The Natchitoches City Council officially recognized Jan. 13, 2025 as Delta Day during its regularly scheduled meeting. The proclamation honors the enduring legacy and impactful contributions of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and its Natchitoches Alumnae Chapter.
Delta Sigma Theta, founded in 1913 at Howard University by 22 collegiate women committed to sisterhood, scholarship, service, and social action, has grown to include over 300,000 members in more than 1,000 collegiate and alumnae chapters worldwide. The organization’s mission is guided by its Five-Point Programmatic Thrust: Economic Development, Educational Development, International Awareness and Involvement, Physical and Mental Health, and Political Awareness and Involvement.
Mayor Ronnie Williams Jr. presented the proclamation, acknowledging Delta Sigma Theta’s historic and ongoing advocacy. The proclamation highlighted the sorority’s early activism, including its participation in the 1913 women’s voting rights march led by founding member Osceola Adams. This act marked the beginning of the organization’s more than a century-long commitment to civil rights and social justice.
“The uninvolved, disengaged citizen has no place in America,” said Delta Barbara Jordan, the first Black American to serve in the U.S. Congress from the South since Reconstruction, during the sorority’s 31st biennial National Convention in 1971. This sentiment resonates with Delta Sigma Theta’s mission to empower communities and promote civic engagement.
The proclamation also referenced remarks by President Joseph R. Biden Jr. in 2022, emphasizing the critical role Black women have played in advancing civil rights, suffrage, and equality. Despite progress, the proclamation noted ongoing barriers faced by women, particularly women of color, underscoring the importance of continued advocacy.
The Natchitoches Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, chartered on February 20, 1990, has been instrumental in addressing community needs across Natchitoches, DeSoto, Red River, Winn, Vernon, and Sabine Parishes. Charter members who established the chapter in Natchitoches nearly 35 years ago were present in the audience, along with former presidents, local sorors, and visiting sorors, further highlighting the significance of the occasion.
Through initiatives like World AIDS Day events, March of Dimes fundraising, college tours, mental health awareness campaigns, voter engagement drives, and youth programs such as Beautillion, EMBODI, and GEMS, the chapter has made a lasting impact.
Mayor Williams extended his gratitude to the chapter’s president, Ke’nesha Coats, and its members for their dedication to public service. “We commend the Natchitoches Alumnae Chapter for their tireless work in improving our community,” said Williams. “Their efforts exemplify the spirit of Delta Sigma Theta’s mission.”
The proclamation encourages all residents of Natchitoches to participate in social advocacy and service, fostering stronger and more equitable communities. Delta Day will now be observed annually on Jan. 13 in Natchitoches, honoring the sorority’s past, present, and future contributions.
