History of Xi Chapter, Syracuse, New York

Xi Chapter Members

Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority, Inc. is a national organization of business and professional women whose mission is to provide community service and support, encourage scholarly pursuits and empower its members to address societal issues. Since 1955, Xi Chapter of Lambda Kappa Mu Sorority Inc. has been working to enhance the quality of life in our community by being a beacon in the area of service to youth, women and families.

To accomplish this mission, Xi Chapter collaborates with other organizations and agencies to serve and support our community. These include Onondaga County Women’s Health Outreach, Partnership for Healthy Living, Get Health Connected (formerly Cook-Off for the Cure), Central New York HIV Care Network, Church World Service (CROP Walk for Hunger), America Cancer Society (Making Stride against Breast Cancer), Syracuse and Onondaga County School Districts, Meals on Wheels, and Syracuse Alumni of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.. The Chapter also assists NCNW, Syracuse Section in fundraising to support Vera House and Hope for the Bereaved. We also sponsor an Empowerment Day with workshops for students and parents in the Syracuse community in March which has included a historical trip to the Harriet Tubman House in Auburn, NY..

Two of the most noteworthy ongoing projects of this chapter are the Youth Achievement Awards program, which is in its forty-sixth year, and their youth leadership development program, which was initiated in 1962. In concert with the schools of Onondaga County, each June, beginning in 1969, Xi Chapter has acknowledged the accomplishments of outstanding high school students in the areas of the arts, science, sports, and community service, (High School Achievement Awards). Our Carolyn Tyler Memorial Scholarship Award offers a four-year renewable scholarship to a female graduating senior; the Eunice Randle Continuing Education Award is a stipend awarded to a female who has had a break in her education and is returning to school. Presently, there are four young ladies who are receiving support in their pursuit of higher education. At the same time, each of the city middle schools recommends a male and a female, who has achieved above and beyond the average student, (Middle School Achievement Awards).

An integral component of our Lambda Kappa Mu family is the youth group. The Kopelles, a group of young ladies, twelve to eighteen, are involved in a variety of leadership and community service activities. Xi Chapter has had an active Kopelle group since its inception in 1962. Many of these young ladies have gone on to become productive members of our local community. The chapter recognizes a graduating Kopelle with the Doris E.R. Gilbert Outstanding Kopelle Award. Some of the graduating Kopelles include Traci Hinton Peterson, Akua Robinson Goodrich, Tasneem Grace, Freda Scott, Alberta Coker, Felicia Pitts Davis, Sharon Brangman, Tamika Simmons, Avanese Harvey Taylor, Sierra Malone Golden and Lakiesha Miller. Xi is also blessed to have some of Xi Kopelles to become members of our chapter, including Kathy Hodge Davis, Paula Randle Jones, and Lydia Allen and Ocesa Keaton.

Xi Chapter has received Merit Awards for community service from The Dunbar Center, The Federation of Women’s Organizations, the Syracuse Chapter of NAACP, the Syracuse Section of NCNW and Syracuse Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Xi Chapter has been recognized as the Outstanding Chapter of the Year by the national body on several occasions and most recently in July, 2015.