Lambda Psi Delta Sorority, Inc. () was a multicultural, community service-based Greek-lettered sorority founded on March 9, 1997. 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 , active chapters appeared to have ceased operations, while alumnae continued to meet. The national website was 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. They decided to leave their former sorority (Alpha Rho Lambda/Alianza de Raíces Latina Sorority, Inc.) and create an organization whose primary goal was to uplift and empower 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."
The founders were referred to as the Nine Black Diamonds. They were:
The sorority incorporated in 1998 in Connecticut. Lambda Psi Delta was a founding member of the National Multicultural Greek Council (NMGC) in 1998 but is no longer a member.
The LILies was the official interest group of Lambda Psi Delta Sorority, Inc. The acronym LILies stands for Ladies Interested in Lambda Psi Delta.
Lambda Psi Delta chartered undergraduate chapters in Florida, New Jersey, Connecticut, Texas and Louisiana. It also had two graduate chapters. Although the sorority worked primarily in minority communities, its members were from a variety of backgrounds. The national headquarters of Lambda Psi Delta is in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.
Symbols The motto of Lambda Psi Delta is "Sovereignty to the Community". Its five tenets or pillars are Intellectual Development, Empowerment of Women, Leadership, Cultural Awareness, and Upliftment of Community.
The sorority's colors are coal black and lily white. Its flower is the white calla lily. Its jewel is the diamond. Its mascot is the white bengal tiger. Lambda Psi Delta's nickname is LPsiD. Its quarterly national newsletter is The Tiger's Tale.
Activities Lambda Psi Delta activities included public service and political service. Held annually on October 24, its Unity Day was the sorority's designated day to recognize and celebrate diversity on campus. 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. 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. 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. The later was a partnership initiative with Omega Phi Chi sorority.
Governance 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. 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.
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. Graduate chapters are indicated with the prefix Gamma.
ChapterCharter date and rangeInstitutionLocationStatusAlpha Greater New Haven Area: Yale University, University of New Haven, and Southern Connecticut State UniversityNew Haven, ConnecticutInactive ?BetaGreater Hartford Area: Trinity College, University of Hartford, and Saint Joseph's CollegeHartford, ConnecticutInactive ?Gamma (see Gamma Alpha)199x ?National Graduate AssociationUnited StatesMovedDeltaOur Lady of the Lake UniversitySan Antonio, TexasInactive ?EpsilonUniversity of South FloridaTampa, FloridaInactive ?Omega2001MemorialZetaSpring 2004Ramapo CollegeMahwah, New JerseyInactive ?EtaSeton Hall UniversitySouth Orange, New JerseyInactive ?ThetaFall 2004 Wesleyan UniversityMiddletown, ConnecticutInactive ?Iota2005Rutgers UniversityNew Brunswick, New JerseyInactive ?KappaTexas Woman's UniversityDenton, TexasInactive ?Lambda Nicholls State UniversityThibodaux, LouisianaInactive ?Gamma Alpha199x ?Graduate - Northeastern RegionNew JerseyActive Gamma BetaGraduate - Southeastern RegionFloridaActive
See also
List of social sororities and women's fraternities Cultural interest fraternities and sororities
References