(HUNTSVILLE, AL) More than a luncheon, it was a call to action.
Community leaders, elected officials, business professionals, educators, clergy and civic advocates gathered Saturday, July 25, 2026, at the Von Braun Center’s East Hall as the Huntsville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. hosted its 2026 Social Action Luncheon, an annual event focused on civic engagement, leadership and community empowerment. This year’s theme, “The Time Is Now: Hope in Action; Strength in Unity,” reflected the organization’s message that lasting change begins with collective action.
The featured keynote speaker was Derrick Johnson, National President and CEO of the NAACP, whose leadership has guided the nation’s oldest civil rights organization through ongoing efforts to protect voting rights, advance educational equity and promote economic opportunity.
Johnson, elected NAACP President and CEO in 2017, has spent decades advocating for civil rights throughout the South. Before assuming the national role, he served as president of the Mississippi State Conference NAACP and led successful campaigns that secured millions of dollars for public school improvements and community development. His career has also included leadership in Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts, legal advocacy and civic engagement initiatives. The luncheon program highlighted his commitment to empowering communities through public policy, leadership development and grassroots organizing.
The Huntsville Alumnae Chapter selected Johnson’s message as a fitting complement to this year’s emphasis on turning hope into measurable action through unity, public service and civic responsibility. According to the event program, the luncheon celebrated the organization’s long-standing commitment to education, advocacy and community leadership.
Guests were welcomed by chapter leadership before enjoying a program that included the Presentation of Colors, the National Anthem and Black National Anthem, greetings from community leaders, lunch, Johnson’s keynote address and the presentation of awards recognizing individuals whose service has strengthened North Alabama communities.
The event was led by Dr. Elizabeth B. Richardson, who served as mistress of ceremonies, while Alexis L. Toney, president of the Huntsville Alumnae Chapter, welcomed attendees and thanked sponsors, volunteers and supporters whose contributions help expand the chapter’s community outreach efforts.
The luncheon also spotlighted the work of the Delta Research and Educational Foundation (DREF), the charitable arm of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Established to advance scholarship, leadership and public service, DREF funds scholarships, community partnerships, research initiatives and philanthropic programs designed to improve the lives of African American women, families and communities. Program materials noted that DREF continues to invest in educational opportunity, leadership development and initiatives that address critical social and economic issues. The foundation also supports the nation’s first research center dedicated to the experiences of African American women.
The Huntsville Alumnae Chapter has long been recognized for its commitment to public service throughout the Tennessee Valley, sponsoring programs that encourage educational achievement, voter engagement, health awareness, economic development and youth leadership.
As attendees departed, the luncheon’s central message remained clear: meaningful progress requires more than hope—it requires individuals and organizations willing to work together, advocate for justice and invest in future generations.
With community leaders united under one roof, the Huntsville Alumnae Chapter once again demonstrated why service remains at the heart of Delta Sigma Theta’s mission and why the organization’s annual Social Action Luncheon continues to be one of North Alabama’s premier civic leadership events.
