Whoever coined the phrase “blood is thicker than water” should have added this: sisterhood might be even thicker.
At least that was my impression after visiting with the “sorors” or sisters of the Harrisburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
“First and foremost, we are grounded in sisterhood,” said Kristal Turner-Childs, president of the Harrisburg chapter. “We love and support one another whether we are sick, bereaved or in time of joy. Everything else we do comes from our being sisters first.”
Turner-Childs offered her perspective last month as more than 50 local chapter members gathered on the steps of the state Capitol rotunda to mark the 103rd anniversary of the founding of the national Delta Sigma Theta sorority, the single largest African-American women’s service organization, and the 57th birthday of the Harrisburg chapter.
Perhaps more than anything, the event provided an opportunity for these women to reconnect with each other and to the shared commitment they have with more than 250,000 initiated members in 1,000 affiliated chapters worldwide who have embraced the Delta Sigma Theta mission of service, leadership and empowerment for African-American women.
“Many young ladies have tremendous potential,” said Turner-Childs. “However, they are not afforded the opportunity to broaden themselves, express their curiosity and experience new and different things early on.”
The Harrisburg chapter helps accomplish this through the Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy, a program for girls ages 11 to 14 that aims to shape well-rounded young women by focusing on African-American history, literacy, character development, healthy choices and service learning.
“The goals of the Academy are to enhance or spark interest in math, science, technology and/or careers where minority women are scarcely represented,”said Turner-Childs. “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.”
Building upon this foundation, the Harrisburg chapter’s “Delta Gems” program focuses on providing real-world educational opportunities for young women ages 14 to 18. For instance, last summer, the local chapter conducted a “Coding Camp” to teach participants to write and build computer software applications.
The sorority’s Harrisburg chapter also has provided more than $175,000 in scholarships to African-American women in the community since its founding. Ongoing voter education and registration is another principal activity.
Of course, being a member isn’t all serious business. Delta Sigma Theta, like other Greek organizations, boasts an active social side.
For instance, each Tuesday night for the last nine years, members have met at the Boys & Girls Club of Harrisburg on Berryhill Street to kick up their heels for 90 minutes of “community soul line dancing,” one of the chapter’s most popular activities.
“It’s aimed at young girls, but helps the entire family by educating, through recreation, the importance of exercising, healthy eating and socializing,” said Turner-Childs. “Families who exercise together will likely do other activities together that support good physical, mental and emotional health.”
Closely Connected
Turner-Childs’s initial encounter with the sorority came through her teachers when she attended Harrisburg High School—and all quite by accident.
“I didn’t realize that the Greek letters I saw a number of them wearing on clothing represented the sorority I would come to admire when I went to college,” she explained.
A bit later, at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, her roommate was a Delta sister.
“I learned about Delta Sigma’s dedication to community service,” she said. “I wanted to join, but did not have the initiation fee.”
Following college, Turner-Childs returned to Harrisburg, finding employment at the Dauphin County Prison and joining Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church. Around this time, she learned about the existence of the Harrisburg chapter, and, at the invitation of a close friend, attended a “rush,” or interest meeting.
“There, I became exposed to a lot of the members who I would come to admire for the things they did in the community and for who they were personally,” she said, becoming a member in 2007 and president in 2013.
From a personal standpoint, Turner-Childs, who is a captain and a division director with the Pennsylvania State Police, understands the role that service organizations can play in building community.
Membership has afforded her the opportunity to “stay closely connected to the community,” she said. “It is vitally important that law enforcement officers know and understand the issues and concerns of the citizens they serve.”
Through the years, the sisters have formed a very special bond, something readily apparent to me as I watched the members on the steps of the state Capitol and witnessed their enthusiasm.
“As an organization as large as 100 members locally, we have to come together to maintain our grounding and be successful,” said Turner-Childs, who smiled, and with a sense of deep satisfaction, watched her sisters gather together beneath the magnificent rotunda.
For more information on the Harrisburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, visit www.dst-hbg.org or their Facebook page.
