Delta Sigma Theta celebrates 60 year milestone in Minnesota
- Binta Kanteh
- 2 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Nestled in the Governor’s Reception Room at the Minnesota Capitol, members of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., gathered to commemorate 60 years of the chapter’s existence in Minnesota.
The Thursday afternoon celebration of six decades of sisterhood, service, scholarship and social action was joined by state and local leaders across government, education and civic engagement.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul Alumnae chapter of the sorority was chartered on March 12, 1966. The milestone recognition was joined by an original charter member and past presidents.
“For 60 years, the women of this chapter have shown that when purpose meets commitment, communities are transformed,” said Stephanie Burrage, Delta’s Minneapolis-St. Paul Alumnae chapter president. “Today, we celebrate the past, we honor the present and we move boldly toward the future because service is our tradition, sisterhood is our strength and impact is our legacy.”
Burrage, became the state’s first chief equity officer in 2023, a role created by the Gov. Tim Walz. Burrage also served previously in the administration as the deputy commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education.
State Rep. Cedrick Fraizer (DFL - New Hope) was one of the men in the room celebrating in solidarity with the sorority. As a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Frazier spoke to what the civic and social service of the sorority symbolizes.
“Black women forever in this country – the work that they've done, the way that they showed up by voting, by being vocal, by being supportive in the community, taking care of themselves, their families, or neighbors – without that, we don't have many of the great things we have in this country,” Frazier said. “I'm wishing ( the sorors of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Alumnae chapter) another 60 years and beyond to keep doing the work that they've done. Not only in the state of Minnesota, but nationally as well.”
St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her shared with the full room a poignant story about how in her early career in investments and finance, a Black woman leader in her industry recognized Her’s potential and supported her career journey. Her is the first Hmong mayor of St. Paul. The mayor said she wished she had an organization like Delta Sigma Theta when she was younger, to which a Delta from the audience affectionately yelled back, “It’s not too late.”
The gathering was also attended by retired justice, the Hon. LaJune Thomas Lange, the first Black woman to serve as an assistant public defender in Hennepin County and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who shared with the group a proclamation detailing the chapter's history of service in the state.
Delta Sigma Theta, founded nationally in 1913 on the campus of Howard University, is part of a collective known as the Divine Nine, five historically Black fraternities and four historically Black sororities.