FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, D.C. – On April 6-9, 2025 Lambda Theta Alpha hosted its ninth annual Lambda Hill Days. This year, the 16 cohort members selected the topics they would focus on, including immigration, mental health, education reform, reproductive rights, voting rights, and other priority issues common in their communities.
Cohort members received extensive training in February and March, where Lambda Theta Alpha Alumnae Maria Robayo, Jennifer Lopez, Rebekka Behr, Janett I. Cordoeves, Dulce Segura, Monica Y. Gibbs, and Vanessa Benitez shared essential tips on engaging with House Representatives and Senators, on contacting representatives, communication strategies, and meeting etiquette. Furthermore, Nicholas Crookston, the Partnerships & Advocacy Associate for Voto Latino, provided valuable advice on Advocacy efforts and meeting preparation prior to the Cohort’s travel to D.C. Additionally, members engaged in two mock practice sessions led by the PEI committee, as well as an in person mock session hosted by Voto Latino, with a goal of fostering strategic discussions and mutual support.
Cohort members successfully scheduled a total of 34 meetings with Senators and U.S. Representatives and left 153 one pagers and fact sheets with legislative staff. Throughout these engagements with members of the 119th Congress, participants passionately shared personal experiences and stories from their communities, aiming to spark transformative change.
Special thanks to Lambda Theta Alpha Alumnae Evelyn Lopez Premo (Upsilon Chapter, Spring 2006) and Xylene Rodriguez (Zeta Chi, Spring 2019), and the Alpha Delta Alumnae Chapter for their assistance in arranging a tour, hosting the LHD network reception, and securing a space for the Cohort on Capitol Hill. During the reception, cohort members seized the opportunity to network with Lambda Theta Alpha affiliates working on Capitol Hill and in the D.C. area, gaining valuable insights into government levels and the public policy landscape. They received comprehensive guidance on policy creation, implementation, and influence. The week culminated in a celebratory cohort dinner, honoring members’ advocacy and program accomplishments. As a final note, the Cohort was able to have a meet and greet with Yadira Sanchez (Theta Chapter, Spring 2007) Executive Director of Poder Latinx with a reminder that the work does not stop once back home.
Cohort member and Political Education Initiative Committee Member, Shalymar Cruz, (Kappa Chapter, Spring 2010) expressed her thoughts by saying:
“Being able to attend Lambda Hill Days in person allowed me the opportunity to not only build my confidence, and advocacy for myself and others but also to fight through imposter syndrome. Being surrounded by other inspirational women, empowered me to utilize my social position and voice to advocate for those who cannot. I’m comfortable now in continuing my civic engagement and advocacy with our government leaders and wherever voices need to be amplified.”
Cohort member, Ma. Lezly Macias, (Delta Eta Chapter Chapter, Fall 2023) shared her experience by stating:
“Since I was already engaged in advocacy work prior to Lambda Hill Days, the experience felt like a powerful next step, not a beginning, but instead expansion. It gave me a national platform to bring the work I’ve been doing locally into a broader context. Being part of a coordinated, strategic push for change at the federal level helped connect the dots between my grassroots efforts and larger policy goals. It reinforced that local and national advocacy aren’t separate and that they really do fuel each other.
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This year, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. proudly recognizes the key partners who contributed to the success of our Cohort. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Voto Latino and Poder Latinx for their generous sponsorship and unwavering support before, during, and after Lambda Hill Days. Your partnership helped empower our Cohort every step of the way.
For photos of the in-person week-long program, check out the hashtag #LambdaHillDays on Instagram. The following cohort members attended meetings with members of Congress:
| Member | Chapter Initiated | Semester Initiated |
| Alondra Carter-Alvizo | Epsilon Pi | Spring 2017 |
| Amanda Pardo Eagan | Gamma Nu | Spring 2003 |
| Andrea Guillen Agaton | Zeta Sigma | Fall 2024 |
| Angelica Cortez | Gamma | Spring 2024 |
| Hannah Storch | Epsilon | Fall 2023 |
| Hilary Moya | Delta Epsilon | Fall 2023 |
| Ivana Cortez | Eta Zeta | Spring 2024 |
| Jasmine Tafolla | Epsilon Kappa | Spring 2022 |
| Jordyn Valentin | Kappa | Spring 2020 |
| Josmari Arroyo | Gamma Epsilon | Spring 2016 |
| Leslie Palomino | Alpha Sigma Alumnae Chapter | Spring 2024 |
| Luna Gonzalez | Beta Omicron | Fall 2024 |
| Ma. Lezly Macias | Delta Eta | Fall 2023 |
| Mariana Garcia | Epsilon Phi | Fall 2023 |
| Natalia Frias | Delta Nu | Spring 2024 |
| Sabrina-Kahokulani Sergeant | Sigma | Spring 2007 |
| Shalymar Cruz | Kappa | Spring 2010 |
| Vanessa Benitez | Epsilon Alpha | Fall 2020 |
Lambda Hill Days Recap Session
Join The National Political Education Initiative Committee (PEI) on Thursday May 11th, 2025 to hear about Cohort 9’s experiences in Washington D.C. You’ll hear about their preparation, their experience on The Hill and next steps! This is open to members and non members and is an exciting opportunity to hear more about Lambda Hill Days.
Register via CampusGroups, here!
The sorority’s deep roots in political activism stem from its inception in 1975. Founded amidst political tension in the 1970s, the sorority’s Founding Mothers served as a voice for all students and members of their community. To the present day, members continue to raise awareness of social issues and advocate for marginalized groups. If you are interested in financially supporting future cohorts, please reach out to [email protected].
Contact:
Sabrina-Kahokulani Sergeant, Vice President of External Affairs
Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.
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About Lambda Theta Alpha
Lambda Theta Alpha was founded at Kean University in 1975 as the first Latina sorority in the nation. The Sorority strives to develop strong leaders that produce and engage in political, social and cultural activities. Based on the principles of Unity, Love and Respect, the Sorority was established for the unification of women through charitable and educational programs. Although founded as Latin by tradition, the Sorority is inclusive to all women regardless of race, color, creed, sexual identity, gender expression, or religious beliefs.