Vice President Kamala Harris to Deliver Keynote Address During the 56th National Convention
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by
Kelli James
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 13, 2023
WASHINGTON – Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated announced today that Vice President Kamala Harris will serve as keynote speaker for the Social Action Luncheon during its 56th National Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. Delta Sigma Theta is one of the largest historically Black sororities, and more than 20,000 members will come together in person and virtually for the biennial convention on July 18 – July 23. This year’s hybrid conference is the first time the Sorority has met as a national body in Indianapolis.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated is a nonpartisan organization with deep roots in political activism. A portion of the 56th National Convention will be centered on spreading awareness about the Sorority’s current legislative priorities and impact on issues like combating voter rights and suppression laws. Under the direction of its National Social Action Commission, members will also vote on resolutions that govern the Sorority’s social action endeavors. The Sorority’s long history of social action began months after its founding when it became the only African American women’s organization to participate in the March 1913 Suffrage Parade.
Statement from National President Elsie Cooke-Holmes:
“We are honored to welcome Vice President Harris at a time such as this — a time when more than ever, we must move forward with fortitude and elevate our power for a new era of impact. Vice President Harris has worked to break barriers and fight for working families throughout her lifetime of public service. From her days as District Attorney of San Francisco and as the first Black woman to serve as California’s Attorney General, Vice President Harris has been guided by the words she spoke the first time she stood up in court: Kamala Harris, for the people.
As the first Black American and first woman to serve as the District Attorney of San Francisco, the second Black woman to serve as a United States Senator and as the first woman, the first Black American, and the first South Asian American Vice President in U.S. history, Kamala Harris shares the same passion for sisterhood, scholarship, service, and social action as Delta Sigma Theta — and we are proud to have our Divine Nine sister stand with us during our national convention in Indianapolis.”
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ABOUT DELTA SIGMA THETA
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated was founded on January 13, 1913, on the campus of Howard University to promote academic excellence; to provide scholarships; to provide support to the underserved; educate and stimulate participation in the establishment of positive public policy; and to highlight issues and provide solutions for problems in their communities. Since its founding, more than 350,000 women have joined the organization, making it one of the largest predominately Black women’s organizations in the country. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated has over 1,000 collegiate and alumnae chapters located in the United States, the Arabian Gulf, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, Germany, Jamaica, Japan, the Republic of Korea, West Africa, the United Kingdom, and the Virgin Islands. The Sorority uses its Five-Point Programmatic Thrust of economic development, educational development, international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health, and political awareness and involvement to guide national programs, initiatives, and strategic partnerships. To learn more about Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, visit www.deltasigmatheta.org.
