Five-Point Programmatic Thrust
FARWEST FOCUS JOURNAL
Economic Development
SUMMER ISSUE 2021
To address the need for sustained and targeted actions that promote the standard of living and economic health of African American and historically marginalized
Publisher
communities, the Sorority implements Financial Fortitude
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Farwest Region
– a myriad of initiatives designed to promote the understanding of all aspects of the financial system,
Regional Director/Editor in Chief
including budgeting, home ownership, personal wealth
Tracy R. Aikens
management, entrepreneurship, and the steps to financial freedom.
Regional Representative/Assistant Editor in Chief Vyctoria Blake Regional ICT Coordinator/Managing Editor Traci Mann Williams
Educational Development Delta Chapters conduct programs/projects designed to address the need for excellence in education. On national and local levels, these programs range from tutorial services to the awarding of scholarships and grants.
Farwest Focus Team
International Awareness And Involvement
Traci Mann Williams
Through international projects, Delta women have been
Samantha Baker
able to broaden their knowledge and understanding
Tracey Brown
of nations other than their own, to increase interest in
Kellie Duncan
international affairs, and to aid in developing a greater
Jamelle Peck
appreciation for people of different backgrounds and
Chase Swinton
cultures.
Kea Hagan Photographer Vickie P. Love Farwest Focus Journal We encourage submittal of any and all information to the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Committee.
Physical and Mental Health Delta’s work in prevention and wellness translates into health education programs, health fairs and provision of health care services for those in need. Delta also supports medical research that examines illnesses that victimize specific segments of the nation’s population, particularly African-Americans.
Depending on the type of information, it will appear in the Political Awareness and Involvement monthly Farwest e- News Flash newsletter or the bi-yearly The Founders participation in the Suffrage March for Farwest Focus Journal. •
Farwest e-News Flash - submittal of regional and of political awareness and involvement. Public policy chapter events and announcements.
•
Women to Vote in March 1913 signaled the first act awareness in African-American communities continues
Farwest Focus Journal - request for articles, to guide activities of the Social Action Commission. The chapter and member highlights, success stories, Sorority’s “need to know” and the accountability of elected and announcements . Photos should be close up, officials has been the basis for public service programs head shots, or action photos — at least 300 dpi jpeg
in this area of political awareness and involvement. The focus has been on those issues that greatly impact the
Please use the Farwest News Article Submission Form
African-American community. Through social action, the
for submission. If you have any questions please e-mail
members of the Sorority, and their respective communities
farwestnewsflash@gmail.com.
gain greater appreciation of their potential for influence in their communities.
In This Issue
6 Class of 2021
12to SCCC Presents PPE Local Hospital 2021 SCCC Virtual Founders Day celebration supported the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital with Personal Protection Equipment.
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Greetings Sorors! As we get ready to go back to school, for some in-person, and others virtually, let’s celebrate the achievements of recent graduates who earned their degrees under incredible stressful circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest. These sorors demonstrated great resilence, strength, and good character at a time when they had to think about more than just themselves. Instead, many sorors thought about helping others during a time of need in their communities. Please welcome these sorors into our alumnae chapters with love and support as they transition out of undergraduate college life. We must celebrate sorority chapters and individual leaders who helped make an impact in their communities. We cannot think about overcoming issues of social justice in our lives while ignoring it in other cultures. We cannot make progress in women’s rights in our culture, in our communities without helping women in other communities, other cultures throughout the country and globally. In this issue you will learn about chapters in our region who built bridges internationally while learning about similarities and differences when it comes to health and social justices. We don’t need to tell you that many families in our communities do not have conversations about finances at “the dinner table”, or households. That must come to an end. We must congratulate our chapters who are “moving the needle forward” about gernerational wealth by providing financial education seminars. This issue will highlight this activity. As we close out the summer, be safe and continue to share the importance of following CDC Guidelines, and the importance of getting the vaccination for COVID-19. Share on your social media individually and as a sorority chapter. Level up with Love! Tracy R. Aikens Farwest Regional Director
Vyctoria Blake Farwest Regional Representative
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Congratulations to all of Graduating Sorors of the Farwest Region! 7
Los Angeles South Bay Alumnae Chapter
Written by: Yvonne Hairston, Publicity Chair
The Los Angeles South Bay Alumnae Chapter was truly blessed during the 2020-2021 sorority year. From successful fundraisers to many outstanding collaborating projects, our chapter was determined to have a successful sorority year during the pandemic. As Bob Dylan said, “There’s a wall between you and what you want and you got to leap it.” Our very own sorors took the “leap” and obtained notable personal and professional milestones. Captured below, are those accomplishments.
• Debonee Ross-Rolland – Promoted to a School Coordinator
Sorors Educational Achievements
from the Los Angeles County Probation Department
• Dietrich Brown – Promoted to a School Coordinator • Cherona DeMesma – Joined the National Society of Phi Delta Kappa on June 18, 2021 • Debonee Ross-Rolland – Joined the National Society of Phi Delta Kappa on June 18, 2021 Sorors Retirement • Louise Dobson, Retired after 23 years on May 5, 2021
• Daisha Matthews – Admitted to the University • Beverly Zackery, Retired from Curtis Middle School in of California San Francisco, School of Pharmacy Carson, California on June 12, 2021 • Ayana Ussery – Received her Master’s Degree Delta Dears in Public Health (MPH), emphasis in Health • Billy Witcher – Celebrated 75 years in Delta and Equity from Xavier University still financial from the hills of West Virginia to sunny California. On December 20, 2020, sorors surprised • Jasmine Whaley – Graduated from the West and showered her with gifts, flowers, balloons, and Los Angeles College/UCLA Dental Hygiene on her 75-year plaque. June 8, 2021 • On April 17, 2021, 52 Delta Dears were celebrated • Terez Cage-Henson – Received her ThD in by LASB sorors in a virtual ceremony. They received a Theology and Biblical Counseling from Midwest jeweled photograph certificate that represented one of Theological University on December 20, 2020 our nine jewels in recognition of their steadfast service and was Valedictorian and loyalty of the sorority. Chapter President Dr. Essie French Preston reminds us of our chapter’s theme, Sorors Accomplishments “One Voice, One Vision, One Mission” along with our • Lula Davis Holmes – Became the 1st Black female national theme of “Joy in our Sisterhood, Power in our Mayor in the City of Carson, California. Voice, and Service in our Heart”, because we are one. • Dr. Lenise Yarber – Opened her second thriving dental practice.
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A Pacesetter Delta Dear Los Angeles South Bay Alumnae Chapter
Written by Cynthia Giddens Hunter lasb27prez@aol.com
What is a Pacesetter? A Pacesetter is one who sets the pace for all others to follow. Soror Shirley Wilkerson Gideon is that soror in Los Angeles South Bay Alumnae Chapter (LASB). The chapter is fortunate to have this Dynamic Delta Dear as a member. Soror Gideon has been a member of our illustrious sisterhood for almost sixty (60) years! She was initiated in the Alpha Tau Chapter of the Southern University, Baton Rouge, Spring 1963. She joined Los Angeles South Bay in 2012. Since joining the ranks of LASB, Soror Gideon’s loving and sisterly demeanor is a force that propels the Flagship of the Farwest. As a member of the chapter, Soror Gideon always regard the chapter’s needs, goals, and missions with priority. Why is she referred to as a PACESETTER? No matter what is requested of chapter members, Soror Gideon sacrifices her time and financial generosity exceeding expectations and she does it with JOY! She is a major thrust that propels the chapter’s programs and projects to success. Her tangible contributions make a measurable difference. She can always be counted on to provide services to the community without hesitation. When the chapter needs representation, we call Soror Shirley because she is always willing to serve in all endeavors. Soror Gideon’s enthusiasm motivates chapter members to do their best. She has served on the Arts and Letters, Social Action, Ways and Means, Food Distribution, Women Helping Women and International Awareness Committees. Because of her commitment to service and her desire to continue to grow in Delta, Soror Gideon completed the chapter’s Leadership Development Program this sorority year. LASB is extremely proud of her accomplishments and is fortunate to have Soror Shirley Wilkerson Gideon, a PACESETTER DELTA DEAR! And yes, she is tech savvy! We salute, Soror Shirley Wilkerson Gideon!
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Los Angeles Alumnae hosted their 2nd Sorority Sound Bath Written By Soror Kimberly McKay Under the leadership of Chapter President, Soror Janice M. Semien, the Physical and Mental Health Committee, led by Committee Chair, Soror Gena Y. Davis initiated the second Sound Bath of the sorority year. Soror Davis sent the invitation to Sorors throughout the region, and through Social Media, to multiple groups of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. members. Sorors from all over the country and the Caribbean joined the Zoom presentation sponsored by Los Angeles Alumnae Chapter. Soror Ashley Curtis, Founder of The Journey Healing Oasis led this cleansing of our spirits. Soror Ashley is an Actress, Writer, Healer, Creatix and Goddess. Her company, The Journey Healing Oasis, LLC, can be found at www. thejourneyhealingoasis.com and on InstaGram, ‘IAmAshleyCurtis’. The first Sound Bath on March 20th hosted over 500 Sorors throughout the country and a few International Chapters. It was so well received, Sorors asked the chapter to feature another event. At the second Sound Bath, Sorors from the following chapters participated: Joliet Area/South Suburban Alum; Northern VA Alumnae Chapter; Atlanta Suburban; Harrisburg Alumnae Chapter; Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter; Marietta-Roswell Alumnae chapter; Tri-County (MD) Alumnae Chapter; Montclair Alumnae Chapter (NJ); Federal City, Washington DC; Raleigh Alumnae-Raleigh, NC; Greater Cleveland Alumnae Chapter, Cleveland, Ohio; East Point/College Park Alumnae Chapter (Atlanta, GA); Baltimore Metropolitan Alumnae; Gwinnett County Alumnae Chapter and Concord Alumnae (NC) just to name a few. So what is a Sound Bath? It is a term meaning your body is “bathed” in sound, healing with relaxing frequencies, waves, or vibrations. Some people are able to meditate deeply during the sound bath. Others relax deeply in a quiet and present awareness that they are unable to find in daily life. Some people go into a trans-like state and see colors and visions. In the end, you leave feeling relaxed and energetically cleansed. Nowadays, sound baths are a bit more mainstream - all over the place, and even integrated into regular classes. A relaxing soak in the tub isn’t the only kind of bath with health benefits. Waves of soothing, echoing sound from traditional wind and percussion instruments, also known as a “sound bath,” may help with stress, fatigue, and depression symptoms. Gongs are very special instruments that are carefully created to produce certain sound frequencies. The same goes for Tibetan singing bowls, which are usually made out of a type of metal and hit with a mallet or “played” by moving the mallet around the lip or outer edge of the bowl. There are bowls made of crystal, also made of differences sizes, which produce different sound frequencies. Other sounds may also be used, like a rain stick or cymbals. At the end of the presentation, sorors asked if a sound bath can become a monthly feature. Soror semien and soror davis both thanked soror ashley for her phenomenal presentation. Namaste sorors. For additional information, please contact chapter president, soror janice m. Semien at president@dstlachapter.com president@dstlachapter.com..
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Educational Development/Economic Development: Encouraging Generational Wealth in Our Communities of Color Written By Eu-wanda Eagans
It was 1 PM, Saturday April 24, 2021 and the virtual online Generational Wealth Workshop of the Bellevue Alumnae Chapter began with the sounds of Pharrell, Earth Wind and Fire, and Stevie Wonder. The workshop was divided into two sections: Hour 1: Youth learned about the Foundations of Finance •
Create a plan for your money
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Talk about challenges and barriers to budgeting
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Set Personal Financial Goals
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Discuss ways to track expenses
Hour 2: Adults discussed wealth building strategies with Certified Financial Professionals: •
Instruments to Protect Your Family’s Income
•
Income Producing Investments
•
Budgeting—Savings—Spending disciplines
•
Home Equity
wisely, budgeting, the importance of self-awareness (and knowing your emotions) as well as setting small goals. Audience participation was encouraged and primarily done by posting questions in the chat box. Our speakers for the adults were Brent Williams (Equitable Advisors) and Julian Heyward (DWS). The second half of the workshop focused on financial strategies to accomplish goals such as buying a house, savings for advanced education for children and retirement. They also discussed the impact of historical racial discrimination and the resulting lack of wealth in the black community today. The workshop had two door prizes, one for youth and one for adults. For the youth the prize was a gift card to Stockpile, an online stockbroker, for the purchase of stock. For the adults, an Amazon gift card. Each door prize was designed to urge their financial planning.
Our speaker for the youth was Suzanne Klenk from Washington State Employee’s Credit Union (WSECU). She overviewed the basics of spending money 11
Southern California Coordinating Council Written by Kimberly Usher SoCalStateCoordinator@gmail.com As the country continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic in communities across the region, Southern California Chapters have been working diligently to assist local citizens and organizations during this incredibly difficult period. The 34 chapters of the Southern California Coordinating Council along with sorors from across the Farwest Region, purchased tickets and attended the council’s historic 2021 SCCC Virtual Founders Day celebration. To support this effort, each soror that purchased a ticket,
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supported the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital with the purchase of $5,000 in Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and a donation of $7,200 toward the hospital’s Vaccine Access Program. Through this collective effort, we are proud to support our Regional Director’s vaccination campaign and will continue to champion for equal access within the communities we serve.
“We have been striving to eradicate the imbalance of Covid-19 vaccine access and what our sorors have done will leave an indelible mark in the sorority’s lifetime mission of service.” -Soror Kimberly Usher, Southern California Coordinator Thank you to the Compton Alumnae (Host Chapter), Long Beach and Pi Chi (Service Project Leads) Chapters for their unwavering commitment to service.
Sharing Sisterhood On An International Stage Traci Williams President San Jose Alumnae Chapter Farwest Region
The San Jose Alumnae Chapter had an exciting new experience added to their calendar of events this year thanks to the International Awareness and Involvement Committee (IAI). The IAI Committee developed “International Sisterhood Circle” as a way to foster new relationships and get to know our international Sorors in the Farwest region. Most of the Sorors in foreign countries are there because of military, teaching school, or working for other U.S. agencies. There was a lot of love and appreciation spread across our call. On October 17, 2020, approximately 30 members of the San Jose and Okinawa Alumnae chapters participated in the first virtual ‘Sister 2 Sister’ event. The chapters shared stories about cultural differences, similarities, personal accounts of pledge dates, and life in a foreign country. The next event took place on November 20, 2020 with the Republic of Korea Alumnae chapter with a total of 43 Sorors participating. The two-hour Zoom call gave everyone a chance to connect,
discuss headlines, and talk about how we are getting through COVID-19 pandemic one day at a time. The last event on February 20, 2021 gave us an opportunity to interact with our Sorors in Tokyo. We had 28 Sorors to join our call. We talked about how beautiful the country is, the freshness of the food, wishing we could visit Japan, and details of their day to day lives. The San Jose Alumnae Chapter plans to have more international Sisterhood conversations in the future to continue our collective bond and support for one another. We learned our Sisterhood interaction provided encouragement, entertainment, and healing words, which inspired all of us to engage in conversations about positivity. Our hosts for these calls were Deborah Hicks (Committee chairperson), Nichelle Flentroy (host), Christine Munroe (co-host), Camara Atkins (co-host) and Terrele Schumake (co-host).
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May Week Activities Written by Jocelyn Monroe Program Planning & Development May Month Sub-Committee jocelynmonroe@earthlink.net
May Month is the time set aside by Los Angeles Alumnae Chapter (LAAC) to reflect on the accomplishments of the year and highlight the work of the Chapter in the community. The 2021 sorority year was unprecedented for Delta Sigma Theta. With a health crisis sieging the world, the Chapter had to pivot all activities to a virtual format. However, in the midst of growing social justice unrest, our work was needed in the community more than ever. But the sorors of LAAC were up for the challenge!! LAAC adapted and found meaningful ways to have impact in the community even though we could not be together in person. The Chapter remained committed to the work of Delta, ardent to strengthening our sisterly bonds during challenging circumstances and dedicated to helping every soror come through this season mentally and physically stronger.
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Our theme for the 2021 May Month was CONNECTING: To Ourselves, Our Sisters, Our World. The Program Planning & Development May Month Sub-committee planned 31 days of dynamic activities that ignited our minds, hearts and that good ole’ Delta spirit.
Following are highlights from our four marquee events during May Month – our church service, mothers honorarium, collaborative sisterhood event, and May Month Steps Challenge.
CHURCH SERVICE LAAC May Month started with church service attendance with New Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, where our LAAC member, Rev. Sonja Dawson is the Senior Pastor. Although we were worshipping in a virtual environment, sixty-seven sorors fellowshipped and shared a pre-service private praise and worship experience, thanks to having a dedicated feed for
chapter members. Chapter members were also happy to enjoy the melodic praise of our very own Delta Choraliers, something that we all had missed this year in during the virtual experience. The message for the morning was delivered by LAAC member, Soror Dawnesha Beaver, who inspired and challenged us to adapt and be ready for change. As is LAAC tradition when visiting a house of worship, the Chapter made a collective donation to the church to assist with the church’s mission and further its work in the community.
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HONORING MOTHERS An important part of this year’s May Month, was honoring well-deserving mothers from the community who sacrificed and worked hard to help their families survive an international health pandemic. COVID-19 changed the way of life for families across the country but many mothers stepped up and continued to be the backbone that helped families navigate the challenges of the pandemic. LAAC honored three mothers from the Los Angeles community who made monumental sacrifices to ensure their family was well-positioned when the pandemic ended. Over the Mother’s Day weekend, the Chapter highlighted these women’s sacrifices by awarding them gift cards and featuring them on the chapter’s social media. The common thread among each of these mother’s stories was an act of self-sacrifice to ensure that her child(ren) was able to navigate this time successfully. In a time when maintaining employment took was more important to families that ever, each of these mothers voluntarily put her employment on hold and dedicated herself 100% to being inhome teacher, coach, counselor, and nurse.
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COLLABORATIVE SISTERHOOD EVENT In alignment with our Chapter’s focus on partnerships and collaborative efforts, LAAC partnered with Century City Alumnae Chapter to host a virtual event designed to help the members of both chapters get to know each other and create a bond between the chapters. Over 50 sorors from both chapters attended the virtual event. The evening included games, door prizes and discussions around upcoming travel plans post-pandemic. Tapping into the bonds that sorors create during their initiation process, attendees participated in a Stroll Through the Decades and shared their favorite chants and strolls from their chapter of initiation and time “on-line.”
MAY MONTH STEPS CHALLENGE The Chapter held its inaugural May Month Steps Challenge this year! In keeping with the 2021 DeltaCare theme to “recommit to wellness,” sorors signed up to actively engage in walking and exercising for the month of May. And to tap into the good ole’ Delta spirit of friendly competition, sorors were encouraged to create teams based on their initiation line, committees, Delta Dears, etc. 17
Sixty-six participants registered for the challenge and included sorors from LAAC and a few soror-friends from throughout California. The total steps walked during the challenge was 11,477,924 - approximately 5,000 miles – that’s almost the distance from Los Angeles to Sorority headquarters and back!! The top three individual finalists each walked over 700,000 steps and the first-place winner was Delta Dear Shirley Russ with 777,011 steps.
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Remembering Our Sorors in
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HEADER (CHANGE ON MASTER B)
Soror June LaVerne Long, Esq.
Rev. Vera Alice Bagneris Soror Vera Alice Bagneris passed on January 9, 2021. She served as Regional Chaplain and was a member of the San Fernando Valley Alumnae Chaper.
Soror Judith Lynn Anderson-Hernandez Beloved Soror Judith Anderson-Hernandez was initiated into our illustrious sorority in 1974 while attending the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). We bid our soror a sincere and sisterly farewell as she was initiated into the Omega Omega Chapter on October 29, 2020.
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M.
In Loving Sisterhood
Rosalie Walker Turner Los Angeles Alumnae Chapter Sunset: 3/27/2020
Tycine Randolph Webb Past President, Los Angeles Alumnae Chapter 1948-1950 Sunset: 9/22/2020
Donella Graham Seabrook Leola Beavers Davis Los Angeles Alumnae Chapter Los Angeles Alumnae Chapter Sunset: January 5, 2021 Sunset: November 10, 2020
Mary Daniels Fletcher
Past National Chair of Human Resources
Los Angeles Alumnae Chapter Sunset: September 7, 2020
Susan Poindexter Anderson Los Angeles Alumnae Chapter Sunset: August 8, 2020
Hazel Sobers Robinson Los Angeles Alumnae Sunset: March 13, 2021
Arthurlene Smith Adams Los Angeles Alumnae Chapter Sunset: October 8, 2020
Gracie Smith Reynolds Los Angeles Alumnae Chapter Sunset: April 24, 2020
Lois M. Smith Los Angeles Alumnae Chapter Sunset: February 21, 2021
Barbara W. Julian Los Angeles Alumnae Chapter Sunset: September 10, 2020
Frances Leoma Whiten Los Angeles Alumnae Chapter Sunset: March 24, 2020
For more information, please contact Soror Janice M. Semien, President, Los Angeles Alumnae Chapter, President@dstlachapter.com.
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Soror Shalesha Richardson Soror Shalesha Richardson transitioned into the Omega Omega Chapter on July 29th, 2020. She was initiated into Pi Psi Chapter at UC Santa and served as an active member in the Tracy Area Alumnae Chapter.
Soror Marianne Dania Soror Marianne Dania passed away on December 19, 2021. She was initiated into the San Jose Alumnae Chapter in 1992.
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HEADER (CHANGE ON MASTER B)
Soror Phyllis Brown Scarlett Soror Phyllis Brown Scarlett passed on January 13, 2021. She was initiated into Upsilon Chapter at the University of Southern California in 1978 and last held membership with Ventura County Alumnae Chapter.
Soror Leslie Ann Orticke
Soror Leslie Ann Orticke passed on March 13, 2021. She was intiated into Pi Chapter at UCLA and served as an active member in Century City Alumnae Chapter for 36 years.
Soror Sheena Peace passed away on January 7 2021. She was initiated into Upsilon Chapter at the University of Southern California and was a member of the Cerritos Area Alumnae Chapter.
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