Picture a room bathed in crimson and cream, filled with laughter, applause, and decades of legacy. This is how the New Jersey Garden City Alumnae Chapter (NJGCAC) of Delta Sigma Theta (DST) celebrated its golden 50th anniversary, an evening that honored the achievements of founding sorors, spotlighted community service, and set the tone for the next half-century.
As college-educated Black women, DST members have been trailblazers in public service since 1913. In New Jersey, across chapters from Bergen to Essex, that promise of “intelligence as the torch of wisdom” has shaped policy, education, and empowerment. This article explores how 50 years of Sisterhood in NJ have not only commemorated the past but also charged toward future impact.
Section 1: Roots in New Jersey
The New Jersey Garden City Alumnae Chapter (NJGCAC) was chartered on April 30, 1989, at Rowan University in Glassboro.
What began with just over 25 committed women has grown into a 150+ member powerhouse dedicated to five programmatic pillars: economic development, educational advancement, international involvement, mental and physical health, and political awareness.
Today, NJGCAC’s influence stretches statewide, driving scholarships, mentorship, health fairs, and voter registration drives.
NJ also hosts other alumnae chapters, Monmouth County, Bergen County, North Jersey (Kappa Sigma, established in 1939), and others, each playing a vital role across regions. DST’s alumnae chapters in NJ have collectively been at the forefront of local civic engagement since the 1960s, complementing active collegiate counterparts on campuses across the state.
The Golden Celebration
In May 2025, NJGCAC hosted a week-long Golden Anniversary celebration filled with service, scholarship, and sisterhood. Highlights included:
- Welcome Reception & Scholarship Awards: Over 200 guests celebrated with music, a fashion showcase, and scholarships awarded to women in STEM, education, and public policy.
- Community Service Day: 150 sorors and volunteers partnered with Jersey City schools for a park cleanup, book drive, and voter registration initiative.
- Panel on Civic Leadership: Featuring NJ elected officials and DST alumnae, discussing strategies to maintain Black women’s political influence.
- Gala & Recognition Ceremony: Black-tie event celebrating charter members and past presidents, featuring performances and keynote remarks.
NJGCAC’s digital channels, especially Instagram, captured moments, from coronation photos and the “Preakness Experience” to guest speeches, hosted on reels and stories tagged #NJGCACGolden.
Pillars of Service
Delving deeper into NJGCAC’s ongoing work:
- Educational Advancement
- College scholarships regularly awarded—a 2024 drive funded eight women heading to HBCUs.
- Monthly mentorship through Delta Academy and GEMS for girls aged 11–18, supporting STEM, leadership, and self-confidence.
- College scholarships regularly awarded—a 2024 drive funded eight women heading to HBCUs.
- Mental & Physical Health
- “Total Woman” health fairs promoting breast cancer screenings, fitness, and mental health check-ins.
- Physical and Mental Health Committee organises nutrition workshops and support groups.
- “Total Woman” health fairs promoting breast cancer screenings, fitness, and mental health check-ins.
- Economic & Political Empowerment
- Professional development events and small business bootcamps.
- Voter registration campaigns in historically underrepresented neighborhoods.
- Professional development events and small business bootcamps.
- International Outreach & Arts
- Support for Rwandan school reconstruction, book donations, and uniforms.
- Arts & Letters outreach includes HBCU essay contests and cultural heritage film screenings.
- Support for Rwandan school reconstruction, book donations, and uniforms.
Cultural Relevance
DST remains culturally relevant through:
- Social media storytelling: Instagram reels featuring young Sorors sharing leadership takeaways.
- Representation and visibility: Young alumnae channels showcasing DST members in careers from law and tech to nonprofit leadership.
NJGCAC’s Instagram and Facebook platforms serve not just as celebration hubs, but also as resources for grants, volunteering, and civic events, keeping sisterhood dynamic and outward-facing.
Why It Matters
Why does a sorority celebration matter beyond ceremonies and social events?
- Leadership pipeline: Sorors support community cohesion, political decision-making, and generational empowerment.
- Economic uplift: Scholarships, business support, and professional development extend DST’s impact into economic resilience.
- Cultural continuity: Celebrations of heritage, visibility on digital platforms, and civic programming ensure that Black women’s contributions remain recognized and integrated into public memory.
- Network effect: Partnership with nonprofits, schools, and municipalities extends DST’s reach far beyond its membership.
At HfYC, spotlighting DST’s chapter shows how grassroots civic power marries tradition and transformation. These fifty years aren’t just a milestone, they’re a mandate.
Do you know a Delta Soror making waves in New Jersey’s civic space? Submit them for spotlight: @hereforyoucentral.com or tag us @hereforyoucentral.
Glossary
- DST – Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
- Soror – Sister; member of the sorority
- Alumnae Chapter – Post-college chapter of DST
- Five-Point Programmatic Thrust – Economic, educational, international, health, political/community service pillars
- Charter – Official founding of a chapter
