Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Incorporated () (''also known as Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc.'') is a Latina-based, but not Latina-exclusive

Greek letter The Greek alphabet has been used to write the Greek language since the late 9th or early 8th century BC. It was derived from the earlier Phoenician alphabet, and is the earliest known alphabetic script to systematically write vowels as wel ...

intercollegiate

sorority In North America, fraternities and sororities ( and ) are social clubs at colleges and universities. They are sometimes collectively referred to as Greek life or Greek-letter organizations, as well as collegiate fraternities or collegiate sorori ...

founded on April 16, 1988, at

Cornell University Cornell University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university based in Ithaca, New York, United States. The university was co-founded by American philanthropist Ezra Cornell and historian and educator Andrew Dickson W ...

by five women. The organization is a member of the

National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations The National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO) is an umbrella council for seventeen American Latino fraternities and sororities. It was established in 1998. The purpose of NALFO is to promote and foster positive interfraternal ...

(NALFO).

History

Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc. was established at Cornell University on April 16, 1988. Its founders were Irma Almirall-Padamsee, Maria Caban, Migdalia Franklin, Patricia Rivera, Eva Marie Sosa. The sorority was founded upon three principles: ''La Cultura Latina'' (the Latino Culture), ''La Comunidad'' (the Community), and ''La Hermandad'' (the Sisterhood). The founders of Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc. envisioned an organization that would embrace Latina community leaders who wanted to make a positive impact at Cornell and the Latino community at large despite institutional struggles. Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc. was incorporated on April 8, 1991; it was the first Latina sorority incorporated in New York state. The sorority was helped heavily in its establishment by the fraternities Lambda Upsilon Lambda and

Alpha Phi Alpha Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. () is the oldest intercollegiate List of African-American fraternities, historically African American Fraternities and sororities, fraternity. It was initially a literary and social studies club organized in the ...

(who were also founded at Cornell University) and La Asociacion Latina present on campus. During the organization's 2015 National Convention, members voted to become

trans Trans- is a Latin prefix meaning "across", "beyond", or "on the other side of". Used alone, trans may refer to: Sociology * Trans, a sociological term which may refer to: ** Transgender, people who identify themselves with a gender that di ...

-inclusive, becoming the first

(NALFO) sorority member to do so. On March 25, 2017, Lambda Pi Chi established its first chapter at a historically black college and university (HBCU),

North Carolina Central University North Carolina Central University (NCCU or NC Central) is a Public university, public Historically black colleges and universities, historically black university in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by James E. Shepard in affiliati ...

. It is the first Latina-based, but not Latina exclusive sorority on the campus and the second NALFO sorority to establish a chapter at a HBCU.

Symbols

The motto of Lambda Pi Chi is ''La Hermandad Nunca Termina''. Its ideals or pillars are ''La Cultura Latina, La Comunidad and La Hermandad''. The sorority's colors are red, gold, black, and white. Its flower is the red carnation. Its jewel is the fire opal, and its mascot is the butterfly in flight.

Philanthropy

Lambda Pi Chi focuses on serving the Latino community with an emphasis on the Latina, communities of color, and members of other underserved communities. The sorority has two public service projects, ''L.E.A.A.P: Latinas Educating on AIDS Awareness and Prevention'' and ''Proyecto H.A.C.E.R'' (Hacer in

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

means to make, to build, to do). On July 14, 2016, Lambda Pi Chi Sorority two scholarship opportunities in honor of deceased members Fanny D. Carela and Gabby Oberti. The scholarships are intended to embody the spirit and passion of the Hermanas and also invest in the advancement and education of ''La Hermanadad'' (the Sisterhood) and ''La Comunidad'' (the Community).

Chapters

Collegiate chapters

Following is a list of the collegiate chapters and provisional chapters (colonies) of Lambda Pi Chi. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are in ''italics''.

Professional and graduate chapters

The sorority allows for graduate chapters for those seeking participation after college, or for alumnae initiates. Following is a list of its professional/graduate chapters. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are in ''italics''.

Notes

References

External links

* {{National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations Student organizations established in 1988 National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations Student societies in the United States Latino fraternities and sororities 1988 establishments in New York (state) Women's organizations based in the United States Sororities Fraternities and sororities in the United States