Latino Student Alliance (LSA)
Toward a Better Latin America (TBLA)
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. (LTA)
Latin American Student Association (LASA) at Darden
La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. (LUL)
Latin American Law Organization (LALO) at the School of Law
La Casa Bolivar (Spanish House)
Hispanic American Network at Darden (HAND)
Society of Caribbean Americans (SOCA)
Latino Student Alliance (LSA)
Description: The Latino Student Alliance is the umbrella organization for the Latino/Hispanic Community at UVa. The vision of LSA is to be the representative voice of Hispanic/Latino privileges, rights and issues, as well as to strengthen and empower the Hispanic/Latino community inside and outside the University. It is a working group that brings together leaders of the diverse Hispanic/Latino and Latin American student organizations. The goal is to facilitate communication and exchange of ideas among the various organizations, to coordinate scheduling of events and activities, and to collaborate on worthy projects (such as Hispanic Heritage Month and Latino Awareness Week). Membership in the LSA is open to all students. We encourage you to join one of our programming committees within Cultura, our programming board, as well as our Advocacy Committee.
Highlighted Events:
Still DREAMing, held during Latino Week, provided our community with the opportunity to meet students and community activists who represent the realities of life as undocumented students. We learned about their efforts in advocating for the DREAM Act.
Ritmo Latino is our closing event for Latino Week. It showcases dance and various performances. This year we were able to have performers from universities across the state showing their talents in everything from spoken word to the tango.
How to find out more: To join LSA or to learn more, please contact Veronica Alvarado.
Toward a Better Latin America (TBLA)
Description: Towards A Better Latin America (TBLA) is an organization that works throughout the year to collect funds for one or two specific projects chosen at the beginning of each year by its members. Founded in 2002, we have worked on different projects in countries such as Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, El Salvador, Cuba and Nicaragua.
Highlights:
Our latest project was to provide all the supplies to build a septic tank in a hospital in the rural areas of Panama. In the year 2009-2010, we helped a community of women affected by the war in Colombia to build a chicken farm so that they can sustain themselves. In the year 2008-2009, we provided school supplies and supplies to build a new classroom to a foundation that helps 40 children in Colombia under 15 years old to finish their education. In the academic year of 2006-2007, we sponsored three small projects; we worked with Patch Adams to help build his clinic in El Salvador, fundraised for two Cuban artists to help buy supplies and a computer, and we built a playground and bought sewing machines for a group of women in Nicaragua
How to find out more: To join TBLA or to learn more, please contact Sofia Fraguada
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
Description: The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) is a nationwide organization which promotes the involvement and success of Hispanics/Latinos in engineering, science, technology, and math (STEM). We believe SHPE’s role is vital given the national lack of engineers, underrepresentation of Latinos in engineering, and the growing Latino population. The UVA SHPE chapter organizes professional development workshops, academic support programs, community outreach programs, and attends national and regional conferences in an effort to improve the number of Hispanics/Latinos involved in STEM fields.
Highlighted Events:
Juntos Podemos (Together We Can) is a yearly, cost-free, high school outreach program organized by SHPE and held during the Spring Semester. It is a two day program in which high school students learn about engineering and college life in general while staying overnight in the residences of SHPE members. This past year, out of a pool of 170 applicants, 80 students participated in the program. For more information on Juntos Podemos please visit http://www.student.virginia.edu/~shpe/.
The UVA SHPE chapter attended the National SHPE Conference held in Cincinnati last October. During the three day conference, members attended networking events, workshops, competitions, and career fairs organized by SHPE National in addition to touring and eating out in the city. At the conference, the SHPE UVA chapter won best medium sized chapter in the nation for the second consecutive year!
How to find out more: To join SHPE or to find out more, please contact Jonny Mazo.
Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. (LTA)
Description: The Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. (ΛΘΑ) founded in 1975 is the first and largest Latina-based Sorority in the nation. The purpose of Lambda Theta Alpha shall be to provide a sisterhood based on unity, love, and respect. To develop strong leaders who will then provide and practice political, social and cultural activities. Promote unity through charitable and educational programs. Maintain a higher standard of learning and serve as a voice for all students. The Gamma Alpha Chapter at UVA was founded in 2001 and is Non-exclusive, as Sisters represent a diverse mix of race, religion, and ethnic backgrounds.
Highlighted Events:
The MasQUEraid Party was a Halloween Party co-sponsored with La Unidad Latina Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and SOCA. The purpose of the event was to bring together different minority and ethnic groups in order to work together, learn about each other’s cultures, and enjoy a fun night together. It was a great success and the event won an award at the 2011 Greek Awards!
The Cesar Chavez Blood Drive is an annual Blood Drive that our chapter brought to UVA in 2010 and gained university recognition for the high number of participation. We are the first school in the East Coast to host this blood drive celebrating the legacy of this American civil rights leader.
How to find out more: interested ladies are to get in contact with our Chapter Orientation Advisor, Lisa Batres.
Latin American Student Association (LASA) at Darden
Description: The Latin American Student Association (LASA) at Darden is committed to providing students of Latin descent and others with interests in Latin American cultures within the Darden community with a forum to pursue cultural, professional, and social activities and opportunities.
Highlighted Event:
The LASA Conference of 2011 brought together special guests including business and political leaders of Latin-America.
How to find out more: To learn more, please contact Felipe Munoz or Javier Swayne.
La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. (LUL)
Description: La Unidad Latina is a fraternal service organization aimed at uniting men in brotherhood in order to serve the Latino community. Our organization extends to the campuses of over 75 prominent undergraduate institutions and 14 alumni/graduate entities in most major American cities. La Unidad Latina believes in a diverse membership, a commitment to academic excellence and a proactive vision towards raising awareness about the Latino culture and history.
How to find out more: contact Kelvin Grullon
Latin American Law Organization (LALO) at the School of Law
Description: The Latin American Law Organization (LALO) was established to represent the views of Latino students at the University of Virginia School of Law; to promote the welfare of its members through educational, professional, cultural and social programs; and to provide a forum for the discussion of local and national issues affecting both the Latino law student community and the University community as a whole.
Highlighted Event:
LALO began a partnership with the Migrant Farmworker Project, a pro bono initiative that enables Spanish speakers within the UVA Law community to assist in protecting migrant farmworkers living in the Charlottesville area. These law students travel to various farmworker camps and speak to the migrant farmworkers in order to provide information about the legal resources available to them and to report any substandard living conditions
How to find out more: If interested in learning more about LALO, please feel free to Contact Zach Torres-Fowler at rzt2sd@virginia.edu.
La Casa Bolivar (Spanish House)
Description: La Casa Bolivar (Spanish House) a language/culture immersion residence hall affiliated with the Spanish Department and closely linked to the Hispanic/Latino student community. Through its name, La Casa Bolivar honors UVA’s first Latin American student, Fernando Bolivar, nephew of patriot Simon Bolivar.
Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/LaCasaBolivar
Highlighted Event:
The Casa hosts regular events of interest to students who speak or are learning Spanish! See our website for information on our Cine Club, our Circulo de Literatura, our game nights, Casa dinners open to all, Telenovela clubs, Noche Bohemia, Tertulias and more!
How to find out more: If you have questions or want to find our more, please contact Sarah Bogard.
Hispanic American Network at Darden (HAND)
Description: HAND works to: Represent the interests of Hispanic American students at Darden; Create awareness and promote the Darden School to prospective students and corporate recruiters; Create, maintain, and strengthen ties with Hispanic American Darden alumni; Develop & support academic excellence amongst its membership; and Partner with the Darden community to promote a forum for exploration of diversity within Darden, the University of Virginia, and Charlottesville communities, and business at large.
Highlighted Event:
The highlight event this year for HAND was The “Hispanic Marketing Summit”. It was a part of the Darden Leadership Speaker Series and took place on Thursday, September 29th and featured a keynote speaker from Univision Inc. and a panel with representatives from Kraft Foods, General Mills and Major League Soccer. The panel was moderated by the President of the Marketing Club, Jay Adoue. In addition there was a Networking Reception immediately after the event in the Darden Piano Room.
The Summit will focused on the growing Hispanic demographic in the United States and the increase in purchasing power that comes with it. Every major CPG firm now dedicates major resources to selling to this market, so the event is very relevant for anyone interested in working in marketing/brand management.
How to find out more: Contact Raul Portillo, President of HAND
Student Organization of Caribbean Awareness (SOCA)
Description: The Student Organization of Caribbean Awareness (SOCA) is a culturally based student organization at the University of Virginia. We seek to share the varied and unique cultures of the many nations of the Caribbean and increase awareness of Caribbean societal and political issues through a myriad of activities: cultural, educational, social, and political. We seek to be the avenue through which Caribbean culture is shared with the entire university community and beyond. The Student Organization of Caribbean Awareness welcomes students/faculty of all backgrounds who are interested.
Highlighted Events:
Cultural Explosion Showcase is an event held in the spring to showcase the different cultures present at the university.
The MiniCarnival is the revival of an event once held by the organization. It serves to educate the community about Caribbean culture through food, music, and games.
Caribbean Week is a week designated to promote Caribbean awareness around grounds.
How to find out more: To join SOCA or to learn more, please contact Angelica Jackson