The members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated provide an extensive array of public services through Delta's Five-Point Program Thrust: Economic Development, Educational Development, International Awarness and Involvement, Physical and Mental Health, and Political Awareness and Involvement.
As a part of its Physical and Mental Health Thrust, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is addressing clinical depression, an illness that afflicts American women at a rate two times greater than
In an effort to raise awareness of clinical depression as an illness, as well as other significant health issues facing African-American women, Delta is sponsoring Summit V: Health and Healing-Let It Begin Within. Members from local chapters are working together to execute a campaign that encourages individuals to recognize and seek treatment for symptoms tat are related to clinical depression, a condition that disproportionally affects African-American women.
The Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy provides an opportunity for local chapter to collaborate or work independently on an educational program for at-risk African-American girls between the ages of 11 and 14. The purpose is to show them a brighter future by enriching their education and providing them with personalized attention. The project promotes the principles of scholarship, service learning and sisterhood.
Delta will assist in strenghtening teenage girls' skills in math, science and technology; provide service learning as a method to which students learn through active participation in organized service experiences that meet actual community needs; and lend them the tools to cultivate and maintain interpersonal relationships with female adults.
In 1992, the Sorority became affiliated with Habitat for Humanity International, an ecumenical, Christian housing ministry that seeks to eliminate poverty housing from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Delta Sigma Theta was the first national African-American organization to collaborate with Habitat. Through volunteer labor, management expertise and tax-deductible donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates homes with the help of the selected homeowners. Housess are sold at no profit to partner families and no-interest mortgages are issued over a fixed period.
Between 1992-1994, Delta has built 22 houses throughout the United States in partnership with Habitat for Humanity International. In 1996, a delegation of Delta members and supporters traveled to Ghana, West Africa where they built 40 Delta Habitat homes.
In 1989 the National Social Action Commission instituted "Delta Days in the Nation's Capital". This is an annual two-day activity which is held in the spring on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. It is designed to foster expanded involvement of chapters and members in public and social policy issues.
Among the many activities of Delta Days in the Nation's Capital are legislative briefings on legislative issues which impact the African-American community; skill development sessions such as "How to Lobby Effectively", "Understanding the Role of Congressional Staffers", "How to Monitor and Track Legislation", and legislative visits with members of Congress. The participants, who come from all geographical areas of the country, also have opportunities to observe the legislators in session, participate in Senate Press Tours and White House briefings. Members of Delta and others with expertise on various issues conduct the skills development and discussion sessions. Local DST chapters sponsor "Delta Days" activities in their state capital cities.