Charlotte hosts Delta Sigma Theta regional conference

DELTA SIGMA THETA CHARLOTTE ALUMNAE CHAPTER VIA FACEBOOK

Charlotte Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is among the host chapters of the biennial South Atlantic regional conference July 30-Aug. 2.

Members of Delta Sigma Theta will gather in Charlotte for the sorority’s 32nd South Atlantic regional conference. 

The biennial gathering July 30-Aug. 2 will bring together sorority members from the Carolinas, Virginia, and Bermuda. The South Atlantic – one of Delta’s seven regions – is made up of 18,000 active members from 160 alumnae chapters and 42 campus chapters. 

“I think the thing I’m most excited about is it's in my city,” regional director Pamela Murphy Lewis said. “I live in South Carolina, but everything’s here in Charlotte. I work for Wells Fargo, I’ve been here for quite some time, so to be able to host a conference on the home front is amazing.”  

DST was founded in 1913 at Howard University and has developed programs addressing education, health, and international development through public service initiatives. Notable members include former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Georgia gubernatorial candidate and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, actress Keshia Knight Pulliam and CNN journalist Abby Phillip. The Charlotte Alumnae Chapter was chartered in 1942.

The Charlotte conference is the first since 2018 when the Charlotte Alumnae Chapter was the lone sponsor. This year’s gathering is a more expansive effort with chapters beyond Mecklenburg County participating, including alumnae from Concord, Gastonia, Rock Hill and Union County joining forces with collegiate chapters at Johnson C. Smith University, UNC Charlotte, Davidson College, Wingate University and Winthrop University. 

“These smaller chapters would never have an opportunity to host something of this magnitude, thinking about where they’re located,” Lewis said. “Charlotte’s kind of the Mecca, but it doesn’t mean that Charlotte Alumnae have to do it all. We have sisters that are right here that jump right in, and it is a total collaborative effort.” 

The conference, which Lewis said has more than 4,000 participants registered, will include workshops, public service projects and training sessions.  

“We have 4,600 registered, but I’m expecting well over 5,500 people,” she said. “We will have what I like to call social delegates – those that are just going to come and hang out in the Queen City – but may not be coming directly for the conference. But they’ll be here to help support in another way.” 

Among the highlights: 

• July 29 – Public Service Impact Day: In advance of the official opening, Delta members will dedicate a day to service initiatives.

The service project will benefit Leah’s Hopes and Dreams and North Carolina Diaper Bank. The public is encouraged to participate. 

• July 30 – Public meeting and welcome: The opening program includes sorority awards, community recognitions, and acknowledgments. The program, which is open to the public, will also highlight members of the nine historically Black Greek-letter fraternities and sororities for their leadership, scholarship, service, and community impact.  

• July 31 – Step show and stroll competition: Always a crowd favorite, the step show and stroll features high-energy performances of teams performing intricate choregraphy. 
Chapters throughout the South Atlantic Region compete for bragging rights and cash prizes. The ticketed event is open to the public. 

• Aug. 1 – Social action luncheon: Jotaka Eaddy, CEO of Full Circle Strategies LLC, and founder of Win with Black Women, is featured. WWBW organized 44,000 participants virtually and raised $1.6 million for former Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign in one evening.  

• Aug. 2 – Ecumenical service: The speaker is the Rev. Howard.John Wesley, senior pastor of Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia. 
Byron Cage, an award-winning recording artist, is the musical guest. 

Contributions from the services will go to three local beneficiaries: Barber-Scotia College, the first private school in the South to educate Black women, Greater Steps Scholars, which funds scholarships to students from Charlotte public housing and The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture, which was co-founded by Delta member Bertha Maxwell Roddey, the sorority’s 20th national president and founding director of UNCC’s Department of African Studies. 

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