Educational Development

The Educational Development Committee is focused on the welfare and well-being of young women and men and accomplishes its goals through the following signature programs:

The Dr. Betty Shabaaz Delta Academy is a Saturday program that meets throughout the school year in various locales to provide educational activities and resources to area girls ages 11-14 years old. GEAAC provides structured activities to approximately 50 registered girls annually that typically include: computer training; workshops on self-esteem and etiquette; field trips to science facilities and local colleges and; special outings to cultural and social events such as formal dinners, museums, plays, and concerts.

Delta G.E.M.S. (Growing and Empowering Myself Successfully) is a natural outgrowth and expansion for the continuation of the highly successful  Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy: Catching the Dreams of Tomorrow, 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:

• To instill the need to excel academically;
• To provide tools that enable girls to sharpen and enhance their skills to achieve high levels of academic success;
• To assist girls in proper goal setting and planning for their futures, high school and beyond; and
• To create compassionate, caring, and community minded young women by actively involving them in service learning and community service opportunities.

GEAAC has traditionally incorporated learning initiatives in its programs that have  included both GEMS and Academy members.  There are some programs, however, that GEAAC reserves for the GEMS that include service learning, college tours, college fairs and the ever popular college trunk party!   GEAAC has about 30 girls in the Delta GEMS program.

EMBODI (Empowering Males to Build Opportunities for Developing Independence) is a program designed to refocus the efforts of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., with the support and action of other major organizations, to empower African-American males to reach their full potential educationally, socially and emotionally.  EMBODI plans to remedy the current plight of African-American men by encouraging dialogue and making recommendations for positive change and action.  GEAAC was one of twenty nine chapters in Delta that participated in the Inaugural EMBODI Program which each chapter held locally, but with a webcast which was broadcast live from the 50th National Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Thirty young men from the community participated in a series of interactive workshops that focused on science, technology, math, health, fitness and emotional well-being.  GEAAC has partnered with male-based groups on other projects such as an educational symposium that included a panel of educators and administrators who offered insight and direction to issues facing young men and a joint (boys and girls) book discussion using Hill Harper’s book, “Letters to a Young Brother” and “Letters to a Young Sister.”  GEAAC has also held male-focused workshops to escorts who participate in the Miss Jabberwock Cotillion.