Sigma Lambda Upsilon - PEARLS Mentoring Program

PEARLS Mentoring Program

Sigma Lambda Promoting Education, the Arts, our Roots, Leadership and Service is a mentoring program designed and geared toward girls ages 8 to 14 with the intention of instilling a sense of sisterhood, cultural pride, academic excellence and service to the community within its participants, through team-building activities and projects.

The Sigma Lambda PEARLS Program was piloted with a group of 15 fifth graders at P.S. 43 in the Spring of 2000 and was very successful. The PEARLS program has touched the lives of over 40 young girls who look to the program as an outlet for creativity and exposure to life outside their school walls and environment.

Program participants are known as the Sigma Lambda PEARLS and work closely with the Hermanas of Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc., who, through their diverse careers and backgrounds expose the PEARLS to opportunities and experiences many times denied to young girls in today's male-dominated society. It is close mentoring like this that has helped the PEARLS develop pride in their culture and a passion for education.

The PEARLS have actively participated and raised funds for the following community service projects: AIDS Walk NY, New York Cares Spring Clean up, Breast Cancer Walk and the March of Dimes Walk. The Sorority has sponsored social events such for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas Hanukkah/Kwanzaa, Valentine's Day and Easter. The PEARLS are also active participants of various Greek Life events (i.e. Stroll Competition, Step Shows, SLU National Convention).