Omega Phi Beta

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Omega Phi Beta (Ω Φ Β) Sorority was founded on March 15, 1989 at the State University of New York in Albany, New York. It was founded by seventeen women of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

The organization’s goal as its motto—“Serving and Educating Through Our Diversity”—implies, is to help to create an outlet for all women through its emphasis on multiculturalism. The organization also prides itself on its dedication to both community service and sisterhood. A distinguishing feature of the sorority is that while it is Latina-oriented, it is not Latina-based, further emphasizing its dedication to diversity.

The sorority has twenty-five undergraduate chapters, which are predominantly in the East Coast. It is important to highlight, however, the organization’s expansion into both the Midwest and California in the recent years. There are also two undergraduate colonies, five Alumnae chapters (New York, NY; Washington, D.C.; Rochester, NY; Boston, MA; and Newark, NJ), and two Alumnae colonies (Orlando, FL and Buffalo, NY).

While it is a relatively young organization, it has helped to raise over ten thousand dollars in AIDS research, created youth mentoring groups such as S.O.U.L, or Steppin’ Off to Unite Latinas, created various scholarships, and recently made history on January 1, 2007 as the first Latina sorority to participate and win Step Correct, a traditionally NPHC competition.

1 17 Founders of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated
2 National Board
3 Notable Alumnae
4 External links
5 References

[edit] 17 Founders of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated

Saida Abegro- Salvadorian Ileana Adorno- PuertoRican Ana E. Almonte- Dominican Bevene B. Bablington- Jamaican Brunilda Cruz- PuertoRican Sara Delgado- Ecuadorian & PuertoRican Francis Echevarria- Puertorican Lissette Jorge- Dominican Renee Padilla- Puerto Rican Nancy Diaz- Dominican Annette A. Ettrick- Panamanian Samantha P. Lopez-Uruguayan Grace Rivera-PuertoRican Michelle Vazquez- PuertoRican Sylvia Toledo- Ecuadorian T. Lisa Auson- Chinese & Domincan Jane M. Vega- Irish & PuertoRican

The historical marginalization of women, particularly women of color, has had a significant impact on the process by which multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-racial women ascertain educational, economic, social, and the political capital in American society. In response to this reality, seventeen women from various racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds synthesized their passion, commitment and motivation. They formed an organization that would unify women of color who were dedicated to correcting the injustices that have and that continue today to affect our communities.

On March 15, 1989, these seventeen women founded Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. Education, Diversity, and Community Service were the attributes these seventeen women incorporated into the organization and to this day they continue to serve as the foundation and spirit by which all of the members of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated act upon.

[edit] National Board

In a short five years following its inception, Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated (OPBSI) had rapidly grown to include seven undergraduate chapters and an Alumnae chapter located in New York City. Realizing a need to oversee the operation of these chapters and to establish a set of organizational policies and protocols, the general membership ratified the creation and elected the first National Board of Omega Phi Beta in March of 1994. For the next six years, the National Board of Omega Phi Beta served as the central governing body of the organization and became responsible for identifying the need, enforcing, and communicating organizational policies, protocols and initiatives throughout the Sorority.

In 1999, the National Board realized that the scope of its responsibilities had shifted and expanded. A Re-Organization Committee was established in February 1999 to explore several issues and develop a proposal to significantly change the organization. Part of this exploration required the Reorganization Committee to revisit the organizational structure of the Sorority and the roles and responsibilities of the National Board. Some of the highlights from the proposal included establishing a partnership with the newly named Alumni Association of New York City; and the renaming of the National Board to the National Board of Directors which was instated in the summer of 2000.

After a second restructuring under the Quality and Assurance Committee (formerly known as the Re-Organization Committee) The need for further development brought about a second restructuring under the Quality and Assurance Committee (formerly known as Re-Organization). The committee worked diligently, which resulted in a written proposal that was presented to and adopted by the general membership in 2006 changing the national structure to include a Board of Trustees and a National Council of Officers.

The role of the Board of Trustees is to create and maintain the long-term vision for the Sorority and establish appropriate goals and milestones toward fulfilling the Sorority’s vision. In short, the BOT is the ultimate governing body of OPBSI and oversees the progress of the National Council, Alumnae Association, and all relevant committees.

The National Council of Officers on the other hand, focuses on the day-to-day operations of OPBSI, and has full and final administrative authority over activities and operations, as well as the power to do what is in the best interest of OPBSI.

As we grow into the next millennium, we can not ignore the future challenges and obstacles our communities will have to overcome. This reality is what prompts us to revisit our own structure and “re-organized” - so that we are prepared and capable of serving out our mission and commitment to "Servir y Educar através de Nuestra Diversidad."

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Chair Monica Miranda Smalls Vice Chair Ileana Adorno-Ramos Secretaries Renee Paler & Cher Treacy Treasurer Virginia Almandarez NATIONAL COUNCIL OF OFFICERS National President Elizaveta Cruz Reyes Executive Vice President (Interim) Cassandra St. Vil Alumnae Association President Tanya Ortiz Vice President of Policy & Compliance Christiana Gipson Vice President of Operations Monserrat Cabral Vice President of Finance (Interim) Carolina Bonaparte Vice President of Membership (Interim) Elizaveta Cruz Reyes Vice President of Expansion Esmeralda Gaton Vice President of Programming Deyadira "Betty" Diaz Regional Director I Liliana Balbuena Regional Director II Tanya Ortiz Regional Director III Jennifer Kamara Regional Director IV Kelly Rodriguez Regional Director V Jessica Lorenzo Regional Director VI Erica Mazzini Regional Director VII Carrie Waddell

[edit] Notable Alumnae

Eve Torres was a Chartering Member of Phi Chapter at the University of Southern California. She held the vice-president position for several years. ^[1]