Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The organization was founded by college-educated women dedicated to public service with an emphasis on programs that assist the African American community. Membership is open to any woman, regardless of religion, race, or nationality. Women may apply to join through undergraduate chapters at a college or university or through an alumnae chapter after earning a college degree.
The sorority is most known for its collaboration with community organizations and corporations to further its programming goals. The sorority reached a centennial year and became the first Black Greek-lettered organization to participate in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California , on January 1, , with a float entitled "Transforming Communities through Sisterhood and Service". In , they proposed a vote to change the organization's name.
This new name was to reflect the group's desire to change the visual image of the name of the group to look less like Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. The 22 founders of Delta Sigma Theta were: [ 8 ].
According to Delta Sigma Theta's historian, Paula Giddings , the 22 founders believed that Alpha Kappa Alpha did not have a charter, they believed they had no "legal entity". The young women believed that no charter meant there was no authority to form other chapters, thus limiting their ability to expand the scope of their activities.
On January 13, , the women named the sorority Delta Sigma Theta and decided to reorganize and incorporate at that meeting. This incorporation allowed them to have authority over all of their chapters. Immediately following the founding, Delta Sigma Theta members quickly mobilized to build and develop infrastructure and implement programming. One of the first orders of business was to have an oath, which was written by Mary Church Terrell in In the early years, individual chapters would implement various programs to meet the needs of their local communities.
