1954 – Flint Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was chartered on May 16, 1954 in Flint, Michigan as Epsilon Epsilon Sigma Chapter. It was chartered with nine members and two initiates.
The charter members are: Past National President Hortense Golden Canady, Dolores Watkins Ennis, Helen Boulware Harris, Ernestine Brown Holt, Catherine Kimbrough, Delores B. Simmons McGee, Minnie Keyes “Kittie” Rollins, Odena Covington Wadsworth, Mary Lee Walker Young, and Marie Hackley Wright. The two initiates were Ernestine Brown Holt and Ann Johnson. (For a list of Past National Presidents, visit our National website at www.deltasigmatheta.org.)
Marie Hackley Wright served as Acting President during the organizational phase of the Flint chapter’s development, with Dolores Watkins Ennis serving as the first official president from 1954-1955. The immediate focus of the chapter was encouragement of academic, cultural, social and financial development of young people.
1958 – Mae Brown is the first recipient of the chapter’s scholarship program.
1965 – The chapter began hosting the Ebony Fashion Fair, the world’s largest traveling fashion show produced by Johnson Publications (publishers of Ebony and Jet magazines).
1972 – The scholarship was renamed in honor of Rebecca Louise Robinson, a Flint school teacher and past president of Flint Alumnae Chapter (1962-63). Over the years, the sorority has awarded over $250,000 to Flint area students.
1999 – The Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy (for girls 11-14, with a focus on science, math and nontraditional careers) was introduced to the Flint community.
2000 – The chapter received an exemplary program award for the Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy. The program continues to be a vital part of the chapter’s work.
2004 – On May 1, 2004, Flint Alumnae Chapter celebrated the 50th anniversary of its charter and service to the Flint Community at the Flint Golf Club. The speaker was Delta, author, and columnist for the Detroit Free Press; Rochelle Riley. In attendance was the daughter of Founder Madree Penn White, Grace White Ware, also a Delta.
2005 – Flint Alumnae Chapter began its Delta GEMS (Growing and Empowering Myself Successfully) program. A natural outgrowth and expansion of the Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy, the Delta GEMS program was created to “discover the brilliance” of girls 14-18, thereby helping them to form a road-map to college and career planning.
2007 – The Flint Alumnae Chapter – Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy was selected to represent the state of Michigan at the 2007 Regional Conference in Milwaukee.
National and Regional Accomplishments
Flint Alumnae has been very visible at Delta’s National and Regional levels. Charter member Hortense Golden Canady became our 18th National President serving from 1983-1988. Bobbie J. Ewing (a two-time past chapter president 1982-1986 and 1992-1994), served as Midwest Regional Director from 1995 to 1999. Several other Flint Alumnae Chapter members have served on regional and national committees as well.