members.

Century City Celebrates 40 Years

By Vonda Page

Delta Sigma Theta members and friends from around the country logged on to Century City Alumnae’s Ruby Red 40th Virtual “Chapterversary” Celebration and donated nearly $9,000 to support the chapter’s youth programs.

The event held March 19 featured the recognition of the charter members, testimonials from past youth program participants and a series of awards in the categories of sisterhood, scholarship, service and social action. The chapter was chartered by 18 women on March 22, 1981 in Los Angeles, CA.

Celebrity sorors comedians Loni Love and Kym Whitely and actress T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh recorded special congratulatory greetings recognizing the chapter. The program included a special dedication Leslie Orticke, a longtime member and past chapter president, who was the original chairperson for the event before her untimely passing in 2021.

The Sisterhood Ruby Red Honoree was given to Soror Ann Cade Wilson in recognition of her outstanding service to the chapter. The McAlister School received the Precious Pearl Award and Baldwin Elementary received the Scholarship Ruby Red Award. Century City has sponsored youth mentoring programs at both schools for more than 30 years.

In recognition of their collaboration with the chapter’s EMBODI program for nearly 10 years, the Tau Tau Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity received the Service Ruby Red Award. Chapter member Jackie DuPont-Walker received the Social Action Ruby Red Award in recognition of her advocacy work over the last 25 years to push for affordable housing, healthcare, and economic stability of underserved communities.