MAY 2014
THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF SIGMA LAMBDA UPSILON/SEÑORITAS LATINAS UNIDAS SORORITY INC.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
A New Era for Leadership What is Leadership to you? Is it obtaining the skill to inspire others? Is it being confidence? Is it trusting your gut? These are the questions we pose to you, our dedicated readers. In the spirit of our 3rd National Leadership Weekend, this issue is dedicated to celebrating of our fearless Hermana Leaders. National Leadership Weekend (NLW) is an annual gathering where all chapter presidents and members, meet to discuss the everchanging growth and future of our Hermandad.
2 A Note from the President
3 The PRC - It’s a Movement
4-5 Convention Refelctions
6 RAICES 2014
7 Hermana Retreat 2014
10 The Healthy Senorita
From our newest members to our Founding Mothers, NLW serves as a platform to actively shape our organization and empower our membership to lead with a combination of professionalism and Hermandad. Learning to master this skill is a challenge however there is a beauty in witnessing the transformation. Any Greek organization exists on foundation of passing on its goals, ideals, and traditions to future generations. Exchanging stories and experiences will always exist however, if things we should really pass on to our neophytes are the lessons from mistakes made, examples of success and how that success was achieved and lastly, how can we raise the bar for those who come after us. Hermanas and friends, we challenge you to really think about and determine what kind of leader you are. Are you the one behind the scenes? The one leading the pack? The one behind the computer ensuring messages are relayed and received? No matter your leadership style or the level of responsibility in your role – know that the role you fill is essential. The goal of this issue is to inspire and plant a seed of leadership. We have highlighted hermanas who have taken the road less traveled, bit the bullet and “went for it” and congratulating those who have No task is too large without the support of a team. The task may be daunting, but working together in unity can create great change. Enjoy! The Public Relations Committee
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The PRC – It’s a Movement! The Public Relations Committee is working hard on keeping Hermanas up to speed on news about the Hermandad and marketing the Señorita brand. Undergraduate and graduate Hermanas from across the country are part of the committee. Have an exciting chapter or personal update? Know of a Hermana who is doing something extraordinary? Let one of the committee members know. Are you interested in joining the committee or becoming a contributing writer? Please contact the Director of Public Relations at pubic-relations@sigmalambdaupsilon.org.
Hermana Denise Delgado Theta Alpha Chapter Spring 2005
Hermana Ysanet Batista Rho Chapter Spring 2009
Hermana LaChanda Mills Psy Chapter Spring 2010
Hermana Krysta Omeir Omicron Chapter Spring 2009
Hermana Alany Gutierrez Alpha Pi Chapter Fall 2013
Hermana Letier Santana Alpha Delta Chapter Spring 2010
Hermana Catherine Cruz Alpha Chapter Spring 2013
Hermana Wanda Hernandez Alpha Zeta Chapter Spring 2012
Insert YOUR picture here!
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with the Venceremos Brigrade, the campaign to free the Cuban 5 and Puerto Rican political prisoner Oscar Lopez, and the NYC DREAM Act amongst other community movements.
founded on December 1, 1987, on the campus of Binghamton University, provides sisterhood and support while also promoting academic achievement, service to the community, leadership and cultural enrichment to collegeHermana Thay-Ling shares : educated and pro“ I was beyond flattered that my own fessional women dedicated to community would give me this recognition. I have admired and supported the movements uplifting happening within the immediate Puerto Rican traditionally community and throughout the diaspora for a marginalized communities. Since long time, this includes everything from the its establishment, campaigns to release our political prisoners to the organization has the fight against gentrification both in East expanded to over Harlem and on the Island. I was also grateful 39 schools across that during the event my community collecthe country, tively raised money towards an educational touching the lives of scholarship for me. What can I say, I love my more than 700 women. community.” Thay-Ling became a member of our Alpha Delta Chapter at SUNY Stony Brook University in Fall 2011. She graduated in May 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Vertebrate Biology. In July, she will move to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico to pursue a M.S. degree in Marine Science with a specialization in Tropical Coral Reef Conservation. Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc.,
reaffirm women's incalculable value as leaders of families, communities and movements; when they recognize the women who have made tremendous gains for the poor, workers and oppressed. Their annual events to recognize Puerto Rican women on IWWD stems from a history of resistance to the colonization of Puerto Ricans on the island and throughout the Diaspora. Though efforts to erase their place in history are undertaken daily as a way to make their contributions invisible, the IWWD events valiantly recount the stories of their sisters making them visible for the communities to celebrate, honor, and admire. Annually, the Committee to Honor Puerto Rican Women on International Working Women's Day claims a new narrative for their children, for their own lives and for those of elders and ancestors.
The Committee to Honor Puerto Women pays homage to the tremendous contributions that women workers have made in the fight for social justice on International Working Women's This article originally Day (March 8th). International appeared on Working Women's Day is a socialist www.SigmaLambdaUpsilon.org political event celebrated around the world by women's organizations, the global labor movement and progressive countries. It is a day when they
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Serving Our Communities
An#Empower100 By H. Krysta Omeir & H. Ysanet Batista 12 The hermanas in our National Leadership Team are alumni who volunteer their professional and practical skills for the hermandad. You can too! Are you an hermana who is interested in contributing to the organization but whose time is limited? Become involved with one of our committees or strategic projects! Volunteering your time, talent and expertise to a committee or project is a great way to be involved and reconnect with the hermandad. Strategic Projects: • Graduate Professional Chapter Structure Strategic Assessment (Christina Colon, Director of Graduate Affairs) • Expansion Moratorium and Chapter Development Planning (N/A – until the Director of Expansion position is filled) • National Partnership Development (N/A, until Director of Philanthropy position is filled) • Metrics and Evaluation Strategy Development (Sasha Lopez, Director of Academics) • Image and Brand controls and regulation (Denise Delgado, Director of Public Relations)
Sorority Committees: • Public Relations Committee (Denise Delgado, Director of Public Relations) • Technology Committee (Isha Torres, Director of Technology)
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