Lambda Psi Delta Sorority, Inc. (ΛΨΔ) was a multicultural, community service-based Greek-letteredsorority founded on March 9, 1997.[1][2] Lambda Psi Delta (referred to as "LPsiD") was established by a group of women known as the Nine Black Diamonds. Lambda Psi Delta was a founding member of the National Multicultural Greek Council (NMGC) but is no longer a member.
As of c. 2017, active chapters appear to have ceased operations, while alumnae continue to meet. The national website is no longer available.
History
Lambda Psi Delta Sorority, Inc. was founded on March 9, 1997, at Yale University by nine women who were formerly part of a Latina sorority.[3] They decided to leave their former sorority and create an organization whose primary goal was the upliftment and empowerment of women and their communities. They formed Lambda Psi Delta, a multi-ethnic, service-based organization, for women by women and about women. Its motto is "sovereignty to the community."[4]
The founders are referred to as the Nine Black Diamonds. They are:[5]
Ericka Ramos Carrasquillo
Irma Beatriz Cordero
Marina Lori Franzoni
Laura Elaine Gilbert
Paula Arputhasamy Ladd
Margarita Martis Navarro
Denise J. Pipersburgh
Karina Tejeda
Isabel Veguilla
The sorority incorporated in 1998 in Connecticut.[6] Lambda Psi Delta was a founding member of the National Multicultural Greek Council (NMGC) in 1998 but is no longer a member.[7][8]
The LILies was the official interest group of Lambda Psi Delta Sorority, Inc.[9] The acronym LILies stands for Ladies Interested in Lambda Psi Delta.[9]
Lambda Psi Delta chartered undergraduate chapters in Florida, New Jersey, Connecticut, Texas and Louisiana.[3][10] It also has two graduate chapters.[10] Although the sorority works primarily in minority communities, its members are from a variety of backgrounds.[10]The national headquarters of Lambda Psi Delta is in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.[11]
Symbols
The motto of Lambda Psi Delta is "Sovereignty to the Community".[9][12] Its five tenets or pillars are Intellectual Development, Empowerment of Women, Leadership, Cultural Awareness, and Upliftment of Community.[13][9][12]
The sorority's colors are coal black and lily white.[12] Its flower is the white calla lily.[12] Its jewel is the diamond.[12] Its mascot is the white bengal tiger.[12] Lambda Psi Delta's nickname is LPsiD. Its quarterly national newsletter is The Tiger's Tale.[11]
Activities
Lambda Psi Delta activities included public service and political service.[14] Held annually on October 24, its Unity Day was the sorority's designated day to recognize and celebrate diversity on campus.[15] Its Diamond Days was a weeklong event each March that celebrates the sorority's founders with various community service and political projects at the chapter level.[16] Other programs included the LPsiD College Resource Center and the Lambda Psi Delta National Educational Campaign Programs that addressed current societal concerns, such as autism awareness, breast cancer, global warming, date rape, and identity theft.[17] Its National Public and Political Service Program focused on changing initiatives, including multiple sclerosis research and STEP UP – SPEAK OUT! Bullying Awareness and Prevention Campaign.[14] The later was a partnership initiative with Omega Phi Chi sorority.[14]
Governence
Oversight was provided by a national executive board, consisting of the national executive committee, regional officers, the immediate past national president, and the sorority's legal advisor.[18] The national executive committee included the national president, national vice-president, national treasurer, national secretary, national second-vice president, national recruitment officer, assistant national recruitment officer - Western region, assistant national recruitment officer - Mid-western region, Northeastern regional director, Northeastern regional representative, Southwestern regional director, Southwestern regional representative, web administrator, and two NMGC representatives.[18]
Chapters
In the following chapter list, active chapters are indicated in bold and inactive chapters are indicated in italics, while the names of those chapters whose status are unknown are listed in plain text.[19][3][20] Graduate chapters are indicated with the prefix Gamma.
^Formed at Yale University and later expanded into a citywide chapter, including more campuses.
^Alumnae from Alpha, Beta, Zeta, Eta, Theta and Iota chapters established this as the sorority's first graduate chapter. The chapter's name was changed to Gamma Alpha when it became regional, rather than national.
