|
A Brief History of
Iota Phi Lambda:
From a Small Acorn - 1929 to Today
 The
turn of the 20th century was a tumultuous time for the United
States. Within a few years of the start of World War I, there was
the Great Migration of Blacks from the South to the Northern cities,
seeking greater opportunities and a more tolerant society.
These changes
underscored the need for Blacks to learn new skills. These skills,
in turn, would hopefully ensure a better way of life for tens of
thousands of Blacks that had migrated northward.
Lola M. Parker, a
graduate of Chicago Business College, was one of the great
visionaries of this time. She realized that Black women who were
discriminated against on the basis of both race and gender needed to
not only improve their existing skills, but also motivate and
inspire other women to achieve the highest level of proficiency in
their chosen professions.
 Joining together with
Ethel T. Edwards, Mildred G. Hardin, Harriet M. Robinson, Ophelia
Harrison, Burdette Trigg and Marjorie Tyndall, Lola M. Parker
founded Iota Phi Lambda Sorority on June 1, 1929 to carry out these
objectives.
As the organization
grew, Ms. Parker soon began to realize her dream of an organization
that would encourage, nurture and promote the ideals of higher
education, increased business acumen and a standard of
professionalism for Black Women.
Since its inception, Iota has
embraced other professions however, the main focus remains on the
field of business. There are now more than 100 chapters with
membership numbering more than 5,000 in 85 cities and the US Virgin
Islands.
|
