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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Sigma
Lambda Upsilon/Seņoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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September 21, 2005
SLU
Kicks Off the Semester with their annual RAICES Week,
New York, NY – The Hermanas of Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. are preparing for the sorority’s annual RAICES (ROOTS) festivities by promoting and celebrating the Latino heritage and culture. This year, RAICES will take place from Sunday, September 25, 2005 through Saturday, October 1, 2005.
Each year, Sigma Lambda Upsilon is proud to sponsor a National RAICES Week in September. It is a sorority-wide event that each chapter participates in annually at their respective campus and/or community.
Every chapter has a minimum of four events that focuses on cultural enrichment, women's issues, community service and scholarship and the events are based on a yearly theme. Past themes included: Tipping the Scale: “The Impact of the Latino Vote” (2004) and Caution Curves Ahead: Body Image and the Latino Culture (2003). This year’s theme is based on the sorority’s philanthropy, as we unveil our new philanthropy motto, “Literacy: EMPOWERMENT, One Word at a Time”.
In 2000, Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. decided to focus its efforts and funding on literacy. A study by the National Adult Literacy Survey found that between twenty-one percent and twenty-three percent of American adults are functioning at the lowest reading level. Twenty-five percent of the respondents were immigrants, and sixty-two percent had ended school before completing high school. This represents approximately 40 to 44 million people. Not surprisingly, those with the fewest years of education and those who are new to the United States were most likely to have limited literacy skills. Among adults, Latinos have lower literacy levels than do whites, both in general and even when they hold similar levels of educational attainment. Adults that cannot read were children that could not read. "…The literacy studies are unbelievable. I can not fathom the fact that in 2005 there are still millions of people that are illiterate… This is one of the many reasons why I chose to pursue membership into SLU. I believe in the philanthropy and our mission to make reading a reality for people and not a dream. I’m excited about the new motto and refreshed vision of the organization and I look forward to having the local community share in our wonderful RAICES experience that will be both fun and educational at the same time," says Hermana Leah Kedley, member of the Theta Epsilon Graduate/Professional Chapter. Want to participate in RAICES? Log onto www.sigmalambdaupsilon.org and click to e-mail the chapter nearest you. Sigma Lambda
Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc., was founded
on December 1, 1987 at Binghamton University as an organization that
would provide sisterhood and support while also promoting academic
achievement, service to the community and cultural enrichment. Almost
seventeen years since its establishment, the organization has expanded
to 30 schools across the country, touching the lives of more than
300 women. ###
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