SR1033 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1033 LRB102 27470 LAW 39264 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Gamma Eta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was chartered in East St. Louis on June 6, 1942; and

WHEREAS, The Gamma Eta Chapter was organized through the efforts of Bessie B. Garvin, an educator and the first president of a group of ten dynamic women, holding the distinction as the first Greek letter organization established in East St. Louis; and

WHEREAS, The Gamma Eta Chapter was renamed the East St. Louis Alumnae Chapter (ESLAC) in 1958; and

WHEREAS, The East St. Louis Alumnae Chapter chartered an undergraduate chapter, Epsilon Xi, on the campuses of Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville and Carbondale in 1964; and

WHEREAS, The East St. Louis Alumnae Chapter crowned Jacqueline Storman Turnage as its first Ms. Delta; and

WHEREAS, The East St. Louis Alumnae Chapter's program, the Mini Teen Lift, provides educational opportunities and cultural awareness for teenagers in the East St. Louis community; and

WHEREAS, One of the East St. Louis Alumnae Chapter's signature programs, Breakfast with Santa, was envisioned in 1971, and it continues to grow and bring joy to hundreds of children in the community each year; and

WHEREAS, The East St. Louis Alumnae Chapter, in partnership with other prominent local organizations, launched the national initiative School America; and

WHEREAS, Through years of commitment, location transitions, and dedication, the East St. Louis Alumnae Chapter broke ground on the Delta Child Development Center at 1012 South 15th in East St. Louis in 1988; and

WHEREAS, The East St. Louis Alumnae Chapter and the Delta Economic Development Corporation broke ground on a new childcare playground in 1993, which serves both the State Community Drop-in Center and the Delta Child Development Center; and

WHEREAS, Members of the East St. Louis Alumnae Chapter partnered with Habitat for Humanity on July 17, 1994, building five homes in the 500 block of 49th Street in East St. Louis; and

WHEREAS, The East St. Louis Alumnae Chapter has more than 250 members today and is currently led by President Pamela M. Weston; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare June 6, 2022 as Delta Sigma Theta Gamma Eta Chapter Day in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the East St. Louis Alumnae Chapter as an expression of our esteem and respect.