Lambda Theta Alpha

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ΛΘA - Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.

Motto	Unity, Love and Respect
Colors	Burgundy and Grey
Symbol	La Dama (lady) , La Perla (pearl) , La Concha (shell) , La Luna, y La Palma
Flower	none
Founded	December, 1975 at Kean College
Fraternity type	Service
Scope	National
Headquarters	, , USA
Chapters	Undergraduate Chapters: 81, Graduate Chapters: 4, Alumni Chapters:8
Homepage	www.lambdalady.org

1 A Tradition of Excellence
2 Mission
3 Quick Facts
4 History
5 Founding Mothers
6 Our Sisterhood is for Life
7 Chapters
8 External links

[edit] A Tradition of Excellence

Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Incorporated is the first Latina-based sorority in existence. The organization was founded in December 1975 at Kean College in Union, New Jersey by seventeen Founding Mothers. Since its founding, Lambda Theta Alpha has grown to over 80 chapters nationwide. As the 2001, 2002, and 2004 winner of Organization of the Year from the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations, Lambda Theta Alpha has set the standard for Greek excellence, and its establishment is particularly significant in that it paved the way for the entire Latino and Multicultural Greek movement of the past three decades. It has led the way in community involvement, academic excellence, and, of course, a sisterhood like no other. Sisters of Lambda Theta Alpha across the country are proud of this legacy, and consistently strive to uphold the integrity of their ever-growing, trendsetting sisterhood well into the future.

[edit] Mission

The purpose of Lambda Theta Alpha is to provide a sisterhood based on Unity, Love,& Respect. To develop strong Leaders who will then provide and practice political, social and cultural activities. To promote Latino Unity through charitable and educational programs. To maintain a high standard of learning and serve as a voice for all Latino students.

[edit] Quick Facts

The goals of Lambda Theta Alpha are scholarly excellence, empowerment of Latinas and the Universal Woman, cultural and political awareness, and community activism.
Although Lambda Theta Alpha was founded to meet the needs of Latinas, its membership is and has always been non-exclusionary, and Lambda Theta Alpha strives in its membership and its community efforts for the betterment of ALL women and ALL people in need.
Lambda Theta Alpha is an academic sorority.
Lambda Theta Alpha's National Philanthropy is the F.U.T.U.R.O. Program: Focused Urban Teens United and Ready for Opportunity.
Lambda Theta Alpha has a "call", a hand-sign, and performs traditional salutes, chants, and partywalks also known as strolls.
Nicknames: Lambda Lady, LTA

[edit] History

The year 1975 saw the birth of what started as a vision—an idea of an organization, the very first sisterhood that would cater to the needs of Latinas and the universal woman. Thanks to the tremendous strides made by our seventeen Founding Mothers, this dream was realized, and took form as the entity. Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Incorporated, the first Latina sorority in the nation.

There were several causes leading to the realization that such an organization was necessary. Traditionally, the role of the Latina woman was that of maintaining the family institution and falling into the realm of the Machismo stigma. As the Latino migration to the United States increased, so did the emergence of independent Latina women, eager to be at the forefront of an era of a new educational, political and social consciousness. In the early 70's, colleges and universities experienced an influx of Latino enrollment. With this growth, the need for support groups and outreach programs were at an all time high, primarily for the low percentage of Latina women in higher education institutions.

In 1975, Kean University (then Kean College) in Union, New Jersey introduced and began to implement bilingual studies, as well as a Latino and Caribbean studies department. Women of Latin descent were now able to embark in Higher Education even if English was not their native language. Although this enabled and facilitated the educational advancement of the Latina woman, a huge void was left to be filled—still missing was support and equality; a constant reminder to these women that they were still the minority, and that their struggle for equality on every level had just begun. It was at this university, in his historical time period, that a group of women convened to discuss the formation of a sorority for Latina women. Its focus would be to actively integrate itself into the social, political and community service arena that other students had been involved with. Together, as a united front they could compete, collaborate and assist with any student run programs, thus making their voices as loud and profound as the majority voice; their concerns equally as important.

Lambda Theta Alpha was recognized at Kean University as the First Latina Sorority founded in the United States. This organization was the first to recognize the need for a support system, thus creating one. The desire to progress, dedication to their community, and the aspiration for the advancement of the Latina women marked the beginning of Lambda Theta Alpha. It allowed the independent Latina woman of a new era to have a sense of belonging and with that, achieve her highest potential. It would define a new role for the Latina woman, one with education, goals and vision in hopes of great success.

Now, more than 30 years later, we have seen the outcome of such an organization. Lambda Theta Alpha has contributed to the advancement of all people by helping to produce educated women of many races, ethnicities, and creeds. These women are political leaders, doctors, lawyers, teachers, accountants, etc. LTA has also paved the way for many other Latin-based and multicultural organizations, which would later pursue the empowering movement for which LTA set the trend. From 1975 to date, Lambda Theta Alpha has upheld its purpose and mission, each day realizing the Founder's dreams—that it may serve as a quintessential trailblazer for all women. http://www.lambdalady.org

[edit] Founding Mothers

Ileana Almaguer ...now works in the EOF office in Rutgers University
Cecilia Alvarez
Carmen Baez
Karen Capra
Doris Cruz
Arlene Fernandez
Eneida Figueroa
Maria Gautier
Teresa Gonzalez
Thomasa Gonzalez
Diana Ibarria
Lilian Marrero
Ofelia Oviedo
Linda Perez
Aurora "Dory" Rodriguez
Maria del Carmen Vega
Marilyn Wyatt

[edit] Our Sisterhood is for Life

Sisters of Lambda Theta Alpha do not end their involvement after graduation. In fact, the organization's Alumnae and Graduate sisters are its foundation, and sisters remain active well into their professional and post-graduate lives. Sisters of Lambda Theta Alpha are graduate students, mothers, professionals, travelers, and much more, and they bring their experiences as alumnae back to the sisterhood.

Sisters of LTA are an active part of their organization well past their undergraduate years, and can always look to the sisterhood for support, no matter where or how long ago they attended college. This far-reaching support network serves to connect sisters for career advancement, furthering their education, continuing community involvement, and any other needs sisters have. Lambda Theta Alpha sisters of all ages and academic levels enjoy a home away from home with all their sisters across the country, and know that that network of support will be there for them for life.

Lambda Theta Alpha Alumnae sisters participate on many levels. They participate in Alumnae and Graduate Chapters, as part of the Area or National Board, and as members of the Alumnae Association. All of the alumnae sisters that comprise these entities give support to the sisterhood as a whole and bring immense leadership and professional growth to all sisters of Lambda Theta Alpha. The National Alumnae Executive Board, which oversees these entities, can be found online at: universalwoman.org.

[edit] Chapters

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