Charter History
The Ascension Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated was chartered April 15, 2015. The initial organizational meetings began in 2008 by a group of delta women who met in various places and homes throughout the Ascension Parish community. Interest group members Hollis Baker-Graves, Kimberly Burgess-Smith, Ayanna Davis, Tamiko Francis-Garrison, Shera Gardner, & Yolanda Martin Singleton, were extremely instrumental in their efforts and spent tireless hours preparing, reviewing, & submitting demographic documents to organizational leadership. A “Round Up” was held at Jeff’s Place to bring together as many interested sorors as possible. In this meeting, details, plans and progress of what had already been done to establish an alumnae chapter were presented. The application submitted to the current Regional Director, Mae Frances Rowlett, represented the first for an alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority in Ascension Parish. Unfortunately, not all the “interest group” sorors were able to reap the benefits of their harvest but on April 15, 2015, under the leadership of then Southwest Regional Director Pamela Rogers, Ascension Alumnae Chapter was chartered. We were given the chapter number 1040 and forever known as the “Tax Day” chapter.
Chapter Officers elected at the Chartering Ceremony were: President/Hollis Baker-Graves, First Vice President/Gionne Price McClean, Second Vice President/Tamiko Francis Garrison, Recording Secretary/Kimberly Burgess-Smith, Corresponding Secretary/Syretta Davis Anthony, Financial Secretary/Veronica Jones-Bailey, Treasurer/Shunekia McAuley-Spears, and Internal Audit Chair/Michelle Henderson Taylor.
Included among the chapter’s first programs and/or activities were a Community Health Fair, a Scholarship Presentation to a Dutchtown High School student and a special donation presented to Christian Assembly Full Gospel Church for providing its yearly assistance to Haiti. Additionally, the Educational Development Committee was quickly underway with the inception of Delta GEMS and Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy.
Ascension Alumnae Chapter continues to forge ahead in expanding its programs and/or activities that embrace Delta’s mission. All areas of the Five-Point Programmatic Thrust are now being fully implemented.
