Latest news with #DeltaSigmaTheta
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Fourth annual Juneteenth celebration brings resources, information to community
To Kathy Brooks, president of the Frederick County alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., the essence of Juneteenth is information. The holiday honors the last group of enslaved African Americans in the Confederacy to learn of their freedom. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Sept. 22, 1862, which was effective Jan. 1, 1863; but word did not arrive in Galveston, Texas until June 19, 1865. "The whole idea of not having information is how we tie in our community today," Brooks said. "The purpose of this is to provide our community with information, so that nobody has to feel as though they're enslaved, if you will, or that they're just a victim of not having resources." For the past four years, the local chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. has sought to connect people with those resources through its Juneteenth Celebration and Community Day. Brooks said the annual event started with around 25 partner organizations, but has since grown to include nearly 80. Sunday marked the first time the celebration has been held at Carroll Creek Linear Park. Partner organizations at the festival were grouped into five categories — education, economic development, international awareness, physical and mental health, and social action. Organizations provided information applicable to the general public as well as information specific to the Black community, such as materials on Black maternal health and human trafficking among Black women and girls. In addition to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., several other local chapters from the "Divine Nine" — a group of historically Black sororities and fraternities — had a presence at the event. There were also performances from spoken word artists, instrumentalists, singers and dancers. Black-owned businesses including Kuks Tribute Cuisine and Alpha Jerk Center brought food trucks to the event. "Our organization, while we are open to all, we do focus on the Black community," Brooks said. "But this is also a really great opportunity for those organizations to be able to interface with a population that they might not normally interact with." Derrick Riley of Urbana came to Sunday's event with his wife Kristen — a member of the Deltas — and their two children, 8-year-old Chandler and 6-year-old Aubrey. Riley said it was the family's first time coming to the Deltas' Juneteenth Celebration and Community Day. He said he liked the community involvement and appreciated the number of health services that were offered. Shianne Brown of Frederick said she did not realize there was a Juneteenth event going on when she brought her two children, 6-year-old Ariah and 2-year-old Zuri, out for a walk along Carroll Creek. One of the event organizers let Brown know about the festival's children's area, so they decided to stick around for a game of giant Jenga. Now that she knows about the festival, Brown said she would definitely come back in the future. She said Juneteenth is a significant occasion for her as a Black woman with two Black children. Ariah said she didn't know anything about Juneteenth, but made it clear that she still has plenty of time to learn. "I'm only in kindergarten," she said.
CBS News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Thousands of kids take part in T.D. Jakes Foundation STEAM Expo
Thousands of children and families gathered Saturday at the Shops at RedBird for the T.D. Jakes Foundation's second annual STEAM Expo, a hands-on event designed to spark curiosity and creativity in science, technology, engineering, arts and math. Hands-on learning inspires young minds Excited lines of kids and parents streamed into the venue, where they explored interactive booths, live demonstrations and family-friendly activities. Topics ranged from human anatomy and artificial intelligence to sports medicine and forestry. Five-year-old Leondri Stiggle was especially enthusiastic about the science experiments. "It feels hot, so hot! We made lotion, and it feels like it's juice," she said. Her father, Leon Stiggle, said he wished he had access to similar opportunities as a child. "When you start early, it always evolves into something better," he said. "It's good they have this program — shout out to T.D. Jakes. Appreciate it!" Juneteenth education adds cultural depth The event also featured educational exhibits on Juneteenth, including live actors portraying historical figures such as Fort Worth's Dr. Opal Lee, known as the "grandmother of Juneteenth." The Southwest Dallas County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. sponsored the exhibit. "We also have other living exhibits where you can learn about the Emancipation Proclamation and educational development," said chapter president Maiya Bangurah. Building a future-ready workforce Kelley Cornish, president of the T.D. Jakes Foundation, said the expo marked the nonprofit's 10th pop-up event in two years. "People don't realize what an incredible field this is," Cornish said. "We've learned that 2.4 million jobs go unfilled every year because there's no pipeline. We're starting early. Exposure to these careers can literally change a family's dynamic." The foundation's next event is scheduled for the fall.
Los Angeles Times
15-06-2025
- General
- Los Angeles Times
Five soulful recipes to make for Juneteenth
Growing up, my family didn't celebrate Juneteenth. But when I think back on our summer gatherings — usually kicked off on Father's Day weekend and lasting through Labor Day — the spirit of the holiday feels ever-present. Juneteenth, also known as Liberation Day and Emancipation Day, celebrates the end of slavery in America. A portmanteau of the words 'June' and 'nineteenth,' the holiday marks June 19, 1865, the day that Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform all enslaved people within the state, estimated to be 25,000, that President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation had freed them, nearly 2 ½ years after the order was given. The first Juneteenth celebrations were recorded in Texas the following year, and eventually spread across the South, Midwest, to both coasts and in pockets of northern Mexico. Treated as an Independence Day that acknowledges the lived reality of African Americans who were still enslaved on July 4, 1776, festivities involved church services, picnics, fish fries, barbecues and even beauty pageants. Though Juneteenth stands out as the longest-running African American holiday, it wasn't until 2021 that it was federally recognized and its history more widely shared. 'Homecoming, church picnics, fish fries — they all share the same music, food and cadence as Juneteenth,' said Nicole Taylor, author of 'Watermelon and Red Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteenth and Black Celebrations,' the first Juneteenth cookbook released by a major publishing house. And as I began to celebrate Juneteenth more formally, I realized that the essence of the holiday had long been present at my family gatherings. A tradition I've adopted is the sharing of red-colored foods such as watermelon, fried chicken and fish, and red velvet cake. There are different theories around the significance of eating red foods on Juneteenth. Some believe that early celebrants simply worked with easily accessible and in-season ingredients that happened to be red: watermelon, strawberries, beans and fried or smoked meats. Others say that it honors the bloodshed and suffering of enslaved ancestors. 'Growing up, the pews in my church were red. All of the women that I admired, they were members of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, and their color was red. There was so much red around me, and it always meant power,' Taylor said in an interview. 'Even going back to West Africa, the transatlantic slave trade brought the ritual of drinking sorrel, or what some people would call hibiscus. For Black people across the diaspora, that ritual has been with us forever. It's inside of us,' Taylor said. And Juneteenth celebrations don't have to be limited to just one day. 'Anytime you're intentional about not working, about turning your phone off and playing music — you're bringing the Juneteenth spirit,' Taylor said. Whether you decide to make these red-colored recipes this week or later in the summer, as long as you do so with an air of relaxation and contentment, you're honoring this holiday that's rooted in freedom. Eating out this week? Sign up for Tasting Notes to get our restaurant experts' insights and off-the-cuff takes on where they're dining right now. This simple dessert from Taylor's 'Watermelon & Red Birds' cookbook involves lighting a whiskey, tangerine and cherry sauce on fire and pouring it over honey vanilla ice cream. Dating back to Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in the late 1800s, Taylor recommends using Bing, sour or Rainier cherry varieties for the boozy the recipe. Cook time: 20 minutes. Serves 4. One of the star dishes from the dinner menu at now-closed Post & Beam, this fried jerked catfish is perfect for Juneteenth picnics. Feel free to use frozen, thawed fillets if you can't find fresh ones and plan to marinate them for two to four hours before the recipe. Cook time: 1 hour. Serves 8 to 10. This recipe from former cooking columnist Ben Mims adds red miso to barbecue sauce for a burst of umami that counteracts the sweetness of ketchup and honey. The sauce can be made up to five days in advance and refrigerated until you're ready to use the recipe. Cook time: 45 minutes. Serves 4 to 6. Chef Mary Sue Milliken of Border Grill, Socalo and Alice B. says the trick to making these ribs is 'planning and patience.' They require 24 hours of curing with a dry rub and you'll have to turn them often when you roast and glaze them on the barbecue, but the end result is an addictive main course for your next summer the recipe. Cook time: 1 hour 30 minutes plus overnight curing time, makes 1 rack of ribs. This nonalcoholic drink is from actor-turned-restaurateur Danny Trejo, who's been sober for over 50 years. Ripe strawberries get a kick thanks to charred red bell pepper, which you can throw on the grill or straight on the burner of your stove to release its smoky sweet flavors. Get the recipe. Cook time: 50 minutes. Serves 4.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
22-Year-Old Woman Tragically Loses Legs Following Freak Accident In The Bahamas
A young woman celebrating her summa cum laude college graduation experienced a traumatic freak accident in The Bahamas that resulted in her legs being severed. When the boating incident occurred on May 12, Hannah Smith, 22, was allegedly on the first day of her trip. According to the Daily Mail, she and a friend, Brooklyn Pitre, were on a celebratory Carnival Sunrise cruise after graduating. The two were returning to the ship via a pontoon ferry after doing off-ship excursions. As the small boat docked around 3:55 p.m. at Nassau Cruise Port, Hannah found herself in the water. The ferry's propellers reportedly dragged the young woman under the water, then partially severed her legs and surrounded her in blood. Two of the boat's female passengers were able to pull Hannah out of the water, and she went to a local hospital. Two days later, the Memphis, Tennessee, native was transferred to a hospital back in the United States for emergency surgery. Updates provided by her family (shared on GoFundMe) note that Hannah has undergone over 10 surgeries in the two and a half weeks following the boating incident. Though she suffered some medical setbacks and doctors performed extensive procedures, the recent graduate has been pulling through. It remains unclear how exactly Hannah ended up in the water, as sources differ. The pontoon ferry's captain allegedly told local authorities that Hannah jumped into the water. Police claim that alcohol consumption possibly played a role in the tragic incident. However, the recent graduate's parents, Tracy and Marvin Smith, deny that their daughter was inebriated. The recent graduate and Delta Sigma Theta sorority member studied communications and graphic design at Miles College, a Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) institution in Alabama. A family member has created a GoFundMe to aid Hannah with her medical costs and recovery. At the beginning of the fundraiser's description, it describes Hannah as a young woman who is 'love' and 'light.' 'This boating accident will not define your life,' declared Hannah's family member in the GoFundMe's description. 'We need you to have many more birthdays, more holidays, more life experiences… While on what was supposed to be a beautiful trip to the Bahamas, Hannah was involved in a tragic accident that nearly claimed her life. Through the grace of God, she's still with us, but the road ahead is long, filled with surgeries, recovery, and overwhelming medical costs.' As of this reporting, the fundraiser has received over 1,200 donations. It's currently at over $50,500 of its $250,000 goal. A May 29 update on Hannah's well-being said, 'This journey is taking a physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual toll. Please keep her lifted in your thoughts and prayers. She is fighting!!!' In late March, the State Department updated its travel advisory for Americans traveling to The Bahamas. The alert included a notice regarding crime, swimming-related risks, and traveling with firearms and ammunition on the Caribbean post 22-Year-Old Woman Tragically Loses Legs Following Freak Accident In The Bahamas appeared first on Travel Noire.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Delta Sigma Theta alumnae commemorate women's suffrage movement, advocate for women's rights
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) — Delta Sigma Theta sisters and several supports are honoring those who fought for women's suffrage and march the River City streets to commemorate the movement. From the downtown Civic Center to the Evansville African American Museum, it's a reenactment of the March 1913 Women's Suffrage Procession in Washington, D.C., which marked the sorority's first act of service. At the time, Delta's founding was at Howard University, and it's where several of the Evansville sisters today also reenact at the museum what the founders said 100 years ago. The procession organizers told Black women to stay in the back, but Black women 100 years ago and the Delta founders were not settling for that either. 'My sisters, democracy was never built for us. But if we wait for them to make space, we'll be waiting 'til the end if time,' says Elexica McAlister who is portraying of the Delta founders. 'They want to silence us, erase our contributions and diminish our impact. But silence is a luxury we cannot afford. We will march, not because they allow us, but because we demand our place in history.' If history has taught us anything, it's efforts like the Delta founders and countless other women and allies marching on Washington which changed the status quo. At the same time, the Delta sisters say they believe what happened back in 1913 is still relevant in 2025. Sunday's march is also a call of action to fight back against abortion bans and the laws which some call voter suppression, like I.D. laws, closing polling places and gerrymandering. It's also a call of action to support Black entrepreneurs and other leadership positions and for economic equality, since some say Black Americans are pushed into debt and denied access to capital. 'They tried to silence us then, but marched anyway. And now, in 2025, we will do what we must do,' says McAlister. 'We will organize when they attack our rights. We will mobilize when they silence our voices,' says Delta Sigma Theta Evansville Alumnae Chapter President Dr. Ena Winfield. 'We will amplify them and educate our public. This is who we are. So, again, don't agonize, strategize.' Delta Sigma Theta alumnae commemorate women's suffrage movement, advocate for women's rights Two Western Kentucky cities join nationwide workers' rights, Trump administration protests Check out what's new at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in 2025 Patoka Township firefighters show how they rescue people in grain bins Henderson County church continues to raise money for youth programs at Tri-Fest Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
