On March 1st, 2024, Wichita African Union, Inc. (WAU) hosted a joint partnership meeting with International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Wichita Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (Sorority Chapter). At this meeting the Sorority Chapter donated ten Children’s blankets to IRC. As you will see from the video below, the blankets were specially made, in other words they are a product of ‘labor of love’. Presentation of the donation was done by the President of the Sorority Chapter, Gwynne Birzer while Ann Hawley, Development Manager for IRC received the blankets on behalf of the refugees.
“What an honor to share the same space with two well known organizations. Well known because of the impact they make on the lives of individuals, families, and communities here in the USA and beyond because of the services they offer. Congratulations to the Sorority on the 111th Anniversary of the National Chapter. That is a long history. We just concluded Black History Month and here we are today witnessing yet another outstanding service by highly educated African American ladies in our community of Wichita.
With the Sorority Chapter, we do share common interests in many areas including promoting educational excellence through scholarships, outreach in the form of charity service and collaboration with likeminded organizations. What has happened in this room tonight is a testament to that. As for the IRC, by virtue of our background as immigrants, we have a shared interest to protect the welfare and dignity of displaced communities as they try to find a home away from home. From the IRC presentation it is noted that a good percentage of the local African refugees are from Congo and Sudan.
Literature also shows that the Sorority has done charity work on the continent of Africa going back many years when they did initial work in Kenya.” Of course, history connects us way deeper than we see it with the eye, we are one family. Thank you for the special gift to IRC and for our partnership.
