Community Leaders To Cut Ribbon On First School Founded By Black Sorority

Aug. 8, 2014 - PRLog -- DETROIT – The Detroit Delta Preparatory Academy for Social Justice, which opens this fall, was founded by the Detroit Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the largest organization of African-American women. It is the first charter school opened by a member organization of the National Pan-Hellenic Council Inc., known as the “Divine 9.” The members of these nine Black Greek Letter Organizations comprise a major percentage of the college-educated professionals in the African-American community.

The high school will be a rigorous, personalized and highly interactive four-year magnet school, with a college preparatory curriculum. Beginning with 9th and 10^th grades this fall, a grade level will be added each year. It will be a small personalization high school, with enrollment capped at 125 students per grade level.

Emphasis will be placed on social justice that is culturally relevant. Students will be exposed to and readied for college study geared towards careers involving: social justice advocacy and social change; the legal system and law enforcement; as well as political science and public affairs. Through internships and class projects, students will obtain work experience in social justice and legal arenas. The school will also focus on preparation to excel at organized writing, standardized tests and pertinent measures for college admission.

Ribbon Cutting & Open House

Sunday, August 24th from 3 – 5 p.m.

Detroit Delta Preparatory Academy for Social Justice

3550 John C. Lodge Freeway (at Martin Luther King) Detroit, MI 48201

More than 1,000 supporters, including elected officials and leaders in the education,

business, religious and nonprofit communities are expected to attend

“We invite students and their families to join us at Delta Prep as we transform the range of choices for quality education in the city of Detroit,” says Detroit Alumnae Chapter President Marcia A. Jackson. “This project has been our passion and we thank all of those who worked with us to see this dream come true.”

“Our students will receive a rigorous education in a safe, nurturing environment with professionals who are keeping scholastic endeavor as our top priority,” says Delta Prep Principal Meagan L. Brown, Ed.S. “Upon graduation, students will be knowledgeable about global issues, mindful of the community they serve, and well prepared for college.”

The Detroit Alumnae Chapter’s membership includes teachers, curriculum specialists, learning specialists, assistant and full principals, active and retired assistant and full superintendents, involved parents and citizen volunteers. Delta Academy’s opening is testament to the Chapter’s dedication to the community’s educational development and social uplift.

The school is chartered by authorizing agency Ferris State University. The founding process was supported by partner Michigan Future Schools and the management agency for the 501(c) (3) non-profit school is EQUITY.

The Institute for Student Achievement, the instructional partner, is nationally recognized for its approach to teaching social justice themes. More than 81 percent of ISA high school graduates have graduated from college in four years or are currently attending college.

“It is a privilege to be able to do what I think is so critically important: to ensure all high school students have access to excellent schools, programs and opportunities, and that all teachers are equipped to support their success,” says ISA President Gerry House, Ed.D.

“We are absolutely thrilled to see this dream of instituting such a comprehensive educational program that includes a high level educational curriculum and exposure to community-serving career fields and college preparation,” says Edythe Hayden Friley, a founding member of the Delta Prep board.

For more information about Detroit Delta Preparatory Academy for Social Justice, visit http://www.detroitdeltaprep.com.  For more information about ISA visit www.studentachievement.org.

For media or interview requests, or to RSVP for the ribbon-cutting event, contact Lisa Wilmore at (313) 980-4766 or e-mail Lisa.Wilmore@comcast.net.

About Detroit Delta Preparatory Academy for Social Justice

Delta Prep seeks to achieve the mission of cultivating and nurturing the spirit and capacity for academic achievement, intellectual diversity, critical thinking, good citizenship, artistic appreciation and personal accomplishment in every single student and graduate.

About Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. – Detroit Alumnae Chapter

Detroit Deltas are college-educated women who are community leaders, serving in a variety of professions, including education, health care and law. Other Detroit Delta public service activities include providing homeless shelters with meals and the construction and operation of Delta Manor, a residential facility for seniors. In recent years, Detroit Deltas have awarded more than a half-million dollars in scholarship funds. For more information, go to www.DetroitDeltas.com.

About Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. is a public service organization of college educated women with more than 250,000 members worldwide, committed to the constructive development of its members and to public service with a primary focus on the Black community. The major programs of the sorority are based on the organization's Five Point Programmatic Thrust:

*Economic Development

*Educational Development

*International Awareness and Involvement

*Physical and Mental Health

*Political Awareness and Involvement

For more information about Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. see www.DeltaSigmaTheta.org

About Institute for Student Achievement

For more than 20 years, the Institute for Student Achievement has partnered with school leaders to transform high schools so students who are traditionally underserved and underperforming graduates are prepared for success in college. www.studentachievement.org