Welcome Sorors, Honorees, and Guests! The Spring Bloom Brunch Experience is the signature fundraiser for the North Manhattan Alumnae Chapter (NMAC) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated was founded 112 years ago on January 13, 1913, by 22 young women studying at Howard University. They sought to create an organization rooted in sisterhood, scholarship, service, and social action. The North Manhattan Alumnae Chapter was chartered on December 13, 1980, and for more than four decades, our members continue to serve the Washington Heights and Inwood communities. On behalf of our 200+ chapter members, we are excited to fellowship and celebrate with you while raising money for our scholarships and community programs. Our scholarships are awarded to dynamic students pursuing a college education in any discipline. To date, we have awarded over $350,000 amongst
A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT (continued)
45 recipients who have attended over 30 colleges and universities throughout the United States. Our programming and service to the Washington Heights and Inwood neighborhoods focus on health, wellness, social action, financial literacy, higher education, and cultural enrichment, in addition to international awareness and involvement. This year, we continue to combat food insecurity with our strategic partners to consistently provide food to individuals and families in need. Speaking up and out against gun violence, human trafficking and domestic violence while also delivering programs to raise awareness on physical and mental health concerns plaguing our community remain a top-priority. Social Action is foundational to all NMAC does to drive positive change in our communities through innovative programming and strategic partnerships. In addition to fundraising, Spring Bloom allows us to honor leaders among us for their transformative work locally and beyond. Our three honorees are phenomenal, dynamic, and passionate about creating positive and sustainable change. Today we recognize, and thank each honoree for their tireless efforts, sacrifices, and contributions. My heart is filled with gratitude as I reflect on the work of the North Manhattan Alumnae Chapter and our relentless focus on empowering and uplifting everyone we serve. We take great pride in addressing community needs through strategic and collaborative programs delivered with
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compassion and care. Our focus on sisterhood, scholarship, service, and social action is unwavering as our work continues and we move forward with fortitude. Thank you again for your presence, love, and support. I pray you enjoy the NMAC Brunch Experience and take great joy in knowing that your presence and contribution today makes a real difference! With a grateful heart, La-Asia Hundley La-Asia Hundley President, North Manhattan Alumnae Chapter
EVENT WELCOME PRESIDENT'S GREETING COMMUNITY PRAYER BRUNCH CALL TO ACTION NMAC CHANGE AGENT AWARD NMAC CHANGE TORCH AWARD NMAC FORTITUDE AWARD RECOGNITION OF SPONSORS COMMUNITY GREETINGS SPECIAL REMARKS AFTER BRUNCH/SOCIAL FLOURISH
L. Joy Williams is a national political strategist whose passion for political and community activism stems from a deep-rooted family history and commitment to civil rights and social justice. She currently serves as the President of the New York State NAACP Conference of Branches. Also, L. Joy is Chairwoman Emeritus of Higher Heights for America, the only political action committee exclusively dedicated to electing more progressive Black women at various levels of government. She now serves as Chair of the Higher Heights PAC. Recognizing the need for civic education and engagement in an accessible format, L. Joy created the weekly podcast #SundayCivics to teach civics using the current political landscape. In 2023, she was an instrumental part of the coalitions that succeeded in getting the New York State John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which is the most expansive State level voting rights act in the country signed into law, and legislation that establishes the New York State Community Commission on Reparations Remedies which acknowledges the fundamental injustice and inhumanity of Slavery. L. Joy is now a published author with her book, Get Vote Ready: A Journal for the Empowered Voter available on Amazon.
NMAC FORTITUDE AWARD
L. Joy Williams
Wayne Devonish brings over 30 years of experience in affordable and market-rate housing management, rentals, sales, and development, primarily in Brooklyn, along with 40+ years of community volunteer service. He began his career with Habitat for Humanity NYC, where he organized and developed affordable housing in Bedford-Stuyvesant and Queens. Later, as Program Manager for the Healthy Homes Initiative at Neighborhood Housing Services, Wayne led teams to inspect and remediate hazards in Brooklyn homes. His career progressed at Black Veterans for Social Justice—from part-time property manager to Housing Director—before he became Executive Director at Central Brooklyn Community Services, managing a 150,000-square-foot facility and 1,000 affordable housing units. Wayne then served as Housing Director at NEBCO for 1,500 units. Today, Wayne is the Executive Director of Bedford Central Community Development Corp, where he focuses on homebuyer education and financial literacy. He privately manages condos and townhouses in Williamsburg and is a licensed real estate agent with Brown Harris Stevens. Passionate about community service, Wayne founded 500 Men Making a Difference, a 501c3 organization that has mentored over 400 youth, renovated community spaces locally and internationally, and runs after-school STEM programs in NYC public schools. Wayne holds a BS in
Wayne Devonish
NMAC CHANGE AGENT AWARD
an MBA, a real estate sales license, and certificates in real estate finance and property management. He actively volunteers on numerous local committees and serves as a member or leader in several organizations, including the Brownstoners of Bedford Stuyvesant, Magnolia Tree Earth Center, Habitat for Humanity NYC, Troop 297 (as Scout Master), and is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
Born and raised in New York City, Khary Lazarre-White is a social entrepreneur, novelist, educator, activist and civil rights lawyer whose work centers on the intersection of race, class, gender, education, organizing and the law. In 1995, at the age of 21, Khary co-founded The Brotherhood Sister Sol, and now serves as Executive Director of the nationally renowned, Harlem based, comprehensive social justice youth development and educational organization that works on issues of education, organizing and training the field, nationally and internationally, to advance justice. His awards include the Oprah Winfrey’s Angel Network Use Your Life Award, as well as from institutions that include Ford Foundation, Black Girls Rock, Andrew Goodman Foundation, Union Square Awards, Brown University, African American Literature Awards, and a Resident Fellowship Award to the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center. Khary has extensive experience as a speaker across the country and has widely on national media sites as well. He has written opinion pieces and essays for publications that include the Huffington Post, Nation Books, Essence Magazine, MSNBC, and New York University Press. Seven Stories Press published his first novel, Passage, which is distributed by Penguin Random House. Reviewed widely, it was named among “Best New Fiction” by The Wall Street Journal. Khary serves on the Board of Trustees for the Community Service Society; on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the CUNY School for Public Health; and is Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Elba Hope Foundation. Khary is a member of the Bar in the States of New Jersey and New York. Khary received his Bachelors in Arts in Africana Studies, with honors, from Brown University, and his Juris Doctorate from the Yale Law School where his focus was international human rights law and constitutional law.
NMAC TORCH AWARD
Khary Lazarre-White
Press published his first novel, Passage, which is distributed by Penguin Random House. Reviewed widely, it was named among “Best New Fiction” by The Wall Street Journal. Khary serves on the Board of Trustees for the Community Service Society; on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the CUNY School for Public Health; and is Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Elba Hope Foundation. Khary is a member of the Bar in the States of New Jersey and New York. Khary received his Bachelors in Arts in Africana Studies, with honors, from Brown University, and his Juris Doctorate from the Yale Law School where his focus was international human rights law and constitutional law.
HOSTED BY
SHANNON LANIER
Shannon LaNier Shannon LaNier is an actor, influencer and Emmy award winning nationally syndicated television personality, who you’ve probably seen on News 12. As the 6th great grandson of President Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, Shannon is also co-author of the award-winning Random House Inc. book Jefferson's Children: The Story of One American Family. While you may remember Shannon as a co-host of BET's celebrity talk show Arise Entertainment 360 and Black Enterprise Magazine's nationally-syndicated show, Black Enterprise Business Report, you can now watch or listen to his podcast Daddy Duty 365. Follow Shannon's fatherhood and family influencer journey, with nearly 1 million social media followers, @MrShannonLanier on all platforms. His silly shenanigans with his wife Chandra (DST S'01) and their 3 Little LaNiers havegenerated over a quarter of a billion views. If you haven’t already, watch Shannon in the thriller Tyler Perry's Duplicity on Amazon Prime Video.
CRIMSON SPONSOR
H. Grant CEO, JPS
OUR SPONSORS
COMMUNITY SPONSORS
Pastor Mike Walrond & Reverend LaKeesha Walrond
OUR VENDORS
Congratulations to North Manhattan Alumnae Chapter, Delta Theta Sorority Inc. on your inspiring Spring Bloom Event! As we celebrate renewal, resilience, and sisterhood, we proudly uplift one of our own- Soror Yolanda M. Epps -whose new book is perfectly aligned with the spirit of this season. Loving Me: A Journal of Transformation, Empowerment & Self-Love is more than a journal- it's a sacred space for healing, reflection, and growth, written by a woman who embodies the values we hold dear. From one bloom to another, may this work continue to plant seeds of self-love and sisterly empowerment in readers everywhere. Book Available now on AMAZON
In April 1980, Mattie B. Parson and Mary D. Redd began discussing their concerns about the need for improved services to the residents of the communities in the northern section of Manhattan. These concerns were later shared with a small group of sorors who decided to explore the feasibility of establishing a chapter in this underserved area. With a vision toward developing projects and programs in the areas of academic growth for youth, cultural enrichment, political awareness and improved community relations, the wheels were set in motion to have a new Delta chapter chartered. Through the guiding hand of then Eastern Regional Director Dorothy B. Stanley, the North Manhattan Alumnae Chapter (NMAC) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was chartered on December 13, 1980 with 38 members. NMAC has grown in numbers and spirit to a current membership of more than 200 active sorors. We have held steadfast to our original vision and purpose and developed projects and programs thoroughly rooted in Delta's Five-Point Programmatic Thrust: Educational Development, Economic Development, International Awareness and Involvement, Political Awareness and Involvement and Physical and Mental Health.
NMAC HISTORY - IT BEGAN IN 1980
CHARTER MEMBERS ___
Evelyn H. Baptiste* Grace T. Bassett* Lavonnie Brinkley Lauren M. Burnett Velma A. Cannon Edythe Cherry* Sylvia C. Finkley* Winona A. Green Pamela D. Hayes Denise Powlis Lighty Delores B. Lipscomb Mildred Love* Phyllis G. Mack Janet Mason Carolyn G. McBain Ramona McCottrie Marie Grace McLean* Rosalind Henry Medley Christine Merritt Kathleen I. Moses Winifred L. Norman* Mariah T. Outen* Mattie B. Parson* Charisse Penalver, Esq Lydia M. Pitts,Esq* Annette Powlis Mary D. Redd Floree Roberson Thelma C. Robinson* Dr. Betty Shabazz* Catherine H. Smith Olivia Pearl Stokes* Clarissa B. Tucker* Lynette V. Tucker* Helen H. Williams* Dorothy Willis Bessie Wright* Dolores Wright * *Omega Omega
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