2020 - 2021 LTA Annual Report by Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.

ANNUAL REPORT ANNUAL REPORT

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LAMBDA THETA ALPHA Latin Sorority, Incorporated

Table of Contents

08 10

National President’s Letter

Leadership

Membership Overview

Philanthropy

Partnerships & Initiatives

National Annual Programs & National Awards

16 respect

Strategic Plan Milestones

National President’s Letter

Greetings,

We are pleased to share our highlights and updates from the 2020-2021 sorority year. The annual report serves as a reflection on the work we have done throughout the year, including membership statistics, strategic initiatives and milestones.

2020 - 2021 Annual Report - National President’s Letter

This was a difficult year globally, but as an organization it was one of innovation and coming together in unique new ways. Our membership came together to defy challenges of the looming pandemic to remain steadfast in accomplishing our objectives and commitment to the communities we serve. We remained committed to the development of strong leaders who practice political, social, and cultural activities and promote unity through charitable and educational programs. Executing strong virtual programming nationally to engage our members was a top priority for the organization throughout the year. As the first Latina sorority we celebrated the beauty of our history and organizational growth during a virtual 17-day event that brought together generations of our sisterhood and reignited the relevancy of community amongst women. The year concluded with our firstever virtual National Convention that demonstrated how Lambda Theta Alpha embodied our theme “United Beyond Distance.” As National President I am proud of the dedication of our volunteer leaders and staff and the progress made on our goals outlined in the 2018-2022 Strategic Plan: A Vision of Unity, Rooted in Sisterhood. As we transition to the next sorority year, we look forward to continuing to mobilize for change in our communities and our country, ensure that our chapters have the support and resources they need to be successful and ensure that Lambda Theta Alpha can continue to pave the way for future generations. Lambda Theta Alpha is grateful to our partners for support this year and beyond.

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came together “Our membership to defy challenges...”

Alexis L. Degraffenreid 2020-2022 National President Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.

A TIN SORO

Leadership

2020 - 2021 Annual Report - Leadership

Board of Directors Lambda Theta Alpha is governed by an elected board of directors, which is composed of 10 officers that are responsible for managing the affairs of the sorority between annual conventions. The Board oversees all sorority operations and is structured to ensure that all viewpoints are considered in decision-making. The Board is devoted to ensuring the sorority is positioned to be a viable organization long into the future while remaining true to our values and principles. *Served through August 31, 2020 **Served through March 30, 2021

Alexis L. Degraffenreid

Michelle Grossman

Jennifer Rincones *

National President Delta Beta Chapter

Vice President of Internal Affairs Gamma Beta Chapter

Vice President of External Affairs Beta Omega Chapter

Aleyda Cantu-Olivarez

Lisandra Sanchez

Director of Risk Management Beta Eta Chapter

Director of Alumnae Affairs Beta Epsilon Chapter

National Advisors

Julia Maestas ** Director of Undergraduate Affairs Gamma Kappa Chapter

Nathalie Canadas

Liz Beth Sanchez

Adrianna Samaniego

Vice President of External Affairs Upsilon Chapter

Vice President of Administration Alpha Eta Alumnae Chapter

Vice President of Finance Deta Alpha Chapter

Dr. Cecilia E. Suarez

Ana Romero

Wendy Castro

Director of Undergraduate Affairs Beta Sigma Chapter

Director of Orientation Alpha Delta Alumnae Chapter

Director of Recruitment and Retention Gamma Tau Chapter

Regional and Area Leadership

Ofelia Oviedo

Founding Mother Alpha Chapter

Merlix Reynolds Chi Chapter Spring 1998

7 Regions 28 Regional Leaders 27 Areas 135 Area Leaders

Rosie Diaz

Sigma Chapter Fall 1993

Amethyst Thorman Beta Eta Chapter Spring 2004

Elisa A. Oliver

Gamma Epsilon Chapter Spring 2006

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Newly Established Chapters

Membership Overview

Eta Epsilon Chapter

Eta Zeta Chapter

California State University, Chico Established Fall 2020

Stephen F. Austin State University Established Fall 2020

Reactivated Chapters Xi Chapter

Gamma Chi Chapter

The University of Texas at Austin

Delta Alpha Chapter

Epsilon Psi Chapter

2020 - 2021 Annual Report - Membership

Manhattan College, The College of New Rochelle, and Iona College

The University of Georgia

University of Albany

During the 2020-2021 sorority year, we reached a total membership of

7,400+

Regions Areas 149 Undergraduate Chapters TOTAL CHAPTERS 28 Alumnae Chapters 29

Assistants to the Board of Directors

National Committees and Task Forces

230

National Committees and Task Force Members

Active Members

Fall 2020

Spring 2021

581

658

Alumnae Members

1,068

989

Total*

1,667

1,659

Undergraduate Members

*This does not include Lifetime Active Members.

new Lifetime Active Members in 2020-2021 for a total of

268 Lifetime Active Members

Inspiring, unifying, and creating a path for empowered leaders and providing the necessary tools to ignite passion for our sisterhood and the community.

Operational Sustainability

2020 - 2021 Annual Report - Strategic Plan

Enhancing the membership experience through optimization of resources, innovation, and communication.

Launched a sisterhood census to update and enhance our member directory and demographical database. Implemented monthly and quarterly member newsletters to streamline national communications and share upcoming events. Approved the hiring plan for a Membership Experience Coordinator, the second employee of Lambda Theta Alpha.

Membership Experience Creating a membership experience that exemplifies our principles while empowering members at all levels of participation to fulfill their lifelong commitment to the sisterhood. Developed by the Undergraduate Affairs team, the Undergraduate Roundtable initiative created a space for undergraduate members to collaborate and reflect on their member experience. The Alumnae Affairs team initiated the Café con Leche Alumnae Forum series to address the alumnae experience and concerns. Some topics covered this year include organizational restructuring, mental health and well-being during COVID-19, and an overview of the opportunities available to alumnae members in crafting their own alumnae experience. Approved the addition of an Alumnae Engagement Officer as an official position of the alumnae chapter board for the upcoming sorority year to support local alumnae engagement.

Leadership Retreats and Roundtables were held throughout the year where leaders reviewed sorority data and participated in expanded training topics including diversity, equity, and inclusion, and conflict management. Enhanced the National Committee and Task Force application process and Chair training sessions.

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Leadership Development

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Fiscal Health Uniting to ensure a healthy and secure financial future for our Sisterhood. The ‘Make it Make Cents’ Webinar Series hosted by the National Finance Committee took place every Thursday in April, commemorating Financial Literacy Month. A Dues Relief Fund was established to support members needing financial assistance to remain active.

Branding & Partnerships Aiming to be recognized as the premier organization that empowers members to serve our communities. Launched a new partnership with Wize, an online learning platform with Master’s & Ph.D. level tutors that provide video lessons, practice question sets, and PDF note packages tailored for all members taking courses and their exact subjects of study. Launched a one-year partnership with the CDC ‘Let’s Stop HIV Together’ campaign to support the national campaign by sharing resources, initiating dialogue, and raising awareness for minorities and people of color living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Continued to increase digital presence and engagement across all platforms.

2020-2021 S T R AT E G I C P L A N M I L E S T O N E S

Completed our first year on the CampusGroups online community and successfully integrated 7,147 members onto the platform.

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2020 - 2021 Annual Report - Philanthropy

Philanthropy Lambda Theta Alpha Foundation

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

The Lambda Theta Alpha Foundation (LTA Foundation) was created as a separate entity from the sorority as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization to respond to the growing need for additional financial support of education programs, scholarship, and humanitarian relief.

This year, Lambda Theta Alpha celebrated its 10-year partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at the annual St. Jude Walk/Run event. With more than 90 registered teams across the nation, Lambda Theta Alpha met and exceeded its annual goal, raising $43,744! Despite the pandemic pivoting this event to be 100% virtual, our commitment remained strong.

The sorority supports the fundraising efforts of the LTA Foundation throughout the year, including the annual Scholarship Campaign and the 1.975 Run: Road to Resilience virtual event in raising funds and awareness for our communities that are relentlessly rebuilding. This year, members of Lambda Theta Alpha raised $33,830, surpassing our $25,000 annual goal.

Total Raised for LTA Foundation:

$33,830

At the Virtual Fitness Volunteer Leadership Conference held in March, Lambda Theta Alpha was awarded the ‘2020 Top Community Multi-Market Team‘ award after the vast success from last year’s St. Jude Walk/Run exceeding the sorority’s fundraising goal.

Total Raised for St. Jude:

$43,744

2020 - 2021 Annual Report - Partnerships & Initiatives

45th Anniversary

CDC ‘Let’s Stop HIV Together’

December 2020 marked a significant milestone as Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. celebrated 45 years of being United in Purpose, Passion and Progress. Despite the ongoing pandemic, Lambda Theta Alpha’s membership of over 7,000 came together to commemorate sisterhood by hosting a 17-day-long virtual celebration, further strengthening bonds across the nation. Read the full press release here.

In 2021, we announced a new collaboration with the CDC’s Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign for 2021-22. This campaign is part of the national Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative. We aim to support this campaign through our expansive network by sharing resources, initiating dialogue, and raising awareness for minorities and people of color living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Next year, Lambda Theta Alpha will be engaged in various activities to educate our members about this health disparity affecting racial and ethnic minorities.

COVID-19 Task Force

Partnerships & Initiatives

In 2020, the LTA Board of Directors partnered with the Lambda Theta Alpha Foundation to establish a COVID-19 Task Force to provide educational resources and guidance during the pandemic. The task force comprises of physicians, public health experts, and selected members of the LTA and LTA Foundation Board of Directors. The COVID-19 Task Force provided guidance throughout the year and, with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the sorority implemented a temporary halt on in-person activities. While this was a difficult time, our members were resilient. Leveraging several virtual platforms and the strength of our sisterhood, the sorority proceeded with various virtual programs such as our national convention, annual Lambda Hill Days, orientation, and celebrating our 45th anniversary with a series of 12 virtual events.

Wize Lambda Theta Alpha launched a new partnership with Wize in 2021, an online learning platform with Master’s & Ph.D. level tutors that provide video lessons, practice question sets, and PDF note packages tailored for all members taking courses and their exact requirements subjects of study. Wize has set up an exclusive package through our ‘Get As with LTA’ program to give our members 100% free access. “Get As With LTA” is an undergraduate affairs initiative to promote the prioritization of academics by developing programming, tracking and supporting GPA with incentives, and providing resources to ensure academic success.

Hazing Prevention Week National Hazing Prevention Week (NHPW) was officially observed September 20-25, 2020 and we encouraged all chapters to host NHPW activities during that week. Chapters organized activities and events around the national awareness week to bring attention to the problem of hazing. In collaboration with HazingPrevention.Org, the campaign “Be Brave, Change the Game, Power... use yours to stop hazing”. Our campaign was based on the simple notion that it takes being brave to stand up and stop hazing. The ultimate goal was to prevent hazing through strong educational efforts, reinforcement, and comprehensive planning.

National Annual Programs & National Awards

2020 - 2021 Annual Report - National Annual Programs & National Awards

National Convention: Unity Beyond Distance Members of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. gathered virtually on June 25-27 for our 2021 National Convention. The three-day virtual event included opportunities for members from all over the country to engage in bonding, learn more about our history, attend educational and motivational workshops, and celebrate each other and the sorority’s accomplishments. This year’s theme, “Unity Beyond Distance,” inspired members to reconnect with the sisterhood and focus on our principles of Unity, Love and Respect. This year’s National Convention community service initiative paid homage to the needs of families in Texas. Partnerships for Children & Casa Marianella are organizations that serve displaced children and families. Donated funds directly supported needs purchased from their Amazon wish lists as well as Walmart gift cards. All items were distributed to the families served at both organizations. Read the press release here.

Lambda Ladies as Empowered Advocates for Diversity (LLEAD) Certification Program The Lambda Ladies as Empowered Advocates for Diversity (LLEAD) certification program increases awareness, promotes conscious thinking, and actively creates safe environments within the sisterhood to embrace diversity. Participants acquire confidence, strengthen understanding and become ambassadors of cultural diversity. Avalon Valencia facilitated the program and developed the curriculum with the support of the Director of Undergraduate Affairs and Director of Alumnae Affairs. Avalon is a school-based therapist for a community mental health agency in Washington state and an active member of Alpha Theta Alumnae chapter. Now in its 8th year, the program has expanded to include undergraduates and alumnae and graduated 20 members in Spring 2021.

Lambda Hill Days On May 3-7, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. hosted its fifth annual Lambda Hill Days. Due to the pandemic, this year’s event was hosted virtually with our members and their Congressional Leaders. This year, the 19-member cohort selected the topics they would focus on, including immigration, public health, and education reform. The National Political Education Initiative Committee (PEI) elected to expand the advocacy initiative from 3 days to a whole week to provide more flexibility due to the virtual setting. Traditionally, Lambda Hill Days is in person and we did not want to lose out on the momentum and impact this national event brings so we decided to allow our sorority members to partake once more in this educational experience with a few modifications. Read the press release here.

National Awards Program On June 25, 2021, Lambda Theta Alpha recognized and highlighted outstanding chapters and members who exceeded expectations through scholarship, service, political activism, and sisterhood. See the full list of 2021 National Awards recipients here.

Principles Award

Olivia Andrade Epsilon Sigma Chapter

Undergraduate of the Year Taylor Schaefer Beta Omega Chapter

Alumna of the Year

Lisa Parladé Alpha Delta Alumnae Chapter

2021 Annual Report - Presidnet’s Letter

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LAMBDA THETA ALPHA Latin Sorority, Incorporated

2021