Solano Valley Alumnae Chapter
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Chartered May 5, 1991
Serving Northern Solano County California
www.SVADST.org
(Link to pdf/Chapter History)
Solano Valley Alumnae Chapter was chartered on May 5, 1991 in Vacaville, CA and facilitated by Soror June LaVerne Long, Esq., Farwest Regional Director, during the tenure of Sorar Yvonne Kennedy, National President. The chapter chartering was the culmination of many tireless hours of effort by Sorar Badine “Honey” James and others. Soror James later became the second chapter president. Twenty-four women came together to form a chapter in Northern Solano County as a result of growth and the need for services in the community. The chapter is based in Fairfield and also serves Suisun City, Travis Air Force Base, Vacaville, Cordelia, Suisun Valley, Browns Valley, Pleasants Valley, Vaca Valley, Rio Vista and Dixon.
The newly formed chapter identified needs within the community and soon became very active in meeting the needs. During the first year, the chapter adopted a group home for boys in need of supervision, provided support to a needy family during Christmas season, donated to the United Negro College Fund, and began a tutorial program for junior and senior high school youth.
The first scholarship was given through an existing program in our schools known as the Assist-A-Grad scholarship. After this, the chapter initiated its own scholarship program. Over the years our scholarships have grown from $250 to $6000 per year. To date, we have given over $69,000 in scholarship in our seventeen years of existence.
From 1995 to 1999, Solano Valley Alumnae networked with the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District Adult School on Project Solo. A program designed to assist and empower single parents in our community with personal and management skills needed for survival in today’s world.
The chapter also worked with the Solano County Office of Education in sponsoring Booker T. Washington Revisited, a conference for youth which presented speakers, workshops on relevant topics, along with college and career guidance.
Solano Valley was on the Board of Success Consortium, a program to assist youth in preparing for higher education
and participated in the Fairfield-suisun/Nirasaki, Japan Sister City program.
In 1997, the chapter conducted and initiated our first line of new sorors; Sorors Sarah Chapman and Beverly Woods.
Solano Valley has recognized outstanding African American women in our community and supported Habitat for Humanity housing projects in our area with monetary gifts and by providing lunch for the work crews. The chapter has also networked with the National Council of Negro Women in an HIV/AIDS Awareness Program.
Voter Registration is an ongoing outreach activity and the chapter has registered many voters in Northern Solano County over the years. Voter Education is also an activity that continues to be a focus of the chapter. In collaboration with other community organizations, candidates’ forums, debates, and workshops have been held before nearly every major election.
Planning for a local Delta Academy began in 1998 and became a reality in 1999. At the end of the first year of its existence, one of the young ladies from the Academy was selected and attended the Presidential Academy at our 45th National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.
In our millennium years, our chapter has grown by leaps and bounds bringing membership to 53 sorors to date. Activities that have been conducted throughout the years are: Solano Decathlon, Project Solo, Tutorial Program, Baskets to loving Sorors, Habitat for Humanity, The Mary Wright foundation, Holiday Food Drives, Delta Youth State, Dr. Betty Shabazz Academy/GEMS, Voters Registration, Voter Education, Project Success Consortium, Awarding Scholarships, HIV/AIDS Awareness, Teen Expo, Redamation luncheon, Sisterhood Month, International Service, Solano Pan Hellenic Council Membership, Relay for life, Memory Walk for Alzheimer, SEE Project, Delta Dear Recognition, Toys and Books for Children, Cultural Diversity Fair, Historically Black Colleges and Universities Recruitment Fair, promoting Black Plays, Movies, Delta literacy Book Club, Dancing with Deltas, Cultural Arts Explosion, Blanket, Socks and Coat Drive for the homeless, Support for Haiti, (Students, Food and Eye Glass Program). Hosted NCCC’s 24th Founders Day – January 2005.
Awards and recognition received indude: Certificate of Appreciation-Booker T. Washington Revisited Student Conference, Millennium Redamation of Merit, 2002 Collaboration “Sisters with Sisters”, NCNW-life Membership, “Catch the Vision” Sisterhood Recognition Program: Highest Percentage Retained, 2003 Regional Director: Program Honors, 2004 Regional Director’s Award: Outstanding Program, Director’s Award: Best Practice, 2005 Solano County Collaboration: HIV/AIDS, “Unsung Hero”, 45′” Regional Conference: Social Action Merit, “Catch the Vision: Sisterhood Recognition Program”, 2″ place, Retention, Chapter Community Service, 2006 Prodamation: HIV/AIDS Awareness Days, Office of Mayor-Fairfield, 2007, Chapter Community Service, 2008 Commendation: Office of the Mayor-Vacaville, Proclamation: Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, NAACP Ufe Membership, Principal for a Day, Community Partnership Award, Excellence in African American Health Disparity Community Education/Prevention Award.
Past presidents are as follows: Dorthey Smith Crawford 91-95, Badine E. James 95-97, Doloris Knox 97-01, Lenora Halstied Parrish 01-05, Lana Edwards Rasberry 05-07 and Diane Crosley-Mayers 07-09.