Staten  Island Alumnae  Chapter (SIAC) was chartered on January 20, 1996 by 23 members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and is affectionately  known  in  New  York  as  the  "little chapter  with  the  big  heart."  Within  the  first  six months  of  our  chartering,  SIAC awarded  its first college  scholarship, provided  mentoring  and tutorial  support  to  students,  and  organized our first May Week program.  In 1997, at the Eastern Regional Conference, we received the Eastern Region Social Action Award and in 1999, the Chapter of the Year Award.

 

In  realizing  our  mission  to  provide  programs  and  services  to  the  Staten  Island community,  SIAC  provides  an  extensive  array  of  public  service initiatives  through our Sorority’s Five-Point Programmatic Thrust - Economic Development, Physical and Mental Health, Educational Development, Political Awareness and Involvement and International Awareness and Involvement, and over the past 20 years, has implemented several projects  and  signature  programs  such  as  the  Thanksgiving  Food  Baskets,  The  Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy, Delta GEMS, EMBODI, Kings Who  Cook,  Community Christmas parties with  the Staten  Island Mental Health Society and local churches, and The Melody Scott-Decuir Annual  College Scholarship in memory of our  beloved  chapter  member, where we have awarded over $20,000 in scholarship monies to high school seniors on Staten Island. We  have  also  dedicated  considerable  time  to  building coalitions  and  developing  substantive  programming  through  community collaboration  and  partnerships.  Currently,  SIAC  is in  partnership  with  The Sisterhood, Staten  Island Black Heritage, The  College  of Staten  Island and we have also worked with Councilmember Debi Rose’s office on various initiatives. Through these partnerships, we have co-sponsored a leadership development conference for teen and tween  girls  as  well  as  community  forums  on  the  affordable  care  act, domestic  violence,  health and wellness, the  roles of  elected  officials,  voter  suppression  and  the  voting process,  the  workings  of  municipal government  and  many  other  topics.  We have also participated annually in the American Cancer Society’s, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk and since 2016 have partnered with The Pride Center of Staten Island on their annual candlelight vigil n recognition of World Aids Day.

 

SIAC has also developed the Teresa A. Gallishaw Undergraduate Mentoring program for Black and Latino women attending the College of Staten Island in memory of our beloved chapter member.  We have also continued to serve the community by volunteering monthly at the soup kitchen and pantry at Trinity Lutheran Evangelical Church and have donated turkeys and other food supplies to Project Hospitality. We also kicked off in 2017 our first annual diaper drive to benefit various organizations and families across Staten Island. Project Hospitality was our inaugural organization for the diaper drive. We have also started an economic development program were we have supported small and minority-owned businesses on Staten Island through our annual Small Business Crawl during the busy Thanksgiving shopping weekend and have also introduced and facilitated the dfree financial freedom workshop series.

 

Following  in  our  Founders  footsteps  and  guided  by our  Sorority’s  national initiatives, SIAC remains committed to supporting our local community and making a positive impact within the Staten Island  community  through  relevant  programs,  service,  and  collaboration with a spirit of sisterhood.