House Resolution 41

A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING MARCH 1, 2011, AS "DELTA DAY AT THE CAPITOL" AND CONGRATULATING THE JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, CHAPTER OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INC., ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 70TH ANNIVERSARY.

WHEREAS, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, is a public service organization that was founded on January 13, 1913, by 22 college-educated, African-American women who were driven by Christian principles and a desire to empower the underserved by providing meaningful community programs to the public; and

WHEREAS, the Jackson, Mississippi, Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., is hosting its annual "Delta Day at the Capitol," on March 1, 2011, utilizing the theme "Advocacy in Action: Strengthening our Legacy"; and

WHEREAS, this year, 2011, marks the 70th anniversary of this philanthropic organization's legacy of activism and community service within the state; and

WHEREAS, chartered on May 3, 1941, by a group of close Delta sorority sisters, Clara M. Allen, Willie D. Blackburn, Elese W. Blackman, Emily J. Hall, Thelma W. Johnson, Loraine G. Crawford, Nellie B. Williams and Aurelia N. Young, who were determined to provide community service, educational development, political involvement and racial uplift to the City of Jackson; and

WHEREAS, this chapter was the first chapter chartered in the state, and has produced many trailblazers who have been honored for their contributions with the naming of buildings, such as the Rose E. McCoy Auditorium and the Blackburn Language Arts Building on Jackson State University's campus, the Gwendolyn N. Loper Administration Building at the Hudspeth Regional Center in Whitfield, Mississippi, and the Cleopatra D. Thompson Towers on Alcorn Campus, just to name a few; and

WHEREAS, currently, this chapter serves the metropolitan Jackson area, Rankin County and the Tougaloo Community; and

WHEREAS, in celebration of its 70 years of existence, the chapter will host a number of large community service projects, which adopt First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" initiative; and

WHEREAS, "Delta Day at the Capitol" is a national initiative as well as a local initiative of the sorority that creates an environment for Deltas to engage in political education forums and develop productive relationships with their district's representative; and

WHEREAS, nationally, thousands of members of this extraordinary sorority travel from around the world to Washington, D.C., to attend "Delta Days in the Nation's Capitol," and internationally, to attend "Delta Days at the United Nations"; and

WHEREAS, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is represented by over 60 chapters throughout the State of Mississippi, and over 900 chapters throughout the United States, England, Japan, Germany, the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas and the Republic of Korea; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend such an illustrious sisterhood of women who have devoted their time, talent and treasures over the years to improve the lives of our citizens, and continue to give countless hours of public service to provide positive change throughout this great state, this 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 Jackson, Mississippi, Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, for hosting its annual "Delta Day at the Capitol," and congratulate the organization for its 70 years of empowering public service to the citizens of the State of Mississippi.

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