Delta Sigma Theta’s 19th Annual Literary Luncheon to feature Iyanla Vanzant

Life coach and author Iyanla Vanzant will headline the Delta Sigma Theta 19^th Annual Literary Luncheon, Saturday April 11, at the Crowne Plaza Riverfront Hotel in St. Paul. Vanzant follows actor, author and motivational speaker Hill Harper, who headlined the luncheon last year.

“The Delta Sigma Theta’s bring in these different authors to support one of our national missions of literacy education,” said Trena Ross, the president of Delta Sigma Theta Minneapolis/St. Paul Chaper. “We brought in Iyanla Vanzant as our guest speaker. We know that she is a nationally known author and has been around for a while.”

In addition to her literary work —Vanzant’s current New York Times Best Seller Peace from Broken Pieces discusses her life and how she found peace through brokenness — she is probably best known for her show Iyanla: Fix My Life, which airs on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network.

“Besides being an author, Vanzant is also well-known for her spiritual and inspirational platforms now…So, this gives our luncheon a different flavor this year,” said Ross. “But, it all speaks to [literacy].” Sorority publicist and Delta member CeLois Steele added, “We have a motivational, spiritual, and inspirational speaker that speaks to women. As a women’s organization, this is very important.”

“The event will have vendors to help support our financial component. These vendors will be 12 local, small business owners, located for the public in the atrium [area of the hotel],” said Ross. “We will also hold our scholarship event that will honor five pre-notified high school recipients who will receive scholarship awards up to $5000.” The high school seniors that will be recognized and [awarded] scholarships will be rated on “community service, personal narrative, personal references, grade point average and things of that nature.”

“We are really excited about our motivational speaker being here,” continued Ross. “Part of the thing is, it is all about women on purpose. And this is on purpose. This definitely aligns with who we are a Delta Sigma Theta, in terms of… relying and serving the community with purpose and on purpose.”

Steele added, “We all looked back at [Vanzant’s] books and thought about the books that got us through the things we have been through. Her books have carried us. Her books are all about spiritual growth.”

For more information regarding luncheon tickets or the Minneapolis/St. Paul Delta Sigma Theta sorority, please contact www.dstmsp.org.

Brandi Phillips welcomes reader comments to bphillips@spokesman-recorder.com.