Economic Development
National economic trends, such as unstable employment, the threat to Social Security as we know it, and the widening gap between wealth and poverty are the bases for the development of Financial Fortitude, the current Economic Development Program Initiative of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
The Annapolis Alumnae Chapter's program in Financial Fortitude is one in which we work to educate the members and the community on practices for maintaining financially healthy lives. We believe in the philosophy that empowering individuals to be in control of their individual money matters contributes to improving the economic state and health of the community at large.
The Chapter series in financial fortitude focuses on debt reduction and includes seminars in budgeting, savings, financial planning, finance management, credit card management and protections, and retirement planning. Naturally, the underlying skills introduced
and practiced are setting and defining financial goals, developing a plan to achieve them, and executing the plan. Seminars in investments, home buying, and estate planning are designed to encourage and foster understanding of building wealth beyond maintaining financial health. Financial experts from all over Maryland work with the Chapter to ensure the success of the program.
Annapolis Alumnae specifically targets some of its seminars to college students who are newly tasked with responsibility for handling their financial business on their own. Other programs target the seniors in the community who are living on a fixed income. At the 50th Eastern Regional Conference, the Annapolis Alumnae Chapter received the Program Planning & Development "Economic Development Award" for its debt elimnation series.