| Sigma Lambda Upsilon | |
|---|---|
|
ΣΛΥ
|
|
| Founded | December 1, 1987 Binghamton University, (Vestal, New York) |
| Type | Social |
| Scope | National |
| Motto | Hasta La Muerte (Until Death) |
| Colors | Gold, Black, Silver & Red |
| Flower | Red Pansy |
| Jewel | Black Pearl |
| Publication | The Spirit of Ella |
| Philanthropy | Literacy |
| Chapters | 38 undergraduate chapters/14 graduate-professional chapters |
| Mascot | Black Persian Cat with Gold Eyes |
| Headquarters | New York, New York, USA |
| Homepage | http://www.sigmalambdaupsilon.org/ |
Sigma Lambda Upsilon (ΣΛΥ) or Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. is a Latina-based sorority founded on December 1, 1987 at Binghamton University.
Cynthia Santiago, Adriana Zamora, Carmen Ibeth Garcia-Quiñones and Carol Elizabeth Torres created an organization that would not only serve as a voice for women in an academic setting but would also provide sincere sisterhood and unconditional support while actively promoting academic achievement, service to the community, and cultural enrichment by bridging the gap between the Latino community and the campuses that Sigma Lambda Upsilon serves. The sorority is now present in over 50 campuses. Though Latina-based, Sigma Lambda Upsilon Sorority, Inc. is a non-discriminatory organization made up of women from all cultures, creeds, disabilities, political beliefs, and sexual preferences.
SLU highly prides itself as an organization of diverse college-educated (collegiate) and profesional women dedicated to uplifting traditionally marginalized groups, especially Latinos and women. Since 1987, SLU has been an outlet for professional development and personal growth to its members and serving constituents. The Sororitys impact can be seen in the outstanding accomplishments of their sisters, the young women they have mentored through the LADYS and PEARLS programs, and through the lives of all the people the Sorority has touched via their many literacy initiatives. Thus, proving to colleges and communities that women of color can make a difference.
Sigma Lambda Upsilon has a passion for leading and developing underprivileged communities through the Sororitys goals of academic excellence, leadership, sisterhood, cultural enrichment, and service to the community and campus. It is evident that the Sorority's undergraduate and Graduate/Professional chapters challenge the status quo through programming initiatives that are both exemplary and unique. Sigma Lambda Upsilon's impenetrable bond and relentless commitment to one another transcends time, which is why the Sorority considers their sisterhood-Hermandad- lasting Hasta La Muerte!
SLU continues to carry out the Sorority's ideals and achieve the organization's goals with a commitment to each other, the campuses the Sorority serves, and the communities the organization works in every day.
The goals of the sorority are Sisterhood, Academic Excellence, Leadership, Service to Community and Campus & Cultural Enrichment.
The ideals are Sincerity, Loyalty, and Unity.
The sorority has many symbols:
The Sorority Colors are: Gold, Black, Silver & Red
The Sorority Mascot is: The Black Persian Cat.
The Sorority Jewel is: The Black Pearl
The Sorority Motto is: Hasta La Muerte
The Sorority Flower is: The Red Pansy
In the spring of 2000, the Sorority decided to focus its efforts and funding on literacy. A study by the National Adult Literacy Survey found that between 21% and 23% of American adults are functioning at the lowest level. 25% of the respondents were immigrants, and 62% had ended school before completing high school. This represents approximately 40 to 44 million people. Not surprisingly, those with the fewest years of education and those who are new to the United States were most likely to have limited literacy skills. Among adults, Latinos have lower literacy levels than do whites, both in general and even when they hold similar levels of educational attainment. Adults that cannot read were children that could not read. At age four, Latino children tend to have less developed school-related skills than do white children. By age nine, Latino students lag behind in reading, mathematics, and science proficiency.
The Sorority advocates literacy as a means of ensuring the empowerment and success of our nation and of the people of its diverse communities. The organization strives to encourage literacy as an activity that affords limitless possibilities and promotes reading and writing as enjoyable, exciting, and empowering. Each year, the Sorority targets a particular population, defined by age, need, or location in which to focus its literacy efforts. This year, the Sorority's initiatives will emphasize the importance of literacy in the lives of children and youth (up to 22 years of age). It is Sigma Lambda Upsilon's intention to bring the richness and power of literature to the minds of children.
The Sorority's work will be based on the premise that literacy serves to uplift communities by fostering confidence within young people, so that they may advance toward their educational, personal, and professional goals. In turn, children may begin working toward establishing a foundation of success for their communities and the nation as whole.
Sigma Lambda Promoting Education, the Arts, our Roots, Leadership and Service is a mentoring program designed and geared toward girls ages 8 to 14 with the intention of instilling a sense of sisterhood, cultural pride, academic excellence and service to the community within its participants, through team-building activities and projects.
The Sigma Lambda PEARLS Program was piloted with a group of 15 fifth graders at P.S. 43 in the Spring of 2000 and was very successful. The PEARLS program has touched the lives of over 40 young girls who look to the program as an outlet for creativity and exposure to life outside their school walls and environment.
Program participants are known as the Sigma Lambda PEARLS and work closely with the Hermanas of Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc., who, through their diverse careers and backgrounds expose the PEARLS to opportunities and experiences many times denied to young girls in today's male-dominated society. It is close mentoring like this that has helped the PEARLS develop pride in their culture and a passion for education.
The PEARLS have actively participated and raised funds for the following community service projects: AIDS Walk NY, New York Cares Spring Clean up, Breast Cancer Walk and the March of Dimes Walk. The Sorority has sponsored social events such for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas Hanukkah/Kwanzaa, Valentine's Day and Easter. The PEARLS are also active participants of various Greek Life events (i.e. Stroll Competition, Step Shows, SLU National Convention).
Using the success of the PEARLS program, the Sigma Lambda LADYS program was piloted in the Fall of 2001 by the Theta Epsilon Graduate/Professional Chapter of Buffalo/Rochester, New York. Understanding the sensitive issues young high school women face, Sigma Lambda Upsilon wanted to create a curriculum that addressed and managed the needs of this population.
Sigma Lambda for the Leadership, Advancement, and Development of our Young Sisters is a mentoring program geared toward young women ages 14 to 18 that promotes sisterhood, cultural pride, academic excellence and service to the community within its participants, with an emphasis on college and career preparation.
Unlike the Sigma Lambda PEARLS program that is based at one elementary school, the Sigma Lambda LADYS program consists of numerous young women attending various high schools in the Buffalo/Rochester area. As a result, the Sorority needs to ensure the commitment of the participants and require them to complete an application to be selected for the program.
Since its inception, the Sigma Lambda LADYS program has graduated several young women and has more students currently enrolled. The program has helped each participant gain college preparatory skills, develop professionally, learn about her culture and much more. Each participant that has concluded the program has successfully completed high school and as a result of the Sorority's support and the prospectus of the program, participants were enabled to excel and be accepted to institutions of higher learning.
Graduates of the Sigma Lambda LADYS program currently attend the following colleges/universities:
Binghamton University Buffalo State College St. John Fisher College State University of New York at Stony Brook University at Buffalo University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Upon successful completion of high school and the program, active participants are awarded the Sigma Lambda LADYS Book Scholarship, a $200 scholarship to assist with the economic demands of institutions of higher learning.
The Sigma Lambda LADYS program has expanded to the follow areas:
Theta Alpha NYC: 16 LADYS Theta Beta Providence RI: 10 LADYS Theta Epsilon Buffalo NY: 10 LADYS Theta Epsilon Rochester NY: 5 LADYS Theta Iota: Tampa FL: 25 LADYS
Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. is the proud sponsor of the annual National RAICES (Roots); a week long, series of events, which are held nationally during the last week of September. Every chapter enthusiastically participates by hosting a variety of events while promoting and celebrating Latino heritage and culture on their respective campus and/or community. At any given moment throughout the week, Hermanas (sisters) will be offering a variety of events that are enlightening, thought-provoking and focused on cultural enrichment, women's issues, community service and scholarship, all of which revolve around the chosen topic for the year. At this time, the Sorority is excited to announce the RAICES theme for 2011: "The Power of Marianismo: Redefining the Female Role," which will take place Sunday, September 25 through Saturday, October 1, 2011.
Past RAICES themes:
* 2010 Cultivating Our Culture: Embracing Old Traditions with a New Perspective * 2009 A Call to Service: Strengthening Our Communities * 2008 Coming out of the Shadows: Latin American Women Tell Herstory * 2007 Knowledge, Prevention, Action: Ensuring Healthy Latina Lives * 2006 Our People, Our workers: The Latino Impact on the US Economy. * 2005 Literacy: Empowerment One Word at a Time * 2004 Tipping the Scale the Impact of the Latino Vote * 2003 Caution Curves Ahead: Body Image and the Latino Culture * 2002 Latino Colorism: "Blanquitas" vs. "Trigueñas" * 2001 Más allá de Patagonia: Los Lazos Históricos y Culturales de Argentina y Chile * 2000 Mujeres de Brazil: Nuestras Vecinas, Nuestras Hermanas
Sigma Lambda Upsilon Sorority, Inc. has been recognized by the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO) for the Sorority’s outstanding commitment to academic and professional excellence, as well as, continuous philanthropic efforts.
NALFO Community Education & Planning Award (2001) - For the outstanding success of its Sigma Lambda PEARLS Program, a mentoring program launched in March 2000.
NALFO Alumni Chapter of the Year (2001) – Theta Beta Graduate Professional Chapter (Providence, RI) - Theta Beta’s accomplishments include the mentoring and establishment of 4 new chapters for the organization and its relief efforts for the many natural disasters that occurred in 2000.
NALFO Academic Excellence Award – Graduate (2001) – Liliana Polo (Theta Beta Graduate Professional Chapter)- Liliana obtained a Master’s in Education from Brown University, where she also obtained her Bachelor of Arts in African-American Studies in 2000.
NALFO Alumni of the Year Award (2001) – Rosann Santos (Eta Chapter, Syracuse University) - Rosann graduated from Syracuse University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Math. Rosann obtained her Masters and Ph.D of History with a concentration in gender and society in Latin America and the Caribbean at the University at Albany, State University of New York.
NALFO Undergraduate of the Year Award (2004)- Christine Morillo (Psi Chapter, Rochester, NY) – Christine received recognition for her continuing success in academics, her commitment to the community and her promotion of cultural awareness and sisterhood. Christine has been president of her chapter, a member of the national judiciary board of the Sorority, a youth counselor for Puerto Rican Youth Development, and an executive board member of her college’s (St. John Fisher College) Latino Student Union.
NALFO Philanthropic Excellence by an Alumni Chapter Award (2005) – Theta Epsilon Graduate Professional Chapter (Buffalo, NY & Rochester, NY) - The Theta Epsilon Graduate/Professional Chapter was the founding chapter of the Sigma Lambda LADYS program. The program promotes sisterhood, cultural pride, academic excellence and service to the community within its participants. The program also offers college and career preparation, emphasizing its importance. The Sigma Lambda LADYS are paired with an Hermana from the chapter, who acts as a mentor to the young woman. Each of the Sigma Lambda LADYS participates in group activities as well as individual meetings with their mentor to ensure team work and one-on-one attention that is needed.
NALFO Campus Leadership Excellence Award (2006) – Dayanna Torres (Eta Chapter, Syracuse University) – Dayanna demonstrated her commitment to the organization, her college campus, and the Latino Greek community through service in leadership positions within the Sorority, the Syracuse University campus, and the Latino Greek system.
NALFO Undergraduate Chapter of the Year (2006) - Alpha Delta Chapter (State University of New York at Stony Brook) – Alpha Delta demonstrated excellence in academic achievement, leadership, community service, chapter integrity, and commitment to the Latino Greek community.
NALFO Philanthropic Excellence by an Alumni Chapter Award (2009) – Theta Alpha Graduate Professional Chapter (New York City) – Theta Alpha partnered with the East Harlem Tutorial Program, New York Regional Office of the Census Bureau, and Ryan NENA Health Center to name a few. They also collaborated with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Alumni Association, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, the Junior Achievements Program, and the Latino College Expo. In addition, they continued serving as mentors to Sigma Lambda LADYS (Leadership Advancement and Development for Our Young Sisters), a program for young women at Vanguard High School and West Brooklyn High School.
Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc.:
* Is a nationally recognized organization * Is a 501(c)(7) non-profit Greek lettered organization * Is a nationally insured organization * Is proud to be a non-hazing Greek lettered organization * Has 38 chapters at 60 Colleges and Universities * Has 14 Graduate/Professional chapters in major cities throughout the US * The National Board governs the Sorority through policy implementation and oversight * Regional Directors administer and manage the chapters in their region * Is a member of NALFO (National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations) * Annually sponsors our National RAICES Week; a week-long series of events to promote and celebrate Latino culture * Sponsors the Sigma Lambda PEARLS and Sigma Lambda LADYS mentorship programs * Has inducted Distinguished Hermanas because their lives' work represents our goals and ideal
Every year, during the first weekend in December, sisters from across the globe reunite to celebrate and rejoice in the fruition of Sincerity, Loyalty and Unity. Sigma Lambda Upsilon honors its establishment through an amazing weekend filled with outstanding educational, professional and culturally enriching workshops and programming. This annual event enables Hermanas to enhance their development as students, campus leaders, professionals, mothers and local community members.
In addition to the professional development portion, Hermanas utilize this time to recognize the astonishing accomplishments of the Sorority and one another, as well as, their respective chapters. The National Board acknowledges their undying dedication and great strength in fulfilling the goals and ideals of the organization by awarding Hermanas with the National Cacique and Avance Awards.
The organization is run by the National Board of Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. The board is responsible for the strategic planning and implementation of all rules and regulations and oversees all activities of the Undergraduate Chapters and Graduate Professional Chapters.
National Board Members:
Daisy Torres President
Jennifer Caban Vice President
Nadine Corado Director of Administration
Stephanie Ruiz Director of Finance
Luz Burgos Director of Expansion
Carol Olate Director of Public Relations
Stephanie Cabrera Director of Philanthropy
Rosanna Castro & Luz Cuevas Directors of Membership Intake
Christina Robinson Director of Academic Excellence
Liliana Polo Director of Programming
Nidia Martinez Director of Technology
Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. has 38 chapters at over 60 Colleges and Universities [1]:
|
|||||