Join the Ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Fairfield County Alumnae Chapter and say yes to benefit:

• COVID – 19 relief efforts
• Murray-Freeman Scholarship Fund
• Local Community Programs

MURRAY-FREEMAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND

In 1981, FCAC launched the Ruth M. Murray Scholarship Program, in honor of the late Ruth M. Murray, a dedicated Delta, to recognize and reward academic excellence, and to provide financial assistance to female African American high school seniors across Fairfield County. Her commitment to education spanned more than 30 years.

In 2003, we honored another exemplary educator by renaming our scholarship program the Ruth M. Murray/Faye Dalton Freeman Scholarship Program to recognize the contributions of Soror Faye Dalton Freeman who for many years co-chaired our scholarship committee and provided outstanding service to our chapter and the community. Our first scholarship to a young male was awarded in 2014. To date, the Fairfield County Chapter has awarded scholarships totaling over $250,000 to deserving youth.

Local Community Programs include:

DR. BETTY SHABAZZ DELTA ACADEMY

Catching the Dreams of Tomorrow, Preparing Young Women for the 21st Century: The Delta Academy was created in 1996 out of an urgent sense that bold action was needed to save our young females (ages 11-14) from the perils of academic failure, low self-esteem, and crippled futures. Delta Academy provides an opportunity for local chapters to enrich and enhance the education that our young teens receive in public schools across the nation. Specifically, we augment their scholarship in math, science, and technology, their opportunities to provide service in the form of leadership through service learning defined as the cultivation and maintenance of relationships. A primary goal of the program is to prepare young girls for full participation as leaders in the 21st Century.

Delta Academy has taken many forms. In some chapters, the Academies are after-school or Saturday programs; others are weekly or biweekly throughout the school year; and still other programs occur monthly. At a minimum, chapters plan and implement varied activities based upon the needs of the early adolescents in their areas. The activities implemented most often include computer training, self-esteem and etiquette workshops, field trips for science experiences and for college exposure, and special outings to cultural events, fancy dinners, museums, plays, and concerts

DELTA GEMS: GROWING AND EMPOWERING MYSELF SUCCESSFULLY

A natural outgrowth and expansion for the continuation of the highly successful Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy: Catching the Dreams of Tomorrow, Delta GEMS was created to catch the dreams of African-American at-risk, adolescent girls aged 14-18. Delta GEMS provides the framework to actualize those dreams through the performance of specific tasks that develop a CAN DO attitude. The goals for Delta GEMS are:

To instill the need to excel academically;

To provide tools that enable girls to sharpen and enhance their skills to achieve high levels of academic success;

To assist girls in proper goal setting and planning for their futures in high school and beyond; and

To create compassionate, caring, and community-minded young women by actively involving them in service learning and community service opportunities.The Delta GEMS program offers a road map for college and career planning through activities that provide opportunities for self-reflection and individual growth. Delta GEMS, like Delta Academy, is implemented by chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Delta GEMS participants have the opportunity to define and “Discover their individual Brilliance.”

EMBODI: EMPOWERING MALES TO BUILD OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPING INDEPENDENCE

The EMBODI (Empowering Males to Build Opportunities for Developing Independence) program is designed to refocus the efforts of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, with the support and action of other major organizations, on the plight of African-American males. Both informal and empirical data suggests that the vast majority of African-American males continue to be in crisis and are not reaching their fullest potential educationally, socially and emotionally. EMBODI is designed to address these issues through dialogue and recommendations for change and action. EMBODI addresses issues related to STEM education, culture, self-efficacy, leadership, physical and mental health, healthy lifestyle choices, character, ethics, relationships, college readiness, fiscal management, civic engagement and service learning.