Education Development

Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy

Catching the Dreams of Tomorrow, Preparing Young Women for the 21st Century, Delta Academy was created 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 Delta chapters to enrich and enhance the education that our young teens receive in public schools across the nation. A primary goal of the program is to prepare young girls for full participation as leaders in the 21st Century. The program augments:

  • Their skills in math, science, and technology;
  • Their opportunities to provide service in the form of leadership through service learning;
  • Their sisterhood, defined as the cultivation service learning;
  • Their sisterhood, defined as the cultivation and maintenance of relationships.

The Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy began in 1997 for the Tallahassee Alumnae Chapter. Today the program has active participation from young girls throughout Leon and Wakulla Counties. In addition to focused directives, the program engages in educational field trips that assist with the objectives of the Academy. This program meets monthly at the Smith-Williams Center at Walker-Ford. For further information, please contact the program chair at shabazz_see@tallahasseedst.org.

Delta G.E.M.S.

The Delta G.E.M.S. (Growing and Empowering Myself Successfully), formerly known as the Delta Teen Challenge Program began in October 1991. The Delta GEMS was created to catch the dreams of African American at-risk, adolescent girls aged 14-18. Delta GEMS provides the frame work to actualize those dreams through the performance of specific tasks that develop a CAN DO attitude. The goals for Delta GEMS are:

  1. To instill the need to excel academically;
  2. To provide tools that enable girls to sharpen and enhance their skills to achieve high levels of academic success;
  3. To assist girls in proper goal setting and planning for their futures high school and beyond;

To create compassionate, caring, and community minded young women by actively involving them in service learning and community service opportunities.

The Delta GEMS framework is composed of five major components (Scholarship, Sisterhood, Show Me the Money, Service, and Infinitely Complete), forming a road map for college and career planning. Topics within the five major components are designed to provide interactive lessons and activities that provide opportunities for self-reflection and individual growth. The impact that the Delta GEMS Program has on the community is strong and very profound because it enriches the participants’ lives. Through various workshops, activities, and trips, the young ladies are exposed to many facets of life in an effort to invoke positive thinking and preparation tools for life beyond high school. The breakdown of the ideals as outlined by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority allows the young ladies to discover and develop into their full potential. It focuses on relationship building between sponsors and teen-agers, as well as among students from different high schools in the area. The program serves as a building block to transforming the participants into independent, self-contained individuals who are ready to face societal challenges in and beyond high school. For additional information contact the program chair at GEMS@tallahasseedst.org.

Youth Empowerment Summit (Y.E.S)

The Tallahassee Alumnae Chapter successfully hosted its 7th Annual Youth Empowerment Summit (YES). This year’s theme “NETFLIX-Discussions on Life “Beyond the Chill”, was packed with meaningful dialogue, interactive activities, and guest speakers which included Attorney Benjamin Crump and other local leaders.

Riley House Rock-A-Thon

The John G. Riley House is a museum dedicated to preserving the historical facts of the African Americans who paved the path in Tallahassee. Every year the museum conducts the Riley House Rock-A-Thon which solicits the fundraising efforts of local organizations and businesses. Rocking chairs are lined up and a member from the participating entities rock and socialize for a period of six hours.

Each organization competes to see who can raise the most money and enjoy the camaraderie of people, entertainment, music and food. The Tallahassee Alumnae Chapter has participated with this event for over 10 years. It is held on the first Saturday in December of every year.

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