MLK Fifth Grade Girls: Delta Academy

Sponsored by

The Bellevue Alumnae Chapter

of

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc

Since 2002 the Bellevue Alumnae Chapter has worked with fifth grade girls at martin Luther King Elementary School as part of its Delta Academy.

Martin Luther King Elementary School is a kindergarten through fifth grade inner-city school with a population of predominately minority students. Each year since the start of the academy, the fifth grade girls have anxiously waited a chance to be a part of the academy and work with the women of the Sorority. Lead by chapter member Thelma Payne, a social worker by profession, the family support worker at the school outlines several areas that the students need to improve. Because of the make-up of students in the school, with girls making up a small percentage, in some cases, the girls in the fifth grade reacted to the circumstance of gender isolation with poor social habits, physical fighting among themselves and often disrespecting staff as well as their male peers.

In 2002 Sorors Thelma Payne and Pauline Hill pushed the project off the ground with a focus on three aspects of the girls’ development. These aspects were improving social skills, self-care and intellectual development. These core aspects have continued over the years as the girls were presented with workshops by chapter members and others that aimed to showcase examples of the beauty and grace that comes when Black women care for themselves and their families and work hard to develop their God given talents to make contributions to the community and the world.

The theme for the following year's class of girls was "Seeing the world ...in order to see me". This year's class of girls became pen pals with 5th grade girls in Africa, and had discussions on the book "The Bride Price"  led by chapter member Alice Allen, a former reading teacher with the Seattle Public Schools.

Students also shared in a financial session with Sorors Pauline Hill and Colleen Williams. Soror Williams used the book as a discussion topic as she discussed the value of various money from across the world. Soror Hill, a Director with the Seattle Public School system, spoke with pride as she observed the difference in behavior of the girls from the beginning to the end of the school year. During the discussion the girls were asked "how much do you think you're worth?", when one of the girls immediately answered, "we can't be bought, we're priceless!" Each of the girls received a t-shirt from the sorority with the theme "Seeing the world ...in order to see me".

Each year's class of girls looked forward to having the Deltas join them at the school. Over the years various workshops were conducted including, Powerful Black women to widen the girls’ horizons on what they could become and to show how black women often have successfully overcome adversity; “Women and the Workplace”, designed to create an awareness of career opportunities and the preparation required to take advantage of these opportunities.  Each Delta Academy culminates with a small luncheon program to allow the girls to celebrate and reflect upon their experiences in the academy.

Over the years we've seen the girls’ social skills positively impacted to the degree that teachers commented enthusiastically as well as wrote to the principal regarding the changes. We learned that the attention shown the girls through our preparations of activities and the quality of the presentations and personal stories impacted their desire to achieve academically and to be seen as smart and intellectual. This was also borne out in improvement in their test scores.

We also learned that this was an experience the girls will always remember. And that the experience could serve as a window onto a path that can change their lives for the better. 

The Women of

The Bellevue Alumnae Chapter

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.