Omega Phi Beta (Affiliate Chapter)

Websites

National Chapter: www.omegaphibeta.org

Year Founded

UCB Chapter: 2011

Additional Information

Chapter Summary/Information: Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated was founded on March 15, 1989 at the University at Albany, State University of New York. Seventeen dedicated women of various cultural and ethnic backgrounds came together to create an outlet for women to initiate change. The foundation was built to fight against the injustices historically suffered by our gender. As the first Latina-oriented organization in the history of the University at Albany, they struggled to establish our organization, our purpose and most importantly, a precedent. In under a year, Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated co-founded the Latino Greek Council at the University at Albany. This council served as a support system for those organizations that did not share the agenda or identified themselves with the already established councils at the University at Albany. The Latino Greek Council (LGC) has proven its sustenance as it has served as the framework and model for the Latino Greek Councils on a National level, ten years later. With an emphasis on community service and sisterhood, Omega Phi Beta immediately became a positive influence within the community at the University at Albany, as well as in the city of Albany. Realizing the importance of expanding our service we initiated membership education process and established a second chapter, the Beta Chapter at SUNY New Paltz in the Spring of 1991. What brought together our prominent seventeen founders and what attracted those initial pledge classes, still attracts so many women today. Although our orientation is Latina, we are open to women of all cultural backgrounds and the diversity of our membership and interestingly the diversity of our seventeen founders’ attests to this fact. Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated thrives on the diversity of its members and we attribute a lot of our success to our organization’s ability to embrace each members’ differences. As Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. moves towards the future we can look back with pride. Since 1989 we have managed to serve and educate a multitude of communities, donated over $10,000 to various AIDS charities, served thousands of hours and continued to excel in academic pursuits inclusive of recognition at various campuses as the sorority with the highest grade point average. Along our accomplishments within our communities we have managed to excel as a sisterhood by providing each other with unconditional support in professional and personal endeavors. Omega Phi Beta has been able to capture the true essence of sisterhood and we are eagerly open to extend our family to others. Omega Phi Beta was established due to the desire of identifying with and establishing our culture as well as symbolizing order, strength and unity. Our founders set their precedent and today, we as a whole stand alongside them and exemplify what our values of pride, honesty and beliefs of tradition and custom symbolize.

Message from the President: The vision and mission of Omega Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated are a mirror reflection of my own; in which education, community assistance, and cultural awareness are priorities. All the while there is gratification of each woman’s womanhood, roots and successes. After researching the organization, meeting interested women and Sisters, the pride for the organization, the professionalism and success each woman transmitted was exemplary. The dialogue that surrounded OPBSI as an organization made it known that OPBSI was/is respectable, honorable, and dedicated to directly creating change. I came in as a freshman not interested in sororities at my campus nor had found my niche amongst the available all-women clubs. After being introduced to OPBSI by the group of interested women at UCB I knew immediately I could not let the opportunity to be a part of OPBSI slip through my fingers. It was a perfect fit. I am continuously enamored and engrossed in the organization. Reason being, that the organization’s uniqueness, confidence, and substance provide a safe space where women live out their beliefs, values and traditions and not just preach them. In addition, OPBSI’s national philanthropy-Raising Awareness of Violence against Women- is real, prevalent, much needed yet avoided. This too particulates OPBSI as a relentless and bold organization. I believe violence against women goes beyond the domestic, verbal or emotional forms. It takes shape in manipulation, in any inequality or injustice that prevents equal treatment and/or advancement, strong action against ones will, unwarranted alterations from one person onto another, assault, harassment and sexism. And as I meet sisters I feel each one is contributing to ending these forms of oppression. Each woman not only epitomized determination and strength, but also sisterhood and support. Every encounter and social with sisters made it known, that in whatever endeavor each individual sister takes on, it will be fortified by the sisters and they will be there for any needed help. As a new sister to the family of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, I have already experienced and felt the love of the sisterhood and organization. It is incomparable and admiring to be a part of an organization of women that believes and lives out the values of sisterhood, academic and professional success towards the betterment of our own diverse communities. For all of the facets that OPBSI embodies I am interested, committed, inspired, empowered, and in love with this Sisterhood. Please feel free to visit the numerous links that are available to receive a thorough understanding of the organization and its values.

Annual Events: Week of Illumination: A series of events throughout one week that reflect the goals and values of our organization nationally.

Chapter Philanthropy: Advancement Through Education: We have a passion for education and are strong believers in the success it brings through hard work and dedication. Therefore, we chose our Chapter (Colony) cause to be that of advancing individuals of all sexes, origin, ages, and ability through education of all types-academic, physical/sexual, professional and mental. We acknowledge the importance of being a well-rounded individual and the continuity of learning and teaching in our communities.

Chapter History: In the Spring of 2008 two women sought out to find an organization that encompassed a balance between academic advancement, professional development and social networking. Although these women found such qualities in different organizations on campus they searched for an organization that obtained all three and focused in empowering women from all walks of life. At this time two women received the opportunity to meet sisters from Phi Chapter (USC) as they visited the UC Berkeley campus. After researching Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, these women soon found themselves identifying with the mission, vision and motto of the sorority. They felt that the UC Berkeley Campus would benefit from this well-rounded organization that focuses on the development of women leaders and educating the community through diversity. Since 2008 various women joined in pushing to gain recognition for Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated at the Berkeley Campus. As these women patiently waited for administration’s decision, they received the opportunity to meet with sisters in New York, New Jersey, and Los Angeles. These women had the opportunity to attend several OPBSI informational sessions and events, such as Sigma Chapter’s Hummingbird Special and Phi Chapter’s Interest BBQ. In addition to meeting with sisters and learning more about the organization, these women were privileged enough to meet one of the organizations founders, Lissette Jorge-Uyehara, during a dinner social. These women worked diligently with OPBSI, OPBSI National Council of Officers, UCB Administration and with one another to meet their end goal of establishing recognition of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated at the Berkeley campus. After 3 years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance, Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated received recognition by the Pan-Hellenic Council at the University of California, Berkeley. In May of 2011, five strong and dedicated women took Berkeley by storm as members of Omega Phi Beta’s first UC Berkeley line, Alpha line. These women came together to create an opportunity for other women at UC Berkeley to also find a sisterhood that they could identify with. Although many women were unable to join the sisterhood as undergraduates, and become part of the Alpha line, their hard work and dedication is and will forever be recognized. At this time, we would like to thank all those who have been part of this journey thus far and for all your hard work and dedication in allowing Alpha Line to establish Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated at UCB: the beautiful Radiant Sisters of Omega Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated, the several Vice Presidents of Expansion, the members of the Expansion Committee, OPBSI National Council of Officers, Phi Chapter at the University of Southern California, UC Berkeley Administration and the initial interested women. There was an insurmountable amount of support that was received over the years that is much appreciated. Without the encouragement, guidance, assistance, and love expressed from all organizations and women, the second West coast entity of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated would not have been possible. As women leaders of our prospective communities we focus on educating all communities through our diversity. UCB Colony will be focusing on the Advancement through Education as our Chapter (Colony) Cause in order to encompass all of the communities we wish to collaborate with and the myriad of areas of education we wish to concentrate on. We are excited and humbled by the opportunity to be part the Cal Greek community and are eager to work with Greek and non-Greek organizations on campus and in the community. It is our goal to embrace our diverse origins and talents and to unite them to foster our communities and make leaps of growth, igniting chains of amelioration. Humbly yours, The Second West Coast Entity of Omega Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated, University of California Berkeley Colony “It’s in my heart, its in my soul I love my Black, my Green and my Radiant Gold….”

Contact Information: Isabeth Mendoza - President/Membership Chair, Berkeley@OmegaPhiBeta.org

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