On January 22, a sea of red flooded the city hall as members of the Atlanta Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority entered for a special occasion.
Post 1 At Large Councilman Michael Julian Bond presented the members with a proclamation at the city council meeting. It was recognizing the chapter’s century-long contributions to the city.
“I thought it was a fabulous day, extremely well attended and a fantastic occasion,” Bond said.
In 1924, 11 young women became charter members of the Sigma Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated to continue their endeavors to serve the Capital City through scholarship, sisterhood, and service.
In 1925, the chapter became Iota Sigma. In 1958, graduate chapters of the sorority changed their names from Greek letters to the name of their origin city, thus renaming the Iota Sigma Chapter to The Atlanta Alumnae Chapter. The chapter uses its Five-Point Programmatic Thrust — Educational Development, International Awareness, Economic Development, Physical and Mental Health, and Social Action and Political Awareness — to help and inform Atlanta residents.
Notable public servants of the Atlanta Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta include former City Council members Carolyn Long Banks, Myrtle Davis and Cleta Winslow, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Emma Darnell, the first woman to serve as Commissioner of Administrative Services, and authored Atlanta’s Minority Participation Plan, and later served on the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, and Burnella “Bunnie” Jackson, the first Black First Lady of Atlanta.
During the event at City Hall, the constituents and council members treated the chapter’s “Golden Delta Dears,” who have been sorority members for over 50 years, with special treatment.
“We were there, and the doors opened up, and there were escorts. They had APD people there, and everyone had their cameras and everything,” said Dr. Roslyn Harper, President of The Atlanta Alunmae Chapter. “They came off the bus waving hands and saying, ‘Are we celebrities?”
All of the council members welcomed the VIPs in the atrium and hosted a reception prior to the ceremony.
Bond said that his grandmother was an active sorority member and was honored to host the women at City Hall.
“Whether through the general services that the sorority provides to the community or in extemporaneous rolls around the city, the Atlanta Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta has been there for Atlanta,” Bond said.
Today, The Atlanta Alumnae Chapter is working with Bond to create a task force to begin the conversation of reparations for Black Atlantans.
To making reccommendations for amends that can be made for their enslaved descendants, the task force will discuss a solution for the city to atone for its previous actions.
“The Atlanta Alumnae Chapter has been the impetus for the discussion of reparations in Atlanta and has led the charge on reparations in Atlanta,” Bond said.
Harper says that African Americans need reparations as a way to be recognized for the contributions they have made to the city, the state and the country.
“It is imperative that reparations will make people more aware of what Black people contributed to the economy of the city and to the health and well-being of this city,” Harper said.
In addition to leading the discussion on reparations, servanthood is also another contribution the chapter has dedicated itself to.
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, AAC members embarked on an impactful day of serving the Atlanta community with a citywide day of service. Over 100 members helped at nonprofit organizations across Atlanta.
Women and children’s shelters, My Sister’s House and The Donna Center for Women, Meals on Wheels food distributor, Open Hand, welcomed volunteers with others deployed to Hurt Park off of Edgewood Ave. and Greenbriar Mall with pre-assembled toiletry bags and chili to those in need.
“We have members in our chapter who were strategically placed in certain segments of the city and doing community outreach on their own,” Harper said.
Harper said the day of impact was a seamless operation, but she can only imagine how the Atlanta Alumnae chapter will be impactful in the future. One goal she has this year is to raise over $100,000 in scholarships for deserving students and continue to be a stakeholder in helping the city reach its fullest potential.
“We’re not just wearing red suits and dresses. We’re here for a purpose: to see change take place,” Harper said.
The Atlanta Alumnae’s next day of impact is scheduled for Sat. Apr. 13, with other events upcoming.
Note: Allison Joyner is a member of the Atlanta Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
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