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 unity of all cultures, focus on the empowerment of our gender and raise the standards of excellence in our academic, social, and personal endeavors.

 

Vision 

 

  OPBSI envisions a world without oppression, where empowered women celebrate the essence of womanhood and act as resources in the advancement of their communities. 

Omega Phi Beta's Herstory

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   Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated was founded on March 15, 1989, at the University at Albany, State University of New York. The historical marginalization of women, particular women of color, has had a significant impact on the process by which multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-racial women ascertain educational, economic, social and political capital in American society.  In response to this reality, 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 continues to affect our communities.

 

In the Beginning...

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   As the first Latina-oriented organization in the history of the University at Albany, our seventeen founders struggled to establish our organization, our purpose and most importantly, a precedent.

   Despite experiencing continuous obstacles and adversity, Omega Phi Beta pressed on. In under a year, OPBSI co-founded the Latino Greek Council at the University at Albany, hosted countless community service and educational programs on campus and commenced gaining the interests of women who longed for a shared connection and an outlet to create change.

 

A Bright Vision for the Future...

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   What brought together our prominent seventeen founders and what attracted those initial new member classes still attracts so many women today. OPBSI has flourished through the diversity of its members and we attribute a lot of our successes to our organization's ability to embrace and celebrate each member's differences.

 

   As Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. moves towards the future, we can look back with pride. Since 1989, we have managed to serve and educate a multitude of communities, donated over $20,000 to organizations serving survivors of violence against women, served thousands of communities nationwide and continued to excel in our professional and academic endeavors. Most importantly, we continue to build a sisterhood that offers unconditional support, mentorship and exceptional leadership opportunities to our members.

 

Our Founders

• Saida Abrego {Salvadoran}

• Ileana Adorno {Puerto Rican}

• Ana E. Almonte {Dominican}

• T. Lisa Auson {Chinese/Dominican}

• Bevene B. Bablington {Jamaican}

• Brunilda Y. Cruz {Puerto Rican}

• Sara Delgado {Ecuadorian/Puerto Rican}

• Nancy J. Diaz {Dominican}

• Frances Echevarria {Puerto Rican}

• Annette A. Ettrick {Panamanian}

• Lissette Jorge {Dominican}

• Samantha P. Lopez {Uruguayan}

• Renee Padilla {Puerto Rican}

• Grace Rivera {Puerto Rican}

• Sylvia Toledo {Ecuadorian}

• Michelle Vasquez {Puerto Rican}

• Jane M. Vega {Irish/Puerto Rican}

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