Sigma Lambda Beta
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| Sigma Lambda Beta (ΣΛΒ) |
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| Founded | April 4, 1986 The University of Iowa |
| Type | Social |
| Scope | International |
| Motto | Opportunity for Wisdom, Wisdom for Culture |
| Colors | Royal Purple and Pure White |
| Symbol | White Stallion Mustang |
| Flower | Red Carnation |
| Publication | El Iluminador (Newspaper), REGO (Magazine) |
| Chapters | 87 undergrad, 17 colonies, 17 Alumni Associations |
| Free label | Lambda Betas or Betas |
| Headquarters | 900 West Penn Street North Liberty, Iowa, USA |
| Homepage | Sigma Lambda Beta Website |
Sigma Lambda Beta (ΣΛΒ) International Fraternity Inc. is a historical Latino based, multicultural, organization created by eighteen men from Latin America, Africa & Asia in pursuit of fairness, opportunity, and in the equality of all people no matter what their race, culture, or ethnicity. Founded on April 4, 1986 in the Midwest by the, " Almighty Alpha Chapter, " at the University of Iowa, SLB today is recognized as the largest Latino Greek Letter intercollegiate fraternity of its kind in America.[citation needed] Over the last twenty two years, SLB has since then grown to over 121 entities that consist of colonies, chapters and alumni associations from coast to coast & in Puerto Rico.
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[edit] History
During the early spring 1986 semester, Baltazar Mendoza-Madrigal along with 17 other men began to explore the idea of establishing a Latino-based fraternity at The University of Iowa, one of the midwest's premier educational institutions. At that time, the student body at The University of Iowa was predominantly Caucasian. In addition, the Latino community on campus was divided into different social groups. As a result, the students who attended the first meeting wanted to solidify and unify the Latino and the multicultural community. Furthermore, the students wanted to promote a positive image of Latinos and minorities at the University. Mendoza-Madrigal, a member of Phi Beta Sigma wanted to further expand the possibility of a Latino based, multicultural organizatioin that focused on the pursuit of fairness, opportunity, and in the equality of all people no matter what their race, culture, or ethnicity.
After months of intensive research, the men began the creation of a new Latino-based fraternity. Mendoza-Madrigal called a special meeting on Monday, March 7, 1986 with some of the Latino students at the Chicano Native American Cultural Center at University of Iowa to discuss the need and feasibility of creating a new social fraternity with an emphasis on the Latino culture. After the first meeting, the enthusiasm in favor of the fraternity was so encouraging that the word spread throughout the University of Iowa. Everyone knew that something special was about to take place.
On Friday, April 4, 1986, the members finalized the philosophy of the Organization and the 18 men who came to study in the US from Latin America, Africa & Asia became the 18 Founding Fathers of Sigma Lambda Beta. They were inducted as brothers at the unversity's, Danforth Chapelwith the following principles in mind: BrotherhoodScholarship Cultural AwarenessandCommunity Service.
Founding Fathers
- Baltazar Mendoza-Madrigal
- Mario Buendia
- Enrique Carbajal
- Thomas Carrasquillo
- Manuel Chavarria
- Jose Fong
- Rudolfo Garza
- Luis Jimenez
- Luis Marquez
- Eric Montes
- Kuy Ou
- Olakunle Oyeyemi
- Jaime Ramirez
- Olivera Rivera
- Juan Jose Rojas Cardona
- Eugenio Soria
- Juan Valdez
- Ricardo Zamudio
[edit] Philosophy & Mission
- Sigma Lambda Beta values fairness, opportunity, and the equality of all men regardless of their race, culture, or ethnicity.
- We are committed to create and expand multicultural leadership, promote academic excellence, advance cultural awareness and service while establishing a brotherhood amongst all intelligent and dedicated young men on university campuses across the nation.
- The mission of all Beta men is to nurture and further a dynamic, value-based environment which utilizes its diverse multicultural membership as a catalyst to better serve the needs and wants of all people.
[edit] Philanthropies
Since 1986 Sigma Lambda Beta has made an impact in communities all over the US through service that the fraternity prides itself in. The fraternity concentrates its ability to help underprivileged communities through its local chapter philanthropies. Service at the local level varies accordingly and may consist a wide range from tutoring, mentoring programs, motivational speaking, voter registration drives to fundraising for a cause. On a national level, SLB acknowledges two philanthropies that all chapters participate in.
[edit] V. Correa CPR Awareness Day
The Victor Correa CPR Awareness Day was created in honor of Brother Victor "Ziggy" Correa Ortiz. Correa was born and raised in Puerto Rico and came to the United States to earn his degree in engineering at the State University of New York, Stony Brook. As a freshman and newly inducted brother, Correra went back to Puerto Rico to visit his parents. Unfortunately, during that winter Correa drowned while wading off the shores of Puerto Rico. Bystanders where not informed on how to administer CPR at the time to save his life. Today, brothers of SLB are encouraged to become CPR certified and also provide an opportunity for members of their communities to be certified through the Victor Correa CPR Awareness Day (November).
[edit] Collegiate Leadership Development
Brothers of Sigma Lambda Beta train and serve through the United States Hispanic Leadership Institue in the seven-week Collegiate Leadership Development Program. The program is an interactive, bilateral, policy-oriented training program for Latino student leaders, university staff, faculty, and administrators. The program is designed to focus on how to formulate, exercise, and influence policy. Given the setting, this policy analysis program focuses on university policies pertaining to the outreach, recruitment and retention of Latino students; the recruitment and retention of Latino staff, faculty and administrators; beginning or expanding a Latino studies curriculum; financial aid; involvement in student government; support for Latino student organizations; and financial literacy.
[edit] Evolution of Excellence
Sigma Lambda Beta, La Unica Fraternidad Internacional Incorparada
Sigma Lambda Beta has made its mark as a premier fraternity recognized by national greek councils in the US. Most notably, SLB is not the oldest nor was it the first organization to be established in the country but rather it strives to revolutionize the greek community as a leader in innovation. To highlight some achievements as one of the youngest fraternities of its kind, SLB has been the first organization to be established at HBCUs, the first organization to reach all four geographical corners of the US, the first to establish its own educational foundation, and the only US fraternity in the Caribbean. Furthermore, the fraternity has become known as the only organization of its kind to have international membership with over 121 entities.
[edit] Historical Legacy
- 1987: Became the first and only US fraternity to establish an entity in the Caribbean (Delta Chapter,Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Puerto Rico).
- 1991 / 2000: Founded the first entity of any Latino-based collegiate Greek-lettered organization at a Historically Black College (Epsilon Gamma Chapter, Prairie View University, founded in 1991). It also has the longest concurrent chapter of a Latino-based Greek-lettered organization at a Historically Black College (Delta Gamma Chapter, Florida A&M University, founded November 19, 2000).
- 1992: Became the first Latino based fraternity to reach "Coast to Coast" with the expansion to SUNY-Stony Brook (Pi chapter) and California State University-Dominguez Hills (Tau Chapter). Sigma Lambda Beta now has a presence in every region of the United States.
- 1992 / 2004: One of the first and few Latino based fraternities to be recognized by the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) and became a member of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO).
- 1997: The fraternity was granted 501(c)(7) status by the IRS.
- 2001: Sigma Lambda Beta Educational Foundation established to provide funding for educational and leadership development programs.
- 2004: Created its own official publication called Rego Magazine which is published quarterly and is distributed at Universities all over the US. The magazine is the only one of its kind on the market and covers politcs, news, college life & fashion.
[edit] Chapters
[edit] National Events
Sigma Lambda Beta organizes various social, business, professional and personal development events for its members annually. Most of them are held in different states from year to year.
- Founders: An annual social event that is hosted to celebrate the founding and existence of the fraternity. Brothers are also recognized across the nation for their contributions to the fraternity. The weekend of events take place during the beginning of April, near the founding date of the organization, as chapters nation wide alternate its location.
- Convention: A business convention where delegates from every chapter vote on bylaws of the fraternity and discuss various business topics of interest for the develpoment of the organization. Convention takes place every other summer.
- Retreat: A personal development event where brothers take part in various workshops, bonding exercises, and networking events with other chapters around the nation. Retreat takes place every other summer, in years between Convention.
- Festival Del Sol: An annual social held in Tampa, Florida on Labor Day weekend of every year.
[edit] Educational Foundation
"Fueling the Light" since 2001, the Sigma Lambda Beta Educational Foundation is a charitable and educational 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, separate and independent from Sigma Lambda Beta Fraternity. The Education Foundation is supported by tax-deductible charitable gifts from loyal members and friends of Sigma Lambda Beta Fraternity. It receives, manages and distributes endowment gifts, deferred gifts, annual gifts, and special gifts for the purpose of funding educational and leadership development programs for Sigma Lambda Beta Fraternity, as well as direct financial assistance for undergraduate and graduate student members. The Education Foundation is governed by a board of trustees composed primarily of alumni of Sigma Lambda Beta Fraternity.
[edit] Board of Trustees
- Founding Father Ricardo Zamudio, SLBEF Chair
- Brother James L. Hayes, Scholarship/Programming
- Brother Ian Bautista, District Representatives
- Brother Ammar Mufleh, Finances
- Brother Murali Balaji, Communications
- Brother Mary Peterson, Ex-Officio
- Brother Alejandro Builes, Ex-Officio
[edit] Opportunity for Wisdom
The Opportunity for Wisdom Fund is the first endowed fund established by the Sigma Lambda Beta Educational Foundation. The interest earned from the principal of this fund provided scholarships to the brothers of Sigma Lambda Beta.
| "Opportunity for Wisdom, Wisdom for Culture." Sigma Lambda Beta Motto |
The following brothers are founding members of this fund: Joel Arias, Rudy Calderon, Founding Father Enrique Carbajal, Sam Centellas & Family, Benjamin Feller, Phillip Guerrero, James Hayes, Guillermo Macalpin, Cirilo Martinez, Ricardo Melgoza, Founding Father Baltazar Mendoza, Ammar Mufleh, Mary Peterson, Joel Rhea, Joe Romagnano, Roy Salcedo, Jason Smolka, Anthony Ybarra, Andrew Velasquez, & Founding Father Ricardo Zamudio
[edit] Alumni
With many young men of diverse ethnic backgrounds at universities across the nation taking initiative to propel Sigma Lambda Beta into the next millennium, our alumni associations are growing to contain the most elite professionals in America's workforce. Many alumni are professionals including doctors, lawyers, architects, police, and law enforcement who pursue higher education beyond their undergraduate degree. Currently, there are 17 Alumni Associations of Sigma Lambda Beta, as well as 3 alumni interest groups who are seeking to establish permanent alumni associations in their respective area.
Notable Alumni
With many more accomplishments and contributions to come in the next millennium by brothers and future associates, Sigma Lambda Beta will continue to serve the needs and wants of our people to uphold itself as a pillar in American society in fields as followed:
[edit] Civic/Academics
- Brother Ian Bautista- Non-Profit Executive with United Neighborhoods of America in Wisconsin. Earned a BA in Spanish, BA in political science & a Masters in Regional/ Community Planning from Kansas State University. Followed by an E.M.B.A from Rockhurst University. Bautista has been inducted into the SLB Salon de Hermandad.
- Brother Guillermo Macalpin- Founder of Prime Time Kids Camp and SLBEF Opportunity for Wisdom Fund.
- Brother Murali Balaji - Journalist and author of The Professor and the Pupil: The Politics and Friendship of W.E.B. Du Bois and Paul Robeson (Nation Books).
- Brother Michael Benitez Jr. is a scholar, activist, public speaker, and spoken word artist and co-editor of Crash Course: Reflections on the Film Crash for Critical Dialogues About Race, Power and Privilege.
[edit] Business/Entertainment
- Founding Father Ricardo Zamudio- One of the original 18 Founding Fathers of SLB (1986). BBA in finance and a minor in computer science (University of Iowa`89). Manager within the systems department of State Farm Insurance (Bloomington, Illinois) Established the Sigma Lambda Beta Educational Foundation (2001) for the purpose of funding educational and leadership development programs for Sigma Lambda Beta Fraternity, as well as direct financial assistance for undergraduate and graduate student members. Zamudio has been inducted into the SLB Salon de Hermandad.
- Brother Avian Carrasquillo - Newspaper reporter for The Daily Herald (third largest newspaper in Illinois)
- Brother Delane Cleveland - Fox 11 Reporter in Tucson, Arizona. Delane is a 2004 graduate of the University of Minnesota's School of Journalism, and decided to pursue a career in news after covering a story in college that earned him an award from the Northwest Broadcast News Association.
- Brother Henry Guerrero - Emmy award winner and executive producer for La Vida, ABC WFAA-TV Dallas/Fort Worth
- Brother Peter Mellado- Editor & Chief of REGO Magazine/Mellcom Inc. Contributed to the redesign of the fraternities mascot (2008).
- Brother Roger Payano- Actor, Model & Personality. Founding brother of the Delta Gamma Chapter at FAMU (2000). Received a Bachelors of Science in mechanical engineering & Masters of Science in industrial engineering (2002). Before acting he worked as an engineer for an un-named government funded defense contracting firm.
- Brother Alex Perez - Award-winning television reporter for NBC WMAQ-TV Chicago
- Brother Danny Zepeda- 2005 World Ballroom Champion.
[edit] Government/Law
- Brother Miguel Ayala- Currently the Communications Director for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in Washington, DC. Before working with the Caucus he served with the Office of Congresswoman Barbara Lee as a Legislative Aide. Ayala received his Bachelors degree in Political Science from DePaul University (2002) & and is working on a Masters degree in educational leadership from George Washington University (2008).
- Brother Edward Casso - Colorado State Representative, House District 32
- Brother Andrew Velázquez III - Current director of the State of Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), former director, Office of Emergency Management & Communications Chicago, Illinois
- Fouding Father Baltazar Mendoza-Madrigal - Earned a BA in Political Science from the University of Iowa & a J.D from the John Marshall School of Law. Mendoza is an attorney and runs his own firm, Baltazar Mendoza & Associates. Mendoza has been inducted into the SLB Salon de Hermandad.
[edit] Science
- Brother Anthony Ochoa- Engineer for the Boeing Company. Earned a BS in systems engineering from the University of Arizona, a BS in engineering management from Washington State University and an MBA from Seattle University. Ochoa is one of the Founding Brothers for the Kappa Alpha Chapter at the University of Arizona and maintains/created the SLB National Website. He has also served on the National executive board and is an inducted member of the Salon de Hermandad.
- Brother John Jacob Rodriguez, Ph.D. - Earned his doctorate in 2007 from Prairie View A&M Univ. / Department of Juvenile Justice & Psychology. Dr. Rodriguez is the first Latino in the country to receive a Ph.D. in Juvenile Justice. He is currently an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Arlington where he teaches criminology and criminal justice. His research includes Disproportianate Minority Confinement, Gangs, Transnational & International Crimes. He has also published numerous book chapters, journal articles, and book reviews.
- Brother Louis Valente, Ph.D. - Earned his doctorate in 2003 from the Rutgers Univ. / UMDNJ Joint Molecular BioSciences Ph.D. program. Today, Dr. Valente, is a post-doctoral scientist with the Gene Expression & Regulation Program at the Wistar Institute (Univ. of Pennsylvania). His research includes proteins that bind RNA for the regulation of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level and he has been published in many international scientific journals
[edit] Sports
- Brother Francisco "El Tigre" Arreola - Professional boxer (29-3-2, 8 KO)
- Brother Luis Hernandez Jr. - Marquette University (1996-2000); Director of Public Relations, Chicago White Sox
- Brother Mark Slessinger - Northwestern State assistant basketball coach
[edit] Salon De Hermandad
Sigma Lambda Beta considers all brothers at any stage of life, active and life long brothers. as such, many brothers are still involved with the fraternity even years after graduating. Thus, SLB created the Salon de Hermandad (Chicago, Illinois 2000) to recognize brothers that have made a significant impact and have contributed to the growth and development of the organization over many years. Inductees to the Salon de Hermandad are recognized with the highest award a brother of Sigma Lambda Beta can receive.
[edit] External links
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