Maurva ArticeMoss (2002-2004)
Over the past biennium, North Manhattan Alumnae Chapter (NMAC) affectionately dubbed the “Innovative Initiators”, has shown up and showed out in ways that have made a difference, nationally, regionally and locally.
Nationally, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was granted Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status by the United Nations, one of a very select few African American women’s organizations. In March 2003, our
National President Gwendolyn Boyd and eastern Regional Director, Cheryl Hickman convened at the United Nations for Delta Day at the UN. Special UN Representation designation was conferred upon two members of NMAC, Sorors Mary D. Redd and Lydia M. Pitts, Esq. were respectively appointed to the Economic and Social Council of the UN and the Department of Public Information.
NMAC Sorors Rosia Blackwell Lawrence and Charisse M. Penalver, Esq. drafted a resolution on Asthma, its alarming rate of incidence among children of color and it was adopted at the 47th National Convention.
Our International Day of Service program, “Taking it to the Streets”, put into action, “each one, teach one”. NMAC Sorors distributed HIV literature and safe sex packets to the residents of several Northern Manhattan communities by literally walking the streets. This type of grassroots outreach enabled community residents, often neglected and not otherwise reached, the opportunity to make choices through education.
NMAC provided material and financial support to the Osu Children’s Home in Ghana, West Africa.
Regionally, Sorors Kim M. Williamson, Charisse M. Penalver, Esq., Rosia Blackwell Lawrence and Nerissa Marbury were appointed to the eastern Regional Reactivating/Chartering Task Force. As a result Pi Sigma Chapter located at SUNY, Old Westbury was reactivated.
Locally, NMAC Sorors collected and donated 6,000 books to three New York Public Library branch libraries, participated in Breast Cancer and the AIDS walk in an effort to raise our community’s awareness of the disproportionate affect that these diseases have on people of color. NMAC assisted in feeding the homeless on Thanksgiving Day, fed the sick, shut-in and elderly through Local Projects work with Meals on Wheels and worked with the United Federation of Black Community Development Organizations to assist with a Halloween party and donate Christmas gifts for more than 125 children.
The Dr. Betty Shabazz Academy partnered with two Girl Scout troops and had 33 participants in the program. One of BSDA participants was selected to participate and represent the chapter in the Delta Presidential Academy.
Scholarships of $1,500 each were donated to eight young women and to assist three more students with one time grants of $500 each. Additionally, book stipends totaling $2,400 were given to our current scholarship recipients; 3 Savings Bonds totaling $1,100 were given to the winners of our Power of the Paintbrush high school art competition.
NMAC served as hostesses for the Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) sponsored Mental Health program which took place during Women’s History Month.
NMAC has “showed up and showed out” in ways that have made a difference, nationally, regionally and locally. Through a myriad of service initiatives, we have remained strongly rooted in and connected to the needs of the northern Manhattan communities.
