Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Dynamic Southern Region
BASIC SOCIAL ACTION
ADVOCACY TRAINING
Presented by
Regional Social Action Committee
SOCIAL ACTION DEFINED
 Vehicle through which the sorority establishes a
position on an emerging or perennial public issue;
 Gives us a unique opportunity to advocate policies and
legislation that will impact every area of the Five Point
Programmatic Thrust;
 Determines the action to be taken, and directs the
actions of members, chapters and representative
bodies.
“I will use my influence toward the enactment of laws for
the protection of the unfortunate and weak and for the
repeal of those depriving human beings of their privileges
and rights.”
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MISSION OF SOCIAL ACTION
 To promote leadership, advocacy, and
empowerment to effect social change and public
policy…link[ing] leaders and organizations
through education and communication to
promote progressive public policy that results in
the improved well-being of individuals and
families, especially African Americans.
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Role of the National Social
Action Commission
 Develop and coordinate social action programs
and projects approved by the National Executive
Board
 Stimulate interest in social action and educate
chapters on current issues.
 Southern Region Commissioners
− Laura Hall – AL
− Janice Mathis – GA
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Role of the Regional Social
Action Coordinator
 Receive information and suggested action from the
National Social Action Commissioners.

Responsible for contacting the coordinators in each
state in their respective regions, and ensuring that
social action information is shared with and
implemented by alumnae and collegiate chapters.

Stimulate interest in social action and educate
chapters on current issues.

Southern Regional Social Action Coordinator:
Rhonda Briggins-Ridley - SMLAC
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Role of the State Social Action
Coordinator
 Forwards the information received from the Regional
Social Action Coordinator to each chapter in her state.
 The correspondence is sent to the Chapter President
who shares the information with Chapter Social Action
Chairs.
 The Chapter President and Social Action Chair then
coordinate the appropriate chapter action in response to
the information.
 The chapter ultimately sends a report of its action to
National Headquarters – a copy is sent to the State
Social Action Coordinator
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Social Action in the Chapter
Each chapter is expected to include a social action component in its
operating structure. The customary procedure is that each chapter
establishes a social action committee, headed by a Social Action chair.
Following is the role of the chapter in social action:


Appoint a chapter Social Action Chairperson.

Conduct chapter social action activities and programs in the
local community and/or on college/university campus.

Initiate participation in state and national Delta Days at the
capitol.

Prepare resolutions for approval at the regional and national
levels.


Nominate recipients for the biennial social action awards.
Receive social action information from State Social Action
Coordinator, and/or the National Social Action Commission.
Send report of chapter social action activities and program to the
State Social Action Coordinator and to National Headquarters.
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How to organize a Chapter
Social Action Committee
• Refer to Grand Chapter Bylaws for information on the
duties of the National Social Action Commission.
 Review your chapter’s Policies and Procedures manual for
 guidance if they cover the committee’s procedures.
 Compile information on the committee’s previous activities
 if this has not been done.
 Encourage interested sorors to become members of the
 committee.
 Meet and set your committee agenda for the year.
 Create a budget for the year.
 Complete End of Year Report
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Social Action (SA) Committee and
Political Awareness and Involvement
(PAI) Committee
SA
PAI
Focus is advocacy, public
policy (issues), and
legislation
Focus is the current laws,
ordinances, rules, the
electoral process, and
elected officials
Advocacy takes place first.
Social Action raise
awareness of issues,
advocate for the creation of
new legislation and change
to existing laws.
PAI is the second phase of
SA. In the world of PAI, you
discuss current laws; work
on elections, voter
mobilization, election
protection and elected
officials.
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Social Action Committee and
Political Action Committee
Activity Examples
Elections
SA
PAI
Advocating for policies to ensure online
voting registration or voter registration when
obtaining or renewing your driver’s license
Voter Registration
Eliminating felony disenfranchisement Advocating for legislation to restore the
rights of convicted felons so they can vote in
elections
Educating convicted felons who have met all
the requirements to have the rights restored
about the process of registering to vote.
Holding voter registration drives targeting
that population
Advocating for/ensuring legislation is in
place that allows citizens the right to vote
early. E.g. Blocking efforts in Georgia
(2014) to change early voting from 21 days
to 6 days.
GOTV:
Early voting (Stroll to the Polls) Absentee
voting (Absentee Ballot Drives)
Advocating your Congressional member to
develop and enact a new formula for Section
IV & Section V of the Voting Rights Act that
was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court
Forums to educate citizens on the
importance of voting/Voting Rights Act of
1965 and what they need when they go to
the ballot box
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Social Action Committee and
Political Action Committee
Activity Examples
Human Trafficking
SA
PAI and IA &I
Advocates/address the elected
official (who has the power to make
laws) concerning Human Trafficking
to ensure laws/legislation is passed
that will benefit the community
(advocacy/impacting public policy)
At Candidate forum, you make sure
the each candidate states their
position on human trafficking so that
voters know where the candidate
stands on the position.
Work on getting stronger language
in the current human trafficking
laws.
Make sure the human trafficking
laws are being enforced…meet with
police department and others
Develop letter writing campaign to
elected officials about the need for
stronger human trafficking
language
Report back to police/others
regarding enforcement progress or
lack there of
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DON’T ISOLATE SOCIAL ACTION
THERE CAN BE A SOCIAL
ACTION COMPONENT FOR
EVERY CHAPTER PROGRAM
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Southern Region Social
Action Agenda
Economic Development
 “CODE RED” (Revitalizing Economic Development) Regional initiative on Black Friday
 Understanding Illegal Credit Practices* (Resolution)
 Minimum Wage Increase
 Job and Economy
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Southern Region Social Action
Agenda
Educational Development
 Education (Equal and Equitable)
 Charter Schools vs. Public School
Education (funding formulas)
 Suspension Rates of Black Students
 Standardized Testing (disproportionately
impacted minorities and impact graduation
rates)
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Southern Region Social Action
Agenda
International Awareness and Involvement
 Immigration Reform - Congressional and
state level
 Elimination of Violence Against Women
(Bring Back Our Girls)
 Human Trafficking* (Resolution)
 Gender Inequality
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Southern Region Social Action
Agenda
Physical and Mental Health
 Medicaid Expansion
 Affordable Care Act (Advocacy/Education/Awareness)
 Mental Illness Awareness
 Health Disparities (eliminating)
 HIV/AIDS – Know Your Status
 ACS Regional Cancer Awareness Program *
 Obesity (adult and childhood)
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Southern Region Social Action
Agenda
Political Awareness and Involvement
 Voting Rights Act
 Supreme Court ruling on the VRA – Advocacy
efforts to restore (Congressional)
 Combatting Voter Suppression (Resolution)
 2014 Mid-term Election
 Gun control/violence*(Resolution)
 Stand Your Ground (Castle) Laws – eliminating
 Delta Days (Nation’s Capital, State Capitol and
local)
 The Delta Political Institute: Preparing Deltas to
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run for political office
Questions
?
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