EST. 1996 | Excellence in Northeast Wake County
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Educational Development is part of the sorority’s Five-Point Programmatic Thrust. KWF Alumnae conducts programs, activities, and projects designed to address the need for excellence in education. As an organization of college-educated women, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. plays an active role in promoting initiatives that inspire, motivate, and support the aspirations and achievement of youth and young adults. KWF Alumnae has robust and active educational development programming including Delta G.E.M.S., EMBODI, and Delta Academy. KWF Alumnae also hosts East Wake Community Day annually, providing school supplies and educational programming to students returning to school.
Learn more about our individual programs by clicking the links below.
DR. BETTY SHABAZZ DELTA ACADEMY
The Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy was created out of an urgent sense that bold action is needed to save our young females from the perils of academic failure, low self-esteem, and crippled futures. Delta Academy is an opportunity to enrich the education of girls ages 11-14. Specifically, we will augment their scholarship in math, science ,and technology, provide them with opportunities to develop leadership skills through service learning, and center the cultivation and maintenance of relationships through sisterhood. During Academy sessions, activities are centered on math, science, technology, self-esteem, etiquette and African American history. In addition to building character, self-esteem, and giving back to the community through service learning, field trips are planned to museums and other sites designed to enhance the knowledge of the participants in the identified focus areas. These young ladies experience endless possibilities. The symbol for the Delta Academy is the Dream Catcher, which in Native American culture is believed to possess the power to capture bad dreams, entangling them in a web; thus allowing only the good dreams to pass through the center of the dream hoop into the person’s being.
EMBODI
The EMBODI (Empowering Males to Build Opportunities for Developing Independence) program is designed to refocus the efforts of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. with the support and action of other major organizations, on the plight of African-American males. EMBODI was created out of an urgent sense that “bold action is needed to save our young males from the perils of academic failure, low self-esteem, and crippled futures.” Knightdale – Wake Forest Alumnae’s EMBODI program is aimed at young African American males ages 11 – 18. Our program will focus on workshops to support and assist young men with reaching their fullest potential. The goals of EMBODI are:
- To expand the horizons of young African American males by cultivating a personal vision for their lives;
- To provide tools for young African American males to attain a higher quality of life;
- To provide young African American males with an awareness of various college and career options to make rewarding life choices and decisions; and
- To create community-minded young African American males by actively involving them in service learning and community service opportunities.
The Program serves as a motivational tool for African American teenage males with the ultimate goal of increasing their knowledge and awareness of issues affecting young men today.
LaQuana Palmer
Chair, EMBODI
DR. JEANNE L. NOBLE DELTA GEMS
The Dr. Jeanne L. Noble Delta GEMS (Growing and Empowering Myself Successfully) Institute focuses on programs and activities that sharpen and enhance the skills of African-American young women between the ages of 14 – 18 by promoting high levels of academic success, assisting young women in proper goal setting, developing compassionate, caring, community-minded young women; and emphasizing decision-making and planning for the high school years and beyond. Knightdale-Wake Forest Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. reaches out to young women who have not met their full academic potential by exposing them to workshops and discussions that highlight the five major components:
- Scholarship (Academic Excellence)
- Sisterhood (Self-esteem and health awareness)
- Financial Awareness (Show us the Money)
- Service (Community service activities)
- Infinitely Complete (Rites of Passage)
By incorporating these five components, we will form a roadmap for college and career planning. Our topics are designed to provide interactive lessons and activities that provide opportunities for self reflection and individual growth. Our goal is to enrich the lives of our youth and prepare them for academic success in high school as well as post-secondary school (i.e., college or military). In the past years, we have taken the young ladies on tours of HBCUs as well as local industrial corporations to expose them to life outside of high school. We are invested in the young ladies that we assist and do not take this responsibility lightly.
Felisa Kelly
Chair, Delta G.E.M.S.
Send me an email at kwfgems@kwfalumnae-dst.org
Our Programs
- Annual Black History Month Celebration
- Jabberwock
- KWF Alumnae Annual Scholarship Program
- East Wake Community Day
- Leadership Development
- Community Action and Advocacy
- STEM and Non-Traditional Career Exploration
- Kids Voting
- College Tours to local universities
- High Tech High Touch science programs
- Visits to Senior Citizens’ homes
- CPR/First Aid Programs
Our Initiatives in Action
