Honor Local Delta Sigma Theta

2019 WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend those illustrious organizations within the State of New York whose focus and intent have made a substantial impact on the quality of life in their communities; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend the East Kings County Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. upon the occasion of hosting its EKCellence in Action Awards Gala, and to pay tribute to this year's honorees; and WHEREAS, This auspicious occasion will be celebrated on Friday, May

17, 2019, at Dyker Beach Golf Course in Brooklyn, New York; and WHEREAS, This year's honorees have displayed excellence in each of the Sorority's Five Point Programmatic Thrust initiatives; they include Economic Development Honoree, Danette Sullivan-Hyatt, Carver Federal Bank Branch Manager; Educational Development Honoree, Dr. Evelyn W. Castro, Dean at Medgar Evers College; International Awareness and Involvement Honoree, Abdul K. Abdullah, MPH, co-Founder of the Afrochella Festival in Ghana; Physical and Mental Health Honoree, Darian Hall, co-Founder of HealHaus; and Political Awareness and Involvement Honoree, Eric Adams, Brooklyn Borough President; and WHEREAS, In addition, high school senior scholarship recipients will be recognized for their exemplary academic achievements; and WHEREAS, One of the largest historically Black Sororities in the world, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in 1913, by 22 visionary women at Howard University; today, the sorority is comprised of more than 200,000 predominately Historically Black College and University educated women, whose mission is to support those in need through established programs in communities both domestically and internationally; and WHEREAS, In the Fall of 2004, a handful of Delta women residing in Brooklyn, New York, started a dialogue about expanding Delta's footprint in areas of the eastern section of Kings County that were not being served; their dream was realized when the East Kings County Alumnae Chapter (EKC) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., "The Crown Jewel of Kings County," was chartered on April 28, 2007; and WHEREAS, Throughout the chartering process over 20 Sorors were reclaimed, and as a result, EKC is now more than 80 strong; with the charter came a rededication to Delta, and a commitment to extend and vitalize their role in public service, a pledge to provide assistance to the needy, to promote cultural enrichment and to enhance the quality of life for all residents of eastern Kings County; and WHEREAS, The East Kings County Alumnae Chapter has hosted many community service initiatives including: financial literacy workshops, youth empowerment programs (Delta Academy, GEMS and E.M.B.O.D.I.), domestic and international relief projects, health awareness seminars, voter registration efforts and Stop & Frisk workshops; and WHEREAS, All of their service activities promote the sorority's national Five-Point Programmatic Thrust of Economic Development, Educational Development, International Awareness and Involvement, Physical and Mental Health, and Political Awareness and Involvement; and WHEREAS, The success of the East Kings County Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is in direct correlation to the efforts of its President Judith Joseph-Jenkins and members, whose involvement is, and always has been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf of the sorority and the population it serves; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend the East Kings County Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. upon the occasion of hosting its EKCellence in Action Awards Gala, and to pay tribute to this year's honorees on May 17, 2019; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Judith Joseph-Jenkins, President, East Kings County Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.