Sing, eat and praise at annual Soulful Gospel Brunch
On March 1, the chapter is hosting its 17th Annual Soulful Gospel Brunch.
'This is our signature program,' said President Meta Mickens-Baker. 'We are looking forward to a program of gospel music. So we feed the community spiritually. People come together and really have performers who are more headliner but also our local churches and community members who will do song, dance and spoken word. Plus a delicious brunch.'
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated was founded in 1913. The Bloomington-Normal Alumnae Chapter was chartered in 1983. Some of the chapter's initiatives include Adopt-A-Street on Market Street, hosting blood drives and sponsoring a program for girls in junior high and high school. They also support World Aids Day and are sponsoring a Congolese family in the community.
'In the past we've met some local leaders, like the NAACP, even our police chiefs to talk about policing in our neighborhood and things that we can do to come together to join forces in issues that are happening in our area. And also how to interact with each other in the community,' said Past President Goline Lawrence.
The brunch is at Bloomington's DoubleTree Hotel & Conference Center at 10 Brickyard Drive. Ticket sales end on Feb. 22. To purchase tickets click here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Why I Never Fully Cut Off My Most Toxic Friend
Sometimes—there is more to the story. Mason pulled up in his lifted truck, engine roaring and bass rattling the door panels. The headlights threw long beams across the street like stage lights summoning me to a set. The truck towered over me, rhythmically shaking the ground under its weight. Mason leaned out the window, flashing a wide grin, 'Well? Are you just going to stare? Get in!' I climbed in, already knowing the plan. We would stop by his place to grab his girlfriend, then head out to the concert. It felt like the start of one of those nights that could go anywhere — and, unfortunately, it did. Within a few minutes of us riding, he started telling me about this new girl he'd been chatting with, who was, 'Sizzling hot.' He went on and on, sharing intimate details of their conversation. I felt slightly uncomfortable hearing about his side piece project, given we were on the way to pick up his girlfriend. He seemed to be overcompensating, and eager to impress me and other people. In the midst of my discomfort, I realized how fast we were going. Houses were flying by as his engine roared. He was pushing his luck on yellow lights, flying through busy intersections. 'I'd prefer not to die tonight, buddy. Can you slow down?' I said, with a sardonic half smile. And part of me wanted to just say, 'Hey, relax man.' I got him to change the subject from his side piece, so that we could discuss other matters. It was awkward enough to hear about and I had other things in common with him, namely our love of metal music. His girlfriend, Jenna, got into the car. She was beautiful and fun. I couldn't fathom why he felt the need to jeopardize what he had. Then Things Went South The concert was a great time. We were headed home that night, feeling sleepy. Mason was in the front, driving with Jenna in the passenger seat. Then, his phone rang. He didn't notice it — and his girlfriend, perhaps suspecting something awry, answered the phone. She said, 'Who is this?' And after a few words exchanged, she hung up the phone, and all hell broke loose: it was the side girl, and Jenna was in the know. She started screaming at him. He yelled back, denying it all, and they went back and forth, while he's driving fast at 11 PM on a dark weaving road. I clutched my seat like I was on a broken and out-of-control rollercoaster. They went back and forth and I did my best not to shrivel up and die. Mason attempted to pull me into the argument saying, 'Don't you remember I was with you at my house that night?' I said, 'Brother, I don't want to get involved in any of this. Just take me home, please.' I managed to get home without the car flipping over. After this complete blowup, I didn't see Mason for a few months. Then, he appeared out of the blue, and we began hanging out again, just going to the gym, playing video games, doing early 20-something guy things. He and his girlfriend had, unsurprisingly, broken up. He'd been a bit of a scumbag and deserved it. After a few months, he vanished again. This was normal. He was one of those friends that just came and went over the years. Popping up out of nowhere without reason, and disappearing without explanation. About three years later, he appeared on my front porch, knocking. He said, 'Can I crash here? I'm having some problems at home. I won't stay long I promise.' I nodded yes, with a bit of confusion. He was nearly unrecognizable. He'd gained 100 lbs and grown a long beard. He stayed for the evening and we caught up, having a few beers and talking about life, forgetting all the drama and second-hand embarrassment he loved to heave onto me. He'd been in and out of jobs over those years, always getting some new gig, or getting fired for myriad reasons that were always someone else's fault. I didn't understand why he couldn't right the ship and just chill out. My other friends often asked why I even stayed friends with Mason, given his track record. Which I understood. Mason wasn't the most sympathetic character. I reasoned that I always enjoyed our company and he hadn't done me wrong up until then. Despite all the swirling nonsense and self-inflicted damage, he was genuinely nice and fun to hang out with. Then, one night, he shared something. He always drank a lot more than I did, never seeming to stop after just one or two beers. He said, 'Hey, I have to tell you something. Don't freak out.' He proceeded to tell me that his parents had been abusive (I have sufficiently moved details around to protect his identity). His mother was an alcoholic and his father had been quite violent, beating him up to the point of needing to go to the hospital with a broken nose. He lied to doctors about what happened, after his father threatened him with a second and third trip to the hospital if he didn't. On another occasion, he said his mother locked him in a closet for eight hours as punishment. One after another, Mason itemized all these horrible things that happened to him, unloading them like they'd been stuffed in his closet all these years. It was quite sad and I wondered how anyone could survive such circumstances. I also didn't know how to deal with him trauma dumping on me, and can't remember saying anything all that helpful beyond, 'I'm so sorry that happened to you.' I'd done some therapy myself and learned it was best just to listen in those moments. I thanked him for feeling comfortable sharing. Ten years have now gone by. I think back on Mason's disastrous personal and professional life. I've come to suspect much of his personal chaos may be related to the abuse. Studies have shown this type of abuse can radically warp interpersonal relationships later in life, leading to more manipulation and emotional volatility. But I also know every case is different. No, his bad upbringing doesn't condone or excuse his infidelities and deceptions. But it does provide context and reveal how damaging it can be. After that night, he again vanished, and I only saw him one more time in person before he moved to the other side of the world, searching for something that may or may not exist. It brings to mind the old quote by author Robert Goolrick, 'If you don't receive love from the ones who are meant to love you, you will never stop looking for it.' I often think of Mason's case when I deal with difficult, wholly unreasonable people in everyday life. I look past the deep frustration and animosity I feel, and try to remember there may be details I don't know that drive this behavior. Heck, if anything, it leaves me realizing, 'Wow. This person goes through their everyday life acting like this. It must be so chaotic.' What I've realized is that there are many people in this world who spend much of their life recovering from toxic parenting. I've concluded, a bit darkly, that this world would have fewer problems if people who weren't ready or interested in having kids — didn't. If you ever have a friend who is vulnerable to you in these moments, please take the time to listen. Don't pass judgement, or try to fix the situation, or add context, or dig for excessive details. Just being present in that moment can go a long way. Every so often, I catch myself checking my phone, half-expecting a text out of the blue. Something like, 'Hey, hey! What's up, you free tonight?' And if that ever comes, I'll still say yes. Solve the daily Crossword
Forbes
7 hours ago
- Forbes
Lady Gaga Reaches An Important Milestone For The First Time In Her Career
'Die With a Smile' doesn't sound quite like anything else in the discographies of either Lady Gaga or Bruno Mars. Both artists have looked to the past for inspiration before, but neither of them had encapsulated the exact feeling that the Grammy-winning smash conveys. Mars has come close with several of his vintage-sounding tunes, but the inclusion of a female voice makes 'Die With a Smile' not just different from the two stars' past work, but something truly special. In America, 'Die With a Smile' is still a massive hit, and this week both musicians must be celebrating its continued success as the track reaches a notable milestone. 'Die With a Smile' Finishes Its First Year As of this current period, 'Die With a Smile' has spent a full year on the Hot 100. This week marks its fifty-second on the ranking of the most consumed songs in the U.S. 'Die With a Smile' Slipped Outside the Top 10 Recently The track only recently fell outside of the top 10, where it had been living as it approached its first anniversary. This frame, the duet holds at No. 12, sitting just below the important tier. Lady Gaga's First One-Year Winner 'Die With a Smile' is Gaga's first song to make it to 52 weeks on the Hot 100. The tune became her longest-running success almost a month ago when it passed 'Just Dance,' her collaboration with Colby O'Donis, which introduced her to the world and helped reinvigorate interest in dance-pop well over a decade ago. That smash spent 49 weeks on the Hot 100 during its run. 'Die With a Smile' Remains a Radio Smash Radio is doing most of the work to keep 'Die With a Smile' on the Hot 100 and in such a lofty position. The track does fall slightly on the Radio Songs chart, dipping from No. 3 to No. 5, but that's still an impressive position for a title that has now racked up 52 stays on the all-genre airplay list. 'Die With a Smile' is a non-mover on both the Adult Pop Airplay and Adult Contemporary rankings, where it holds at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively. The Gaga/Mars hit single also makes it to 52 weeks on both of those lists. Will 'Die With a Smile' Slip Off the List Soon? Now that 'Die With a Smile' has made it to a full year on the Hot 100, it has to stay above No. 25, or else it will be removed. Billboard has a rule in place that states that after 52 weeks, tunes can't slip beneath that position. That's not a problem for most songs, which never make it to the landmark figure, and 'Die With a Smile' likely doesn't have to worry just yet, as it could continue to sit below the top 10—or even return to the highest area again—for several more weeks.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
The Hilarious Reason Dakota Johnson Dropped Her Mic and Walked Off Stage
The Hilarious Reason Dakota Johnson Dropped Her Mic and Walked Off Stage originally appeared on Parade. The internet is buzzing over a spontaneous moment that captures 's unscripted charm. At a recent Los Angeles screening Q&A for her new film Splitsville, the actress delivered a playful mic-drop for the ages after a bombshell revelation from her co-star, Nicholas Braun. The cheeky exchange, captured in a now-trending TikTok video, shows Johnson's disbelief as Braun recounts how he learned a crucial magic trick for a scene.. The On-Screen Magic Trick That Wasn't During the Q&A, Braun, known for his role in HBO's Succession, innocently explained the card trick that impressed Johnson on set. "He taught me how to hide a card in my hand," Braun said, referring to co-star Kyle Marvin. Johnson, sporting a black leather maxi skirt and an oversized blazer, was visibly stunned, and sought immediate clarification. 'Nick. I thought — Wait, Kyle taught you this?' she asked, with a look of shock. Braun's reply—"Yes, he taught me the morning of shooting"—sent Johnson into a spiral of playful indignation. 'I hate this f—--g movie,' seemed to jokingly exclaim as she rose from her chair. The room erupted in laughter as she continued, 'I thought you did that, that you learned it.' Braun, unfazed, insisted he learned it "that morning." 'What?! I thought you had prepared that,' Johnson pressed. 'Not at all. No, we came up with it the night before,' Braun finally admitted. In mock disbelief, Johnson tried one last time: "No you had been doing it for weeks." When Braun firmly replied, "No I had not," Johnson, in true A-list style, slammed the microphone to the ground and walked off the stage, disappearing into the applauding audience. Fans React to Dakota Johnson's Mic-Drop Moment The reason for her "rage"? The perfect blend of celebrity dramatics and the relatable human emotion of 'Are you kidding me?' As one Reddit fan summarized, the mic-drop was a mix of "Oh he didn't prep as well as I thought he did" and "Wait he learned that in a single morning, I'm jealous!" The online community was quick to pick up on the comedy. One Reddit user commented, "If she was really mad she wouldn't be speaking into the microphone. It's an act. She's getting really good at it." Another added, "Dakota is a producer on this film, she's not just an actress has a comfort level in slamming the mic down as a joke." Get Ready for Splitsville: Release Date & Plot Details Splitsville, an "unromantic comedy" from director Michael Angelo Covino, follows the chaotic fallout of two couples whose friendship is tested when a husband from a divorcing couple sleeps with a wife from an open-marriage couple. The film is set for a limited release on August 22, before expanding to a wide release on September 5, 2025. Given the social media buzz already building, it's clear that Johnson and her co-stars know how to keep people engaged. If this Q&A is any indication, audiences are in for a wild, laugh-out-loud ride. The Hilarious Reason Dakota Johnson Dropped Her Mic and Walked Off Stage first appeared on Parade on Aug 20, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 20, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
