Silver 25th Anniversary Celebration North Manhattan Alumnae Chapter Presidents ( 1980-2006)
Soror Mattie Parson, seated.  From (l-r standing) Sorors Rosia Blackwell Lawrence, Maurva ArticeMoss, Charisse Penalver, Esq., Mary D. Redd, Lydia Pitts, Esq., Carolyn G. McBain, Kim M. Williamson.

Mary D. Redd (1980-1986)
On December 13, 1980, the chapter was blessed that Soror Founder Osceola McCarthy Adams was present and a participant in the chartering ceremony.   She spoke with eloquence in charging NMAC to keep the vision alive of the founders through commitment, dedication and service to humanity.

During my tenure the chapter was very responsive to Delta’s Five Point Program and as such our activity included but was not limited to:

n     Grants to community based organizations in Northern Manhattan with a youth focus such as M.L. Wilson Boys and Girls Club.

n     Yearly grant of not less than $1,500 to Associated Black Charities

n     Saved coins for our international project – Africare.

n    Presentation of forums and workshops on relevant topics such as financial planning for women; the budget process – City, State and Federal; effective advocacy, etc.

n     Planned and supervised recreational and cultural activities for seniors at the Dunwell House.

n     Supported Community Service Society’s Haitian Project.

n     Developed and implemented the buddy system for seniors at the A. Philip Randolph Senior Center.

The chapter was pleased to have been asked to sponsor an afternoon at the theater with Honorary Soror Lena Horne, whose one-woman show received rave reviews.   More than two hundred sorors and guests were in attendance and after the performance, a private audience was held with Soror Horne who paid special tribute to Soror Founder Osceola M. Adams who was in the audience.

Our Arts and Letters Committee, under the leadership of the late Soror Alberta James, presented several outstanding programs, such as the recognition of the late Soror Dr. May Edward Chinn, a talented physician and musician.  Several well-known African American Physicians were presented in a program of “Music and Medicine.”    We took this opportunity to present the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture with Dr. Chinn’s professional papers and memorabilia.   We were pleased to have hosted the first book party for our own chapter member, Soror Paula Giddings in the New York area to promote her book “When and Where I Enter.”

During my tenure, NMAC hosted Founders Day with approximately 500 sorors in attendance at the beautiful Tavern on the Green restaurant.  Also, we had our first membership intake in 1983 and initiated 12 dynamic women into the sisterhood.

Over a six-year period, we kept our commitment as a public service organization.   During this time the organization thrived internally and externally as we carried out our commitment to serve humanity.

Mattie Parson (1986-1988)
During my tenure in office, reclamation was very important for the continuous building of membership.  The chapter concentrated on encouraging recent collegiate graduates to continue their membership in NMAC.

In 1988, our chapter was instrumental in the reestablishment of Rho Chapter at Barnard College/Columbia University with twelve undergraduate advisors for Rho Chapter.

Soror Mary D. Redd was named as the first New York State Coordinator.   Soror Redd served for three years, 1986-1989 and Soror Carolyn G. McBain chaired the first Regional History Committee, 1987-1989.   Soror Madeline Y. Lawson, Eastern Regional Director, made the appointments.

 The yacht luncheon commenced during my tenure as a fund raising activity and continues today to be a part of the overall fundraising program.  Proceeds from this project supported our community programs, namely Associated Black Charities and our chapter mentoring program.

Lydia M. Pitts, Esq. (1988-1992)
During my two terms as president, and with the help of a dedicated executive committee, I was able to build on the accomplishments of those leaders who came before me – Mary D. Redd and Mattie Parson.  By 1988, the chapter had grown to over 100 members, and it was time for us to step out into new territory.  It was also time for us to strengthen ourselves internally.   Accordingly, my administration focused on the following. 

n    Fundraising – Increased significantly by taking greater risks – for example, for the first time, we chartered the entire boat for the Yacht Luncheon fundraiser and sold out.   We were successful in doing this each year during my administration.

n    Scholarship Fund – We were able to begin the North Manhattan Scholarship Fund, first creating four $1,000 per year scholarships, with plans to increase the number of recipients and the size of the grants.

n  Delta Dialogue – Internal Development.  Designed to increase knowledge base of sorors and to provide interactive learning opportunities.

n     Founders Day – The second time that North Manhattan hosted the Metropolitan area.

n     Local Projects/Social Action – Focus on National Agenda – School America, International Development, etc.

January 31, 1989 the chapter held its first Lobby Day at the State Capital, Albany, New York.   New York Assemblywoman Soror Geraldine Daniels secured a proclamation signed by Mario M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York designating January as Delta Sigma Theta Month and recognizing Delta Sigma Theta’s contribution to humanity.

 New York City Councilwoman C. Virginia Fields presented a proclamation honoring North Manhattan for its commitment to public service on their 10^th anniversary, December 10, 1990.

Carolyn G. McBain, CSQ, ACSW (1992-1996)
My administration endorsed the national projects of the Alumnae Collegiate Exchange (ACE).   As a result, the chapter’s membership increased.   There was a concerted effort to reach out to alumnae, collegiate and inactive Deltas.   The response was rewarding.   Again, this allowed for the continued programmatic thrust of Delta along with the Rho Chapter at Columbia University.   NMAC and Rho Chapters increased their bond and sponsored jointly Black History Month program, School America and local projects for three years.

 Our last membership intake was 1993 and fifty percent of that group is now active in the sorority.

NMAC supported the local chapter of the Pan Hellenic Council in the planning of their Regional Conference in New York City.   The president represented our national office on the New York City Depression Coalition.  NMAC members have had training for depression screening and our local program has and still sponsors education on Mental Health with emphasis on depression, housing developments and senior citizen centers.

 At the 42^nd National Convention in St. Louis, Missouri, 1994, NMAC was honored to have three of our distinguished chapter members honored among the Eighty-One Women in Delta Making a Difference in our Communities.  They included the Honorable Geraldine Daniels-Henry, the late Dr. Betty Shabazz and Clarissa Tucker.

 NMAC was honored at the national convention in Orlando, Florida to have the following sorors recognized who had membership for fifty or more years:  Sorors Violet Ifill, Dr. Winifred Norman, Rheba Smithea, Clarissa Tucker, Helen H. Williams, Viney Williams-Crain, Grace Bassett and Edythe Cherry.

 We increased our number of scholarship awardees from four to five students.  Our successful fundraisers included our annual yacht luncheon, holiday raffles and Salute to the Black Male.   NMAC planned annual Christmas tree and decorations for the E. Moore Senior Citizens’ Housing on 116^th Street, financially supported community organizations such as the American Red Cross Harlem Service Center, Associated Black Charities, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Harlem School of the Arts, Bronx New York Jr. High School Band, Minisink Town House, Local 420 Gospel Choir, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and The New York Public Library: Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 115^th Street, Washington Heights and Countee Cullen Branches.

Kim M. Williamson (1996-1998)
Sixteen years later, after the ground-breaking leadership of four chapter presidents, NMAC fused its community service efforts under the trademark “Innovative Programming With a Far-Reaching Impact.”   From this brand, under the stewardship of NMAC’s fifth president, sprang new programs engineered with the chapter’s culturally diverse community in mind.  At the heart of this rejuvenated approach, lay North Manhattan’s internal commitment to get “Back to Basics.”

The community was ripe for the type of activism that NMAC was prepared to be at the forefront of.   When the issue of police brutality reared its head, the chapter responded with a Police Brutality Forum and pocket guide to address exactly what “to do” when stopped by the police.  This effort is ongoing.  The need for “quality public education” prompted NMAC to develop a series of Public School Education Seminars that focused on parental rights, admittance strategies, curriculum development and testing – including SAT preparation.   Clinical depression screening became a national thrust for the sorority and NMAC jumped in and organized a year-long Clinical Depression Screening program.   This initiative garnered an award for the chapter at the sorority’s 1997 National Convention in New Orleans.   Similarly, accolades the chapter received for its strong social action programming – media literacy, letter writing campaigns addressing Senate confirmation hearings, voter registration and education initiatives – set the stage for Delta to create a National Social Action Award.   Beyond social action the chapter-sponsored investment workshops and health maintenance initiatives designed to address issues relevant to the Black and Latino communities.

 NMAC continued its commitment to the cultivation of young minds with programs like: 

n     City Youth at City Hall

n     May Week – a showcase for youth with artistic talents

n     Arts Contests – Power of the Pen with a spotlight on playwriting and Power of the Paint Brush

n     Black History Month programs celebrating the diaspora and the evolution of gospel music

n     School America story telling hour

n    Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Leadership Academy for young women.   In addition, successful fundraising efforts enabled the chapter to increase the scholarship awards for its five recipients.

 With the help of the dedicated women of NMAC the chapter simultaneously took care of the community at-large and nurtured itself from within.  Even as the chapter continued to grow, along the way there were some dear losses, most significantly a beloved Soror and charter member, Dr. Betty Shabazz.

 A new vision led to some risks.  Perseverance made those risks reality.  Commitment and Sisterhood brought it all together.  We continue full ahead with “Innovative Programming with a Far-Reaching Impact.”

Charisse Marie Penalver, Esq.  (1998-2002)
National Programmatic Thrust:  Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy, National Public Day of Service, Voter Education and Registration, Social Action:  It's Personal, It's Local, It's Global.

Accomplishments:  North Manhattan Alumnae Chapter experienced unprecedented membership growth during my tenure.  I believe that NMAC benefited immeasurably from our embrace of the Project ACE initiative, as noted by our winning an award two years in a row for our programming.  While it was necessary for the membership to "buy into" this program, I provided the direction as I encouraged newer members of the chapter to assume leadership roles.   I must say, however, that I had great role models in my predecessors, most notably Sorors Redd and Parsons, who envisioned NMAC as the place for recent graduates and sorors rejoining the fold to learn the true meaning of sisterhood, scholarship and service.

Highlights:  After many years of working to acquire 501(c)(3) non-profit status, Delta House North was incorporated during my first term.  Following its transition from Teen Mentoring to the Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy, Miss Zakkiyyah Reece represented NMAC in the Presidential Academy during the 45th National Convention in Chicago.    In January 2002, NMAC hosted the most talked about Founders Day program in the New York Metropolitan area in the past 10 years.

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 47^th 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.

 

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