Omega Phi Beta
Omega Phi Beta was the first Hispanic/Latino Greek-lettered organization founded at the University of Virginia. Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated (OPBSI) is a national sorority committed to the development of collegiate and professional women through sisterhood, diversity, leadership, service and academic excellence. OPBSI envisions a world without oppression, where empowered women celebrate the essence of womanhood and act as resources in the advancement of their communities.
Mission:
The purpose of Omega Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated is to Serve and Educate people of diverse backgrounds through sisterhood, leadership, and guidance. As positive role models, we promote the unity of all cultures, focus on the empowerment of our gender and raise the standards of excellence in our academic, social, and personal endeavors.
OPBSI envisions a world without oppression, where empowered women celebrate the essence of womanhood and act as resources in the advancement of their communities.
Our Website: Website
Founding year:
Originally founded at the University of Albany in the spring of 1989
Iota Chapter founded at the University of Virginia in the fall of 1998
Founders:
Carolina Espinal
Aisha T. Brown
Debora B. Freitas
Creation:
Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated was founded on March 15, 1989, at the University at Albany, State University of New York. Seventeen women from various racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds synthesized their passion, commitment, and motivation. They envisioned an organization that would unify women of color who were dedicated to correcting the injustices that have and continue to affect their communities.
The Iota Chapter of OPB at the University of Virginia became the first southern home of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, and it marked the beginning of the push to make OPB into a nationally prominent Latina sorority. In 1999, Incendio Etnico - the first line of women - became officially recognized by the University and nationally-recognized. This chapter became the first official Greek-lettered organization member of the Fraternity-Sorority Council, now known as the Multicultural Greek Council.
Structure:
Following the founding of the Iota Chapter through the Incendio Etnico line in October 1998, a second line was formed in April 2000 when one additional member joined the chapter. The chapter is now dormant.
Efforts:
- The Iota Chapter actively contributed to the community through service. The chapter participated in many activities and programs such as the fight against hunger, fundraising for natural disasters, and educating about domestic violence, their national philanthropy. The chapter cause, the Project Migrant Aid: Giving a Helping Hand, gave the chapter the opportunity to support migrant workers and their families in the Charlottesville and the surrounding areas. This was accomplished through various methods such as participating and supporting the tutoring program sponsored by UVA’s Madison House, translating at the UVA Health Center and the Charlottesville Free Clinic, hosting Halloween parties for their children, and holding community-wide fundraisers like the International Cook-Off. Additionally, the chapter would often partner with other members of the Multicultural Greek Council to host philanthropic events.
Information collected through the chapter and national website
