Lambda Pi Chi

Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc.
ΛΠΧ
Founded	April 16, 1988 Cornell University
Type	Social
Emphasis	La Cultura Latina, La Comunidad and La Hermandad
Scope	National
Vision statement	A lifetime network of Hermanas dedicated to empowering themselves and their communities.
Motto	La Hermandad Nunca Termina
Colors	Red, Gold, Black and White
Flower	Red Carnation
Mascot	Butterfly
Jewel	Fire Opal
Headquarters	Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 5122 New York, New York USA
Website	www.lambdapichi.org

Lambda Pi Chi Sorority (ΛΠΧ) (also known as Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc.) is a Latina- based, but not Latina-exclusive Greek letter intercollegiate sorority founded on April 16, 1988 at Cornell University.

With 29 undergraduate and professional/graduate chapters spanning the United States, we are a collective of women striving to advance our communities. Whether through our involvement in University efforts, or stepping out into the community and providing assistance to those in need, Hermanas make it a daily goal to help improve our surroundings.

Founded 25 years ago, Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc. brings to life a vision whereby women, despite ethnic, academic and economic backgrounds, step forward to unite and lead within La Comunidad.

Whether taking matters into our own hands (The Proyecto H.A.C.E.R. Initiative), leveraging existing tools and solutions (World AIDS Day and Project LEAAP) or sponsoring/partnering with organizations and corporationsthe National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health and the National Council of La Raza), Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc. places no limit on what we can do or where we can go.

Founded at Cornell University in the late '80s by women who felt a need to strike out on their own, Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc. has transcended the collegiate experience to become a vehicle for the promotion of the Latino community. Today, with over 600 women of over 81 cultural, ethnic and racial backgrounds, our determination and commitment continue to define our relentless spirit.

The organization is a member of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO).

Mission

To empower women by providing a supportive network dedicated to their personal and professional advancement. Our Hermandad is further advanced by our shared dedication and promotion of public service and cultural awareness, with an emphasis on U.S. Latino history, contributions, and experiences.

Goals

• To unify women through the promotion of the Latino community and the Latino culture;
• To promote community service to the local community;
• To work towards the advancement of all people of color with a special emphasis on the Latina;
• To enlighten our respective communities about Latino cultural, social, and political issues;
• To sponsor cultural events which identify and evaluate the existing and emerging roles of women with an emphasis on the Latina; and
• To promote professional advancement by encouraging academic excellence, mentorship, and networking.

History

The first Latina-focused sorority founded at an Ivy-league institution, Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad /Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc. was established on April 16, 1988 at Cornell University. Patricia Rivera, Maria Caban, Eva Marie Sosa, Migdalia Franklin and Irma Almirall-Padamsee strove to establish an organization that would transcend their collegiate experience and consolidate their strength as responsible leaders of the community. They worked diligently to develop an impactful organization whose mission and goals would encompass the experiences of all women, but especially those of U.S. Latinas and whose ideals would nurture the growth of its members throughout their lives.

Today, Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc. represents a tradition of strong, proud women whose lives and achievements reflect an unwavering commitment to public service, Hermandad and the preservation of the rich cultural legacies that shape our experiences. Committed to the three ideals upon which our organization's foundation stands - La Comunidad, La Cultura Latina, and La Hermandad - Las Hermanas strive to promote progress and development in their communities. This stalwart commitment to nuestra comunidad frames our individual and collective goals. Comprised of undergraduate, graduate and professional women, Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc. seeks to unify women through the promotion of community service programs that highlight the contributions of women and people of color with an emphasis on the U.S. Latina and offer opportunities for academic and professional advancement to members of historically under-represented groups.

Philanthropic Initiatives

It's in our name – Promoviendo Comunidad. We deeply believe that we must always give back to our communities. We are the fortunate ones who had the privilege of going to college, graduating and obtaining advanced degrees. These accomplishments are not solely based on our efforts, but also on the efforts of our parents and our communities who have continually pushed to afford us these opportunities. We believe that it is our responsibility, to give back. We must always use whatever resources and knowledge we have at our disposal to effect positive change in our communities.

This commitment is not only reflected by our continuous participation in short-term community service efforts, but also in our long-term commitment to respond to critical issues that continue to impact our communities. We do this through our national philanthropic projects like Project L.E.A.A.P., which works on increasing HIV/AIDS awareness and education or H.A.C.E.R., where we help younger generations fulfill their higher education goals.

Project L.E.A.A.P.

L.E.A.A.P: Latinas Educating on AIDS Awareness and Prevention

Despite the millions of dollars designated for AIDS Research and Prevention Programs, our community still needs more culturally appropriate education about the risks of contracting this deadly disease. It is no longer an epidemic; it is now a pandemic. According to the Office on Women's Health, Latinas account for one out of every five new cases of HIV. We've created Project L.E.A.A.P. as a means for our Hermanas to reach out to our community to increase awareness and provide information on prevention.

Since 2000, our chapters and individual members have participated in Project L.E.A.A.P. by coordinating tables/booths, panel discussions, workshops, and other types of events to help disseminate HIV/AIDS information in their local communities and college campuses. Our goal is to reach as many Latinas as possible throughout the year.

Proyecto H.A.C.E.R.

HACER: to make, to build, to do.

Proyecto H.A.C.E.R. focuses on assisting minority and/or low-income women further their educational and career goals by providing them access to resources that are usually not readily accessible to them. Our members utilize our powerful network to increase access to and awareness of educational financial resources and employment opportunities for minority and/low income students. We create innovative partnerships with community-based organizations and for-profit companies to generate additional resources for minority and/or low income women and we offer educational and career-related programming. In addition to these resources we also provide mentorship and guidance to at-risk youth to assist in their social and educational advancement.

On December 28, 2001, the New York City Council recognized Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/ Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc. for its continued service and dedication to Latinos and the New York City community at-large.

Chapters

Lambda Pi Chi currently has 22 Undergraduate Chapters and 9 Professional/Graduate Chapters:

Undergraduate Chapters

Alpha Chapter- Ithaca College / Cornell University

Beta Chapter- Columbia University/ Barnard College

Gamma Chapter- SUNY Albany

Delta Chapter- New York University

Epsilon Chapter- American University/ Georgetown University

Zeta Chapter- Syracuse University

Eta Chapter- Wesleyan University

Theta Chapter- George Washington University

Iota Chapter- University of Massachusetts Amherst/ Smith College

Kappa Chapter- Duke University

Lambda Chapter- University of Rochester/ Rochester Institute of Technology

Mu Chapter- George Mason University

Nu Chapter- Harvard University/ Northeastern University

Xi Chapter- St. John's University

Omicron Chapter- University of Delaware

Rho Chapter- North Carolina State University

Sigma Chapter- Johns Hopkins University

Tau Chapter- Union College

Upsilon Chapter- Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus

Phi Chapter- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chi Chapter- University of Chicago

Psi Chapter - St. Thomas Aquinas College

Omega Chapter- Reserved for deceased Hermanas

Professional/ Graduate Chapters

Pi Alpha- New York, NY

Pi Beta- Washington, DC

Pi Gamma- Miami, FL

Pi Delta- Upstate NY Region

Pi Epsilon- Rochester, NY

Pi Zeta- Southern California, CA

Pi Eta- New Jersey

Pi Theta- Boston, MA

Pi Iota- North Carolina

Three Ideals

Lambda Pi Chi was founded on three ideals: La Comunidad, La Cultura Latina and La Hermandad.

La Comunidad Just as the name suggests, the Sorority is fully committed to the participation and creation of public service programming that will promote community. The purpose is not only to educate but also to utilize the vast resources at hand to create positive change for our community. The hope is that by sharing resources and knowledge, others who have not had the same opportunities will benefit.

The importance of this ideal is stressed throughout our organization and all of the Sorority's entities are required to adhere to national service standards, which are not only met but also surpassed. While our chapters have the autonomy to determine which public service projects they are involved in, we as a national entity also come together on issues that we feel are of great importance to our community. Through our national initiative - H.A.C.E.R.: Hermanas for the Advancement of Career and Educational Resources - Hermanas have been able to implement creative and compelling programming that aims to make a significant impact on the community.

La Cultura Latina Las Hermanas seek to educate others and ourselves about the Latina experience in this society, while simultaneously embracing the breadth of experience of all women. Recognizing the diversity of experiences that shape "Latino" identity, we seek to promote intra-cultural understanding as a means of bridging the gap between Latino experiences thereby utilizing the Sorority as a vehicle for unity. We believe that knowledge of our cultural heritage and ourselves, coupled with authentic linkages to our communities are tools that can be used to nurture the growth of proud, productive communities as well as foster the development of proactive community members. Our Hermandad is a constant celebration of the diversity that exists within all of our communities.

La Hermandad As members of our Sorority we are bound by sacred traditions, unique to Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/ Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc., that serve as the foundation for a lifetime support system that extends across a spectrum of experiences, from the youngest undergraduate to professional Hermanas. This Hermandad (sisterhood) is the means by which we support each other personally, academically, and professionally. It provides members of our organization the opportunity to share common experiences, while benefiting from each other's distinct perspectives. We seek to nurture personal growth and development in our members. Our motto, “La Hermandad Nunca Termina”, is representative of our lifetime commitment to each other and the special sisterhood we share.

External links

• National Website