Our sorority began as an organization of college-educated women committed to the constructive development of its members and to public service with a primary focus on the Black community.  This organization was founded on January 13, 1913, by 22 collegiate women at Howard University to promote academic excellence and provide assistance to those in need.  The founders envisioned an organization committed to sisterhood, scholarship, service, and addressing the social issues of the time. The Founders' first act of public service was participating in the historical Suffrage March of 1913. 

 

Today, the organization is a private, not-for-profit organization of college-educated women, whose purpose has been to provide assistance and support through established programs in local communities throughout the world.  Since its founding, it has become one of the preeminent service-based sororities, with several members and chartered chapters worldwide. The sorority currently has 1,000 collegiate and alumnae chapters located in the United States, Canada, Japan (Tokyo and Okinawa), Germany, the Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Jamaica, West Africa, Southern African, United Arab Emirates, and the Republic of Korea. 

 

As a sisterhood comprised primarily of Black, college-educated women, the members seriously consider the issues impacting the Black community and boldly confront the challenges of African Americans and people of color worldwide.  Over the years, a wide range of programs addressing education, economics, politics, healthcare, international development and aid, and social action, including the strengthening of African American families and communities, have evolved.  In addition, the organization implements programs supporting the Arts and Letters in music, dance, art, and literature. The major programs of the sorority are based upon the Five-Point Programmatic Thrust: economic development, educational development, international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health, and political awareness and involvement.  

 

On March 30, 1974, Lambda Iota was chartered as a city-wide chapter to carry out the major values of the sorority. It was based at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, since none of the other local colleges had enough Black women students to sustain separate chapters.  Consequently, the chapter was open to other area colleges, namely Bryant University, Johnson & Wales University, Rhode Island College, Rhode Island School of Design, and the University of Rhode Island, all of which were Predominantly White Institutions (PWI's). 

 

Initiating this chapter served as a support establishment for the female African American students who were having to navigate the progressive results of Brown University’s 1968 Black Student Walkout with the increased African American enrollment (see BAM, January – March 2021, Black Girl Magic). 

 

The alumnae members left a legacy for the chapter to strive to maintain, and to carryout activities that align with the sorority’s overall values and programming. They have implemented activities such as workshops on study guidance, organizational tips, forums on voting rights, fundraisers, donation drives, mentorship projects, health and fitness events, food and gift drives, fine arts, literature affairs, and more.