The Metro City Council turned red recently when members of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc., Nashville Alumnae Chapter, were presented with a proclamation commemorating the organization’s 100 years of service.
Council members Walter Hunt and Sandra Moore petitioned a proclamation from the Nashville City Council that marks the 100-year anniversary of the sorority and its commitment to the community by providing scholarships, encouraging economic development, supporting the stability and structure of families and improving health in the African-American community.
“It was really an honor. When you serve, you really don’t do it because you think someone will recognize you. All the women of Delta Sigma Theta nationally and internationally are servants. That’s part of how you qualify to be a member,” said Cathy Hunt.
“So to have the city take time to recognize us is an honor. It will be part of history forever. When Delta celebrates its second 100 years, people can go back and see that we were doing this a long time ago and see what we did in 2013.”
Shortly before the City Council meeting, members of the Nashville Alumnae Chapter attended a reception at the Metro Courthouse, the site for the Council meetings that was being held in honor of Fisk University’s new president, Dr. H. James Williams.
The proclamation didn’t just recognize Delta Sigma Theta for reaching the century mark. The NAC chapter, which turns 83 this month, was also recognized for its direct service in the Nashville community.
“It was an honor to have the city to take time and call, and they stood to their feet and acknowledged us. To see our names and put our names in the record books, it was very good and very honorable. It was a good feeling. I like that what we do and what we have done is recorded in the history books. When people do history books and they look back, our names will be in there,” said Hunt.
The proclamation ceremony was part of Sisterhood Week for the Nashville Alumnae Chapter, according to NAC President Olivia Cloud. The week was filled with various events and efforts like collecting food and donating it to families in need. Sisterhood week is just a sample of what the chapter does in the community, according to Cloud.
The chapter has spent more than 80 years supporting voters rights and hosting forums to educate people on the new voter laws, improving health in the African-American community, conducting etiquette programs for young men and women to prepare them for adulthood and more.
The Sisterhood Week activities this year and the proclamation are all part of the overall national celebration which started on the sorority’s anniversary on Jan. 13,1913. To kick off the 100th year, members from around the world convened on Howard University’s campus where Delta Sigma Theta was founded.
Not only are we documenting the work of Delta, but we are able to stop and celebrate. This has just been really good to just say ‘Thanks for the work that we can do for acknowledging us. The opportunity to do good work for 100 years is incredible,” added Hunt.
“Programs like this give people an idea of Delta standing. The African-American community has always known about Delta Sigma Theta and about our programs. (The recognition we received) helps move us beyond the traditional areas where we have been known,” said Cloud.