Andrea Stevens
AFRO Staff Writer
astevens@afro.com

Thousands of members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority gathered in the nation’s capital for the organization’s 57th National Convention, celebrating more than 111 years of sisterhood, scholarship and service. The biennial event, held July 8-13, welcomed more than 20,000 attendees to Washington, D.C., where the sorority was founded in 1913.

Founded by 22 collegiate women on the campus of Howard University, Delta Sigma Theta is one of the largest historically Black sororities, with more than 350,000 initiated members and over 1,000 chapters worldwide. The return to its birthplace marked a meaningful homecoming for many members and served as a powerful reminder of the sorority’s legacy and continued impact.

Elsie Cooke-Holmes, the 27th international president and chair of the board of directors, welcomed attendees and reflected on the significance of the convention.

“This is Delta’s home, and I know for some of my D9 (Divine Nine) brothers and sisters, you’re at home too,” she said. “This convention is more than a convening — it’s a homecoming of strength and purpose. A sacred opportunity to reflect on where we’ve been, what we’ve built and the vision we carry forward as we continue to serve.”

The five-day event featured a mix of business sessions, service initiatives, educational forums and cultural celebrations. One of the highlights was the public meeting held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, featuring remarks from civic leaders, educators and national figures who applauded the sorority’s commitment to social action, economic development and public service.

Several awards were presented during the public meeting, but for the AFRO team, the Lillian Award stood out with deep personal significance.

Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, publisher of the AFRO, received the Lillian Award. She is the granddaughter of the award’s namesake and a descendant of one of the sorority’s founders. The honor has been a part of her family’s legacy for generations. Dr. Draper shared a heartfelt tribute to her grandmother.

“‘Be strong. We’re not here to play, to dream, to drift. We have hard work to do and loads to lift.’ That hymn was my grandmother’s favorite — not just a melody, but a mandate,” Draper said. “She didn’t just hum it; she lived it. She leaned on those words through joy and heartbreak, from trials to triumph. She then passed that strength on to her family, her church and her beloved Delta Sigma Theta.”

Media personality Joy-Ann Reid, another recipient of the Lillian Award — named in honor of the sorority’s 15th national president, who championed the positive portrayal of African Americans — also spoke passionately about the power of Black storytelling.

“We have to call our own names. We have to tell our own stories. We have to assert our dignity on our own terms,” Reid said. “It is up to us to make sure that we don’t disappear, that our stories, our narrative, don’t disappear. Storytelling is how we do that, and I’m just honored to be in the business of telling our stories.”

The convention also brought significant economic impact to the region, generating an estimated $50 million for the District through hotel bookings, transportation and tourism.

“I am so delighted that you’re having your 57th national convention here,” said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. “I was happy to hear that this is your second largest convening. I promptly asked, ‘Well, what was the first?’ And it was right here in Washington, D.C.”

Mayor Bowser went on to thank the sorority for its long-standing political engagement and for choosing the nation’s capital as its convention site.

“Thank you for your advocacy in City Hall during ‘Delta Days’ every single year for budgets that affect us. Thank you for your advocacy on Capitol Hill. Your legislators must hear from you,” Bowser said. “We appreciate you for spending those long Delta dollars in the nation’s capital, but beyond that, thank you for choosing this city for your convention.”

WASHINGTON – Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a 21-year-old UMASS Amherst student from Massachusetts was tragically killed in Northwest D.C. near the convention center.

Tarpinian-Jachym, a finance major was in the nation’s capital this summer interning for Congressman Ron Estes after completing a fellowship with The Fund for American Studies.

Family speaks out:

His mother, Tamara Tarpinian-Jachym says Eric worked tirelessly to secure the internship.

“He banged on doors down in D.C.. He really wanted to work for a congressman,” she said. “He wasn’t partisan. He didn’t care. Democrat or Republican.”

Tamara says her son dreamed of one day living and working in Washington, D.C. 

But Eric’s bright future was cut short.

The backstory:

According to D.C. police, officers responded to the 1200 block of 7th Street, Northwest, after hearing the sound of gunfire just before 10:30 p.m. 

Upon arrival, officers found an adult man, unconscious and suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to an area hospital by D.C. Fire and EMS where he was later pronounced dead. 

While investigating, officers also found an adult woman and a juvenile male, both conscious and breathing but also suffering from gunshot wounds. They were also taken to local hospitals for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. 

The victim was later identified as Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a resident of Granby, Massachusetts. He was in D.C. working as an intern for the office of U.S. Congressman Ron Estes. 

What they’re saying:

“I was prepared to stay in D.C. and help him in the hospital, but it didn’t work out that way,” his mother said.

His sister, Angela Tarpinian-Jachym remembers him as selfless and determined.

“Eric would do anything for anybody,” she said. “He had big plans and big dreams. We had big plans and big dreams with him.”

Now the family is asking the community for help in finding justice.

“My brother had to pay the ultimate price,” Angela said. “I know Eric would want justice for himself because he wasn’t ready to leave.”

What you can do:

Police continue to investigate the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to come forward by calling (202) 727-9099 or text your tip to the Department’s tip line at 50411. 

WASHINGTON D.C. (KSNB) – Just under 2% or 795,839 acres of Nebraska’s farmland is owned by foreign entities, according to a report from the University of Nebraska.

That figure was enough to prompt a high-profile meeting this week between Governor Jim Pillen and several members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet to discuss measures aimed at protecting American agriculture from foreign threats.

The conversation comes partially in the wake of a U.S. Department of Agriculture report that cited recent charges from the Department of Justice against foreign nationals, including a member of the Chinese Communist Party, accused of smuggling a noxious fungus into the U.S. Officials say the fungus, used as a potential agroterrorism weapon, has caused billions of dollars in crop losses globally.

Governor Pillen, a longtime advocate for securing family farms, says Nebraska has already taken steps to prevent foreign adversaries from acquiring farmland in the state.

“In my first year in ‘23, we were able to pass legislation that took all Chinese equipment off telecommunications across the state,” Pillen said. “That was the first step. The second step was making sure that no land is purchased by any foreign adversaries in the state of Nebraska.”

Pillen emphasized that safeguarding farmland is about more than just ownership, it’s about national security.

“I believe in family farm security. I believe in food security, and that equates to national security,” he said. “We all in agriculture risk everything we have every single day.”

State and federal officials say more policy steps could follow as lawmakers weigh how best to protect America’s agricultural supply from international threats.

Click here to subscribe to our KSNB Local4 daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.

Copyright 2025 KSNB. All rights reserved.