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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Collegiate and alumnae members of Delta Sigma Theta |
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Sorority, Incorporated, are gathering in Austin on April 14, 2025, |
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to mark Red and White Day, a day of advocacy and action, at the State |
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Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, was |
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founded on January 13, 1913, at Howard University in Washington, |
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D.C.; the 22 original members included four young women from Texas, |
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Zephyr Chisom Carter, Jessie McGuire Dent, Frederica Chase Dodd, |
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and Myra Davis Hemmings, all committed to academic excellence and |
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social change; members marched in a women's suffrage parade soon |
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after, and they incorporated as a national organization in 1930; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The organization is made up of more than 350,000 |
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women in the United States and several foreign countries; it |
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encompasses over 1,000 chapters, with many in the Lone Star State; |
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participants work toward positive change in their communities, |
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placing a strong emphasis on the core issues of economic |
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development, educational development, international awareness, |
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political awareness, and physical and mental health; moreover, |
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members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, mentor at-risk |
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young women, conduct voter awareness drives, host political forums, |
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and help guide and inform public policy; and |
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WHEREAS, Many members of the sorority have gone on to have |
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distinguished careers in public service, including Texas State |
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Representatives Toni Rose, Rhetta Andrews Bowers, and Lauren Ashley |
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Simmons and former state representative and current Congresswoman |
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Jasmine Crockett, as well as legendary former legislators, such as |
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State Representative Ruth Jones McClendon and Congresswoman |
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Barbara Jordan; among the Texans who have held significant |
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leadership positions within the organization is the sorority's |
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current international president and chair, Elsie Cooke-Holmes, who |
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resides in Plano; and |
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WHEREAS, The women of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, |
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Incorporated, have enriched the State of Texas and the entire |
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nation through their advocacy and civic engagement, and it is |
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indeed a pleasure to commend them for their noteworthy endeavors; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize April 14, 2025, as Red and White Day at |
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the State Capitol and extend to all those involved with Delta Sigma |
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Theta Sorority, Incorporated, sincere best wishes for the future; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the sorority as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |