ALPHA CLASS
MOROYO QUIZALITZLI
FALL 2014
KIMBERLY FREZ
YENISEL PORRO DELGADO
ANGELICA GUMUCIO
ELISA BENITEZ
STEPHANIE BLAKEMAN
FRANCIA ARANDA
SHAKIRA MARSHALL
EVELYN CORDERO
Eight diverse, collegiate womxn sought an organization that was different from all others. They came together to bring Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated to the Charlotte area. In just a few months, they developed a strong bond that would sustain them as they overcame all challenges that came their way. They knew that the UNC Charlotte campus, and the Charlotte community as a whole, would greatly benefit from the vision, mission, and motto of Omega Phi Beta. They met with sisters from Beta Lambda Chapter (UNC-Chapel Hill) and Omicron Chapter (Duke), did much research, and worked closely with the leadership to establish roots in the Queen City.
Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated was officially recognized at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte on November 30, 2014 after the Chartering/Alpha Class. These womxn came together to create an opportunity for other womxn at UNC Charlotte to have a sisterhood dedicated to diversity, addressing issues in the community, and the development of strong womxn. The Collective at UNC Charlotte will forever be grateful to the Alpha Class's Membership Educators, Cindy Silva and Ariel Eure, who worked tirelessly to bring the eight womxn to the Beta Light. We would also like to thank Omicron Chapter and Beta Lambda Chapter for all their support, and of course, to sisters across the country who were instrumental in the development of the Collective at UNC Charlotte.
ALPHA CLASS
CINDY SILVA
IDENTIFIES: DOMINICAN
ALPHA CHAPTER, SPRING 1998
#1 KIMBERLY FREZ
IDENTIFIES: CUBAN
WHY DID YOU JOIN OPBSI?
"There are so many reasons why I joined this radiant sisterhood and in the time that I have been a sister, my experiences have surprisingly adapted to my life in often unexpected ways. When I first sought to join I hoped to find supportive and progressive minded womxn, with whom I hoped to share commonalities in our experiences but at the same time differ without the pressure to all be the same, act the same, or look the same. I found this sisterhood to be so much more than that, however, and I continue to be astounded by my experience as a sister today as I was when I first joined. This sisterhood is a lifetime of wonderful opportunities and connections and I continue to be amazed by by the womxn I encounter that I’m proud to call my sisters. This sisterhood is a home, and I could not fathom life without it. The compassion, unconditional love, and empowering support that I have in sisters has surpassed everything I hoped this sisterhood to be and I am eternally grateful for being here and what will come in the years ahead.."
#3 ANGELICA GUMUCIO
IDENTIFIES: MEXICAN
WHY DID YOU JOIN OPBSI?
"I chose to become a sister of Omega Phi Beta because I felt safe with the sisters and didn't have to compartmentalize my identities and experiences. I could be me, without having to censor myself to make others comfortable. The values of OPBSI are something extremely near and dear to me, something that I strive to uphold in every aspect of my work in my communities. I joined this sisterhood because of their dedication to womxn, and more specifically to those of womxn of color, as well as their commitment to social justice."
#5 STEPHANIE BLAKEMAN
IDENTIFIES: MEXICAN
WHY DID YOU JOIN OPBSI?
"Becoming a sister of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. has been one of the best decisions I have taken. I love the representation OPBSI gives to all women of color. I stand strong to our philanthropy and it is something I strongly advocate for. OPBSI has helped me to see qualities in myself that I had not seen before. I am honored every day to be a part of such an amazing sisterhood and I look forward to serving and educating, not only on my campus but to my organization as a whole."
#7 SHAKIRA MARSHALL
IDENTIFIES: CUBAN & NICARAGUAN
WHY DID YOU JOIN OPBSI?
"I joined omega phi beta because I am a 'girls girl'. I want to not only take care of the womxn around me but empower them as well especially womxn of color because we face multiple oppressions. I joined omega phi beta because so easily is the herstory of womxn lost. I want to play a vital piece in restoring our herstory as well as ensuring the growth of our movement. These goals can be met without this sorority but I decided to emerge myself in a sisterhood with the same ultimate purpose to take care and empower womxn."
ARIEL EURE
IDENTIFIES: BLACK & GERMAN
BETA LAMBDA CHAPTER, SPRING 2011
IDENTIFIES: CHILEAN & TAIWANESE
WHY DID YOU JOIN OPBSI?
"I sought an organization where I would feel accepted for my identity. Little did I know that joining OPBSI was one of the greatest decisions I have ever made in my life. I found that the womxn that I surrounded myself with, empowered and inspired me in so many ways. Everything that the organization stands for is something that I look to apply to my life in order to be a more proactive womxn in my community. I fall more in love with this organization every day."
#2 YENISEL PORRO DELGADO
IDENTIFIES: PERUVIAN & BOLIVIAN
WHY DID YOU JOIN OPBSI?
"I joined OPBSI because not only did I want a sisterhood that would go beyond my undergrad but because of the professionalism and passion that I saw as an interest. I joined OPBSI not for the letters but for the ability to spread awareness to womxns' issues that are sometimes overlooked."
#4 ELISA BENITEZ
IDENTIFIES: PERUVIAN & AMERICAN
WHY DID YOU JOIN OPBSI?
"I joined Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated because I wanted to surround myself with womxn that were going to help me grow as a person. I wanted to gain more confidence in my ideas and honestly get out of my comfort zone. I knew this organization would challenge me in the best ways in order to exceed my potential. From the beginning of my college career the Beta womxn I saw continued to inspire me through the way they carried themselves and the work they did in their communities. I wanted to surround myself with womxn that I admired and also felt welcomed into. Through Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. I am continuing to learn about being the best I can be and have also gained an amazing support system that I know will last a life-time!"
#6 FRANCIA ARANDA
IDENTIFIES: AFRICAN-AMERICAN
WHY DID YOU JOIN OPBSI?
"I joined OPB because of I love how involved the womxn are in making changes on their college campuses and in their communities. I wanted to be surrounded be these amazing Womxn because they inspire me. I also joined OPB because of the philanthropy and the fact that most people do not know how serious of a problem domestic violence happens is. I want to help spread the awareness and stop the bystander effect in our communities."
#8 EVELYN CORDERO
MEMBERSHIP EDUCATORS
ALPHA CLASS
