Omicron Epsilon Pi
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| Omicron Epsilon Pi (OEΠ) |
|
|---|---|
| Founded | February 7, 2000 Tallahassee, FL |
| Type | Social |
| Motto | Not for ourselves, but for all in diversity |
| Colors | Royal Blue and Platinum |
| Flower | White Camellia |
| Jewel | The Opal |
| Philanthropy | Project E.M.P.O.W.E.R. |
| Chapters | National, Local City, Graduate and Professional |
| Headquarters | {{{address}}} {{{city}}}, {{{state}}}, [[{{{country}}}]] |
| Homepage | http://www.oepi.com/ |
Omicron Epsilon Pi, a national sorority, is theonly Greek letter organization that caters, specifically, to the needs of lesbian women with a great emphasis on lesbians of color.
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[edit] Omicron's History
On February 7, 2000, after much hard work and thought, Lakisha Goss, Janiece Smith, Michelle McCallum and Stefany Richards created Iota Lambda Pi Sorority. While sororities and fraternities had been around for more than 120 years, the vision that these ladies held was something much different from your traditional Greek Letter Organization.
These ladies saw a need for a sorority that catered to Lesbian women of Color, a sorority that would uplift and uphold unity within the lesbian community. As the planning got under way, they realized an even greater need for an organization that catered to the needs of aggressive or dominant women.
With this revelation, Richards and McCallum renamed Iota Lambda Pi Sorority a "fraternity". Iota Lambda Pi Fraternity would establish a haven for dominant women that would change the negative stereotypes placed upon stud/butch/dom women within the community. Goss and Smith branched off to form Omicron Epsilon Pi Sorority, which would open it's arms to feminine lesbians upholding the highest standards and respect for themselves.
After seven months of developing, both Iota Lambda Pi Fraternity and Omicron Epsilon Pi Sorority were officially incorporated in September 2000.
The four founders are now known as "Sapphires". On February 5, 2005, Sorors Danielle Guess and Bruh Kalicia Fresh were inducted as founders.
[edit] Omicron's Purpose and Mission
| “ |
Our purpose is to promote sisterhood, diversity, pride and unity through dedication of spirit and heart. The formation of Omicron Epsilon Pi, was due to the lack of unity in the lesbian community. The main goal of this organization is to uplift and uphold our community. |
” |
| “ |
As members of Omicron Epsilon Pi Sorority, Inc, our mission is to establish a secure sanctuary for all lesbians and to establish a relationship with each and every facet of the lesbian community. Members of Omicron Epsilon Pi Sorority, Inc are dedicated to the advancement of the lesbian community as well as the progression of women as a whole. |
” |
[edit] Omicron's Philanthropy
Omicron Epsilon Pi's philantropy project is called Project E.M.P.O.W.E.R.:
- Educate- the LGBT and ally community
- Motivate- people to become active in their communities
- Prepare- the LGBT community for obstacles they may encounter in life
- Organize- the LGBT so that they can be effective in the community
- Work with- people in all areas to benefit the community as a whole
- Equip- the LGBT community with resources that they can use in their own lives and communities
- Reconnect- community members with each other so that they can be helpful to each other
This project has five main focus sub-programs including anti-discrimination, domestic violence, homelessness, LGBT parenting and families, and suicide prevention. Some projects currently going on within the sorority include seminars for anti-discrimination and hate crimes, domestic violence, and a suicide awareness and prevention seminar has been completed; also, the members in Atlanta, Ga have a First Saturday Sandwich Project (FSSP) in which lunch bags are prepared and given out to the homeless in downtown Atlanta.
[edit] Current Chapters
Omicron Epsilon Pi is a growing organization with four local chapters across the southeast, a national chapter for members who do not have a local chapter in their area, and the Gamma Alpha Pi Chapter for ladies 30 years old and above.
The local chapters include:
Alpha Chapter - Atlanta, GA and surrounding metro areas
Beta Chapter - Orlando, FL and surrounding metro areas
Gamma Chapter - Ft. Lauderdale, FL and surrounding metro areas
Delta Chapter - Nashville, TN and surrounding metro areas
The National Chapter for members who do not have a local chapter in their city is known as the Mu Nu Chapter.
[edit] The Gamma Alpha Pi Chapter
The Graduate and Professional Chapter of Omicron Epsilon Pi, officially formed in May 2006, was designed to exercise the consciousness of the mature, career oriented, professional lesbian woman 30 years and above who are interested in challenging the various needs within the LGBT community through the unification of sisterhood.
The chapter currently has 6 members, 5 of them are located in Atlanta, GA and one member is located in East Orange, NJ.
GAP Purpose: The purpose of the Gamma Alpha Pi Chapter is to broaden “The Lesbian Cultural Consciousness” by promoting: self-sisterhood improvement, vigilant community service, resource support for academic and professional excellence, and empowerment through diversity.
GAP Mission: As the Graduate and Professional Chapter of Omicron Epsilon Pi Sorority, Incorporated Gamma Alpha Pi is dedicated to the unification of mature lesbians, whom serve as functional members within their communities. Its aim is to identify and remove the barriers that impede the social success of lesbian women by actively participating in both public and private sector forums which promote diversity, change, growth, and a harmonic integration within the LGBT community.
GAP Objective: The objective of the Gamma Alpha Pi Chapter is to strive for innovation and implementation of new, positive standards of change for such lesbian based issues as: equal rights, same sex marriages, women’s healthcare, and domestic violence; by means of education and advocation within the community.
