Left: Cynthia Harrington and Felicia Wasson both from mid-Michigan,celebrated a century of sisterhood with over 40,000 other women from the nation’s oldest American-American women’s organization from July 11 – July 17 2013 in Washington D.C.
Courtesy photo
LANSING, MI — When Cynthia Harrington was a student at McKenzie High School in Detroit she overheard her teacher, who had just graduated from college speaking about her “sisterhood” with a woman who was visiting her at the school.
While in high school, Harrington continued to connect with her teacher who told her that she was in the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and soon Harrington found that she had a role model to look up to. She was the first in her family to go to college.
“I had a lot of friends but the idea of being in a sisterhood was something I found appealing,” Harrington said. “That was one of the main reasons why I joined the sorority.”
Above: Dedicated stained glass window
commemorating the contributions of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. at Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel (viewed from outside).
Courtesy photo
While attending college in 1977 at Eastern Michigan University, she decided to go to some of the social events that Delta Sigma Theta Sorority held.
“This teacher was put in my path for a a reason. You never know if you are a role model to a person. I remember thinking that I chose to join because it is a public service sorority .”
HISTORY
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by 22 collegiate women at Howard University. These students wanted to use their collective strength to promote academic excellence and to provide assistance to persons in need. The first public act performed by the Delta Founders involved their participation in the Women’s Suffrage March in Washington D.C., March 1913. Delta Sigma Theta was incorporated in 1930.
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A sea of women at the Verizon Convention Center.ONE HUNDRED YEARS
On January 1, 2013 Delta Sigma Theta kicked off its 100th anniversary with the lighting of the sorority’s official torch in Los Angeles launching a 22-city Delta Torch Tour. Throughout the year, 22 cities, representing the sorority’s founders and past and present founders, have participated in the celebratory events that included the Centennial Founders Day Weekend and Women’s Suffrage March. The tour culminated in Washington, D.C. with the lighting of the torch on July 12 to kick off the organization’s 51st National Convention where members worked to promote political awareness and involvement in voter’s rights, health reform, equal education and economic development.
MOVING FORWARD
“I anticipated this event for the last 2 years,” said Harrington,”I felt so proud to be part of such an awesome celebration. The sisterhood is still alive and continues to focus on the physical and mental health and rights of others.”
Harrington spoke about the attendance and the revenue that was generated. Washington D.C. tourism officials stated that the Deltas accounted for over $70 million in spending in hotels, restaurants and merchandise during their stay.
This was printed in the August 11, 2013 – August 24, 2013 Edition
