The Event Also Honored 22 Iconic Chicagoans in Celebration of Sorority’s 110th Year
Chicago Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated (CMAC) hosted 500
members on Sunday, January 15, at the Marriott Marquis Chicago where they celebrated the sorority turning 110 years old. The
theme: “She Persisted: Overcoming Barriers, Creating Breakthroughs, Evolving with Time.” The keynote speakers were media heavyhitters, writer/producer, Mara Brock Akil, and media executive, Amy DuBois Barnett. Both are also members of the sorority.
The event included a members-only rededication ceremony and brunch, plus an “Iconic 22” celebration, that was open to the public.
The celebration honored 22 iconic Chicago women who have excelled in providing exemplary community service, including Dr.
Annise Lewis, Chief of Schools for Chicago Public Schools; Corliss V. Garner, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at Old
National Bank; and Luvvie Ajayi Jones, New York Times best-selling author, speaker and digital strategist.
“For 110 years, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. has been about the business of public service, academic excellence and sisterhood,”
said Chimille Tillery, President of Chicago Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. “This year, CMAC is
pleased to honor 22 Chicagoans who are making such an impact in our community. As we celebrate our 22 founders, we felt this was
a fitting way to pay homage to the work they did and continue to do through us. We were also honored to have Sorors Mara Brock
Akil and Amy DuBois Barnett join us and bring amazing energy and inspiration to our members.”
Akil, known for creating and executive producing the popular TV series, “Girlfirends” and “Being Mary Jane”, will soon be turning
the Judy Blume classic “Forever” into a series for Netflix. Barnett, previously editor-in-chief at Ebony Magazine and executive editor
at ESPN is currently the chief content officer at Outside. During their keynotes, the women shared inspirational gems with CMAC
members about how to balance reaching goals with self-care, the benefits of practicing gratitude and getting in the habit of ‘doing’
more (vs ‘thinking’).
CMAC ended the Founders Day festivities on Monday, January 16 with a day of service on honor of Martin Luther King Jr. in two
locations around the cities. On the west side, members participated in service activities at the Juvenile Detention Center where they
had a vision board party encouraging the young people to dream big. And on the south side, members joined the Obama Foundation at
the South Side YMCA helping to prepare meals and packages for organizations like The Love Fridge, Nourishing Hope and
Connections for Abused Women & their Children.
The Chicago Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter was officially chartered on June 7, 2020, in Chicago, IL with 115 charter members and
was chartered under the leadership of past National President and CEO, Beverly E. Smith, and past Midwest Regional Director, Dr.
Sarahjini Nunn Spencer, making it the second alumnae chapter in Chicago. Since being chartered, CMAC has been actively serving
Chicago with activities and programs that reflect Delta’s Five-Point Programmatic Thrust, Economic Development, Educational
Development, International Awareness and Involvement, Physical and Mental Health and Political Awareness and Involvement.
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