NALFO Responds to COVID-19 Concerns by Going Virtual for the Spring 2020 Business Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2020

Contact:
National President: Elizaveta F. Reyes Tomé
president@nalfo.org

The NALFO Executive Board recently discussed the COVID-19 situation and the upcoming Spring Business Meeting, originally scheduled to take place in Newark, NJ from May 29-May 30. After careful consideration for our member organizations and the overall health and well-being of our communities, we have decided to move forward with a virtual meeting rather than an in-person meeting. The meeting will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2020 beginning at 11 am Eastern Time. Registration details and full agenda will be made available to member organizations by the end of April.

Considering all efforts by our communities, municipalities and member organizations to address concerns around COVID-19 and contain its impact, the Executive Board felt that a move to a virtual format was in everyone’s best interest. The Executive Board is concerned with the added stress that this health crisis has created for the headquarters of our predominantly volunteer driven member organizations. Eliminating the need for travel and having to be represented at an in-person meeting during uncertain times will help to alleviate some of these stressors. The Executive Board also recognizes the economic impact that COVID-19 will have on our member organizations and our communities and is looking to reduce costs to pass that onto our members. Colleges and Universities around the country have shut down, sending students home or leaving some at the mercy of friends and neighbors for housing. Chapters have lost access to funding through their Colleges/Universities and fundraising events have been postponed or cancelled all together. Most of NALFO’s member organizations have cancelled off-campus and graduate events in the interest of protecting their members and to comply with recent recommendations for banning gatherings of 10+ people. In addition to the economic impact on the organizations, there is an impact on the individual members of our community as jobs in several industries, housing, and access to food are being affected by quarantines, social distancing policies, and curfews.

The NALFO leadership is concerned for our communities and will continue to monitor the developing situation around COVID-19 as well as collaborate with the leadership of our member organizations to ensure that our communities are supported through this crisis. We stand by the decisions made and precautions taken by the national headquarters of our member organizations in this difficult time. Below you can find a list of statements released by our member organizations in response to COVID-19 and learn firsthand what they are doing to protect members and the community at large. Information about these efforts will continue to be updated here as new developments arise.

COVID-19 Responses from Member Organizations’ Leadership

Alpha Pi Sigma Sorority, Inc.

Alpha Psi Lambda National, Inc.

Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority, Inc.

Gamma Phi Omega International Sorority, Inc.

Gamma Zeta Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc.

Latino America Unida Lambda Alpha Upsilon Fraternity, Inc.

Lambda Pi Upsilon Sorority, Latinas Poderosas Unidas, Inc.

Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity, Inc.

Lambda Theta Nu Sorority, Inc.

La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc.

Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated

Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha, Inc.

Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority Inc.

Download a copy of the original press release here: NALFO Response to Covid-19

Solidarity with our Fellow Councils

The National APIDA Panhellenic Association (NAPA) and the National Multicultural Greek Council (NMGC) have each released statements condemning racism geared towards the Asian-American community as a result of the way government officials and media outlets have used racist remarks when commenting on the Covid-19 Pandemic. Read their statement here:

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The National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO) is a coalition of 16 Latina/o/x-based sororities and fraternities in the United States. NALFO exists to unite and empower its Latino organizations and their communities through advocacy, cultural awareness, and organizational development while fostering positive inter fraternal relationships and collaborating on issues of mutual interest.

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