Mount Vernon Book Talk and Signing with Ilyasah Shabazz
MOUNT VERNON BOOK TALK AND SIGNING WITH ILYASAH SHABAZZ, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR AND DAUGHTER OF MALCOLM X AND DR. BETTY SHABAZZ
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Westchester Alumnae Chapter –Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy partners with Youth Community Outreach Program – Mount Vernon (Y-COP) on the It’s LIT! Betty Before X Literary Initiative
MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK – JUNE 2018 — Ilyasah Shabazz, the third daughter of Malcolm X and Dr Betty Shabazz promoted her recently released young adult novel focusing on her mother’s childhood “Betty Before X” (Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR), 2018) at a discussion sponsored by “IT’S LIT” – the lit literary initiative of the Westchester Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta (DST) Sorority Inc. on Sunday, June 10, 2018. Moderated by journalist and communications strategist, Chasity Cooper, the event took place at the Doles Center in Mount Vernon, NY. Shabazz, who was age two when her father was assassinated, was raised and worked in the Mount Vernon area. Her mother Betty, who passed away in 1997, joined DST in 1974 and was active in the sorority’s North Manhattan Alumnae Chapter. “Betty Before X’ is Ilyasah’s fourth book focusing on her family’s history and legacy and copies of the 256-page book were provided to 100 young attendees of the event courtesy the Mount Vernon Youth Community Outreach Program (Y-COP) a 501(c) (3) municipal nonprofit agency.
About Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Westchester Alumnae Chapter
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was founded on January 13, 1913 on the Howard University campus as an organization committed to the ideals of sisterhood, scholarship, social action, and public service. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc – Westchester Alumnae Chapter was chartered on October 31, 1959 by sixteen insightful Deltas and perpetuates the vision of the organization’s founders by creating, developing, and executing innovative and relevant community programs.
Connect with DSTWAC at: www.dstwac.org, on Twitter:@DSTWestchester, Facebook:www.facebook.com/dstwac or Instagram: @DSTWAC
About Youth Community Outreach Program (Y-COP)
The Youth Community Outreach Program (Y-COP) is a municipal non-profit 501 (c) (3) agency and was founded in 1990 by Allen Ayers, a former Detective of the Mount Vernon Police Department. His goal was to foster a positive relationship between youth and police by offering activities that build children’s self-esteem. Y-COP programs include several positive youth initiatives including a competitive cheerleading squad, basketball league, job skill workshops, peer-to-peer mediation, and college preparation. Several Y-COP alums have earned college degrees and have gone onto to pursue careers in several areas including education, government, and law enforcement.
