House Resolution 12

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE DYNAMIC LADIES OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INCORPORATED, ON THE OCCASION OF HOSTING ITS MISSISSIPPI DELTA DAYS AT THE CAPITOL ON FEBRUARY 24-25, 2025.

WHEREAS, on February 24-25, 2025, the dynamic ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, will host its Delta Days at the Capitol, as they journey to the Mississippi State Capitol focused on advocacy and action as part of the organization's long standing duty to civic engagement, social advocacy and unified efforts to increase political awareness; and

WHEREAS, Delta Days at the Capitol is a time for the distinguished women of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, to engage with elected officials and promote awareness for important legislative issues impacting the community, and paired with the goal of advocating and asserting the collective strength of the members of this sisterhood to work strategically within the legislative process; and

WHEREAS, this year's theme "Our Fight. Our Future." holds true to the esteemed organization's legacy and commitment to advancing its arm of public service, Delta Days at the Capitol is a vitally important component of the organization's national agenda to educate and stimulate its members regarding public policy and advocacy, denoting more than 112 years of social action to remain politically engaged with policy implementation in the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, with public service always at the forefront, the organization has partnered with the Mississippi Center for Justice to provide free expungement for those citizens who seek to restore his or her vote as a testament during Delta Days at the Capitol in keeping with the mission and motto established by its founders and highlighting its nine cardinal values, as best symbolized by the nine jewels incorporated into the Sigma emblem: Honesty, Purity, Fidelity, Justice, Compassion, Dedication, Fellowship, Temperance and Courtesy; and

WHEREAS, because the national and local organizations remain engaged in causes that impact the communities of its members through political engagement and social reform, the regional and local chapters work hard to execute plans of action with precision and finality; and

WHEREAS, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, is a national, nonprofit and nonpartisan sisterhood and public service organization represented by over 1,000 chapters throughout the United States, England, Japan, Germany, the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas and the Republic of Korea, including its numerous chapters within the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, public service and social change have been synonymous with this organization since its founding in 1913, and sparked a movement that has shown growth of more than 300,000 members internationally through policy platforms that have served as the catalysts driving Delta Days for the past three decades to uphold the mantle of answering the call to civic, social and political activism; and

WHEREAS, the continuity of Delta Days at the Capitol is a testament to the legacy, mission and motto established by its founders because the national and local organizations remain passionately engaged in causes that impact the communities of its members through political engagement and social reform, the regional and local chapters work hard to execute plans of action with precision and finality; and

WHEREAS, this year's Delta Days at the Capitol steering committee includes: Southern Regional Director, Amaris L. Johnson; Southern Regional Representative, Noel G. Seymour; Regional Social Action Coordinator, Alfreda D. Coward; Mississippi Social Action Coordinator, Timaka James-Jones; Mississippi Social Action Co-Coordinator, Kia Jones; Mississippi State Coordinator, Jennifer Riley, PhD; and the Mississippi State Facilitator, Kaitlin Myricks; and

WHEREAS, zealous in their steadfast commitment to remain the voice for the voiceless in the communities served by the organization, both alumnae and collegiate chapters are expected, during the two-day Delta Days at the Capitol event, to engage in workshops and sessions led by experts in various areas of political, social and civic involvement, geared toward raising member awareness and increasing member involvement in the public policy-making process; and

WHEREAS, this year's event is mobilized to represent thousands of members from chapters across the state, including the Alumnae Chapters of Alcorn County, Bolivar County, Clarksdale-Marks, Clay County, Clinton, DeSoto County, Greenville, Greenwood-Itta Bena, Hattiesburg, Jackson, Madison, Meridian, Mississippi Gulf Coast, Moss Point, Natchez, Pike County, Vicksburg and Yazoo City, along with the young ladies from the collegiate chapters of Alcorn State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, Rust College, Tougaloo College, the University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi will convene in Jackson, Mississippi, to continue the legacy of Mississippi Delta Days at the Capitol; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend dedicated civic organizations, such as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, that have given and continue to give countless volunteer hours to educate and improve communities throughout this great state, the nation and the world:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the dynamic ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, for their 112 years of commitment to social activism throughout the State of Mississippi and the nation, and congratulate them on the occasion of hosting its Mississippi Delta Days at the Capitol, under the advocacy theme "Our Fight. Our Future." on February 24-25, 2025.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Mississippi Chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.