The Divine Nine: Highlighting Delta Sigma Theta sorority

For the Divine Nine community, especially after undergrad, it’s all about putting in the work.

For Sharon Cates-Williams, president of the local Delta Sigma Theta Sorority chapter, that’s a part of who she in.

“I have six words that describe who I am, I’m never too busy to serve, that’s me, I’m there,” Cates-Williams said. 

Working to serve her community is something she takes seriously. Service is a principle of her life that has always aligned with her sorority.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated was founded on January 13, 1913, by 22 collegiate women at Howard University.

Delta’s founders’ first act of public service was participating in the Women’s Suffrage March of 1913. Even today, politics remains a focus of the sorority.

“The chapter, we do a lot of work connected to the sororities five-point programmatic thrust as we call it,” Cates-Williams explained. “Economic development, educational development, physical and mental health, international awareness, and involvement with political awareness involvement.”

In her career at the New York State Education Department, Cates-Williams is able to keep her chapter involved and in line with Delta’s five-point programmatic thrust.