Sorority decorates minority classroom

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The work of one generation hopes to enlighten those of a younger age for the days and months to come.

Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Lansing-based Delta Tau Omega chapter adopted a classroom at the Black Child and Family Institute, 835 W. Genesee St., in Lansing, chapter chairwoman Nettavia Curry said.

Delta Tau Omega is the graduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha. The sorority also has an undergraduate chapter at MSU.

About 75 volunteers worked Monday to assist a class at Lansing’s Black Child and Family Institute, said Marian Bryant, the interim executive director of the institute.

The institute helps support minority children and their families.

Decorating the walls with numerous motivational messages from prominent black leaders gives students an opportunity to be inspired, Curry said.

“We really felt a sense of self-gratification,” Curry said.

“It will not only inspire the youth that will be using the room, but there was a wonderful sense of accomplishment to complete the room.”

Delta Tau Omega President Jeanette Patterson said the institute asked to help out in any way possible and the idea of adopting a classroom was reason enough to get involved. After completing the service project, Patterson said she hopes the children of the institution come to appreciate the volunteers’ efforts.

“We have numerous posters and borders with various quotes,” Patterson said. “(It includes) African Americans like Rosa Parks, Malcolm X and Mae Jemison.”

Although the students themselves will not interact with the members on a one-on-one basis, Bryant said the posters and decorations could make the room more inviting and allow any young child to learn from the black leaders who are successful in different areas of life.

“It will have a great impact on the students who will see people who look like them,” Bryant said. “They will be excited about it — the colors will draw them in.”

In addition to the adopted classroom, Bryant said two MSU librarians toured the institute’s own library and gave suggestions as to how it could be put to better use by children and what materials would be a better fit for the library.

The group chose to decorate the classroom on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Curry said adopting a classroom will be something that will last throughout the future as they hope to update the room with new themes at least four times a year.

“Not only has our chapter and sorority been with the institute for a number of years, (but) we wanted to do something in observance of MLK Day, celebrating his life and legacy,” Curry said.

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