Hermanas Nationwide Gather for National Convention
Long Island, NY, February
12, 2007 – Over 130 members nationwide
convened for Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc.s (SIA) annual National
Convention over the weekend of February 10-11, 2007. This yearŐs Convention took place at one of our founding
schools, SUNY Stony Brook (Beta Chapter).
Among the attendees were three of our lovely founding mothers, Dora
Maria Abreu, Grecia Sanchez and Norma Porras-Reyes, who inspired us all with
their words and presence.
During this
weekend, the National Executive Board awarded
chapter charters to three new graduate/alumnae groups who each underwent a
probationary period prior to receiving their charters. We congratulate the alumnae of NYC and
NJ (Gamma Gamma Chapter), the alumnae of Central Florida (Gamma Delta Chapter)
and the alumnae of Queens and Long Island (Gamma Epsilon Chapter). SIA
also has graduate/alumnae chapters in Washington, D.C. (Gamma Alpha
Chapter) and in Chicago (Gamma Beta Chapter). "I am proud of
the women in all of these regions. Our alumnae are upholding
our goals and are a true inspiration to us all," said Connie Morales,
Esq., Vice President of Alumnae Affairs.
The
CEO of the Solidaridad, Inspiracion Amistad Community Foundation, Jessica
Mayorga de Rivera also reported on the foundation's progress. The
foundation and the sorority will be co-sponsoring events and
partnering with outside professional organizations, which share similar
principles as the foundation and the hermandad.
Additionally,
SIA formally adopted a national educational initiative entitled, Reaching Others
through Service and Education (R.O.S.E.).
The R.O.S.E. program was developed by SIAŐs National President,
Ivone De Jesus and will be administered by the graduate/alumnae chapters in
conjunction with the annual SIA Summer Leadership Conference. It is meant to serve as a resource to Latinas
and encourages service, scholarship and personal development in order to create
leaders within our communities while providing the tools necessary to
succeed. Young Latinas need to know that college and professional careers
are rewarding options and ones that they can achieve. Through this empowerment, we foster a commitment to
our goals and encourage our future leaders. Ivone De Jesus states, "This is a very exciting step
for SIA as an organization that stands for excellence in education among women.
The R.O.S.E. program will facilitate the expansion of these efforts
nationally.Ó
According
to the National Coalition of Hispanic Health and Human Services Organizations,
Latina girls now rank as the largest minority group of girls in the country and
are projected to remain so for the next fifty years. The U.S. Census Bureau
reported 28% of Latinas had only a high school diploma in 2004. Drop out trends for young Latinas were
researched by the U.S. Department of Education where they found that pregnancy
was the leading cause at 43% however other reasons that influenced drop out
were low academic achievement and low self esteem.
The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention cited health trends that included eating disorders (Almost 1 in 5
Latina young women (18%) went without eating for 24 hours, 8% took diet pills,
powders or liquids, and 7% vomited or took laxatives to lose weight or to keep
from gaining weight), suicide (Latinas in grades 9-12 are more likely than
White or Black young women to have seriously considered attempting suicide
(24%), made a suicide plan (19%) and attempted suicide (15%) and drug use
(Among Latina high school students, 38% have ever used marijuana, 18% currently
use marijuana, 14% have ever used any type of inhalant, 9% have ever used any
form of cocaine, 5% were currently using any form of cocaine, 8% have ever used
Methamphetamines, 7% have ever used ecstasy and 1% have ever used a needle to
inject an illegal drug).
These are alarming statistics that
require more than research to resolve them. What we need is a larger effort that includes educators,
families and communities. Here's
one more statistic: one in four women in the United States will be Latina by
the middle of the century. The time to make a difference is now! SIA advocates for action through
the R.O.S.E. program.
This
convention was not all business however. There were several hermana
activities including Friday night bowling and karaoke. On Saturday
evening, the organization hosted a national fundraiser party, which brought
together hermanas, local students and other Greeks.
About Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc. (SIA):
SIA was founded in New York on September 29, 1990 by
thirteen Latina women with the purpose of creating an organization that would
help their communities, unite women, promote the Latino culture and uphold a
set of distinct goals. Our dedication to scholarship, service and
professional development within the Latino community has grown beyond New York,
with chapters in several states including: New Jersey, Massachusetts,
Pennsylvania, California, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, Maryland and Virginia.
We
are more than a sorority; we are a family and network of professional, strong
and dedicated women leaders. We are also a 501(c)7 tax-exempt organization and
we work in conjunction with the Solidaridad Inspiracion Amistad Community
Foundation, Inc.- a 501(c)3 Community Foundation committed to scholarship,
service and professional development within Latino communities nationally. Together, we administer a national
scholarship fund for incoming college freshmen who demonstrate academic merit,
service to communities in need and exemplary leadership capabilities. For more information, please visit www.hermandad-sia.org.
Contact: Wendy
Toribio
Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc.
communications@hermandad-sia.org
www.hermandad-sia.org
