In the fall of 1994, five young women, Zuleyka Heredia, Ricki Robles, Amelia Schustz, Erica Solorzano and Bernadette Vargas decided to establish a new Chicana/Latina support group at UC Berkeley. This organization was created in order to give Chicana/Latinas on campus an opportunity to find a home away from home, while providing academic and community resources and a family networking system through a basis of three pillars:academics, community service and collegial networking. Thus, ensued the beginning of Hermanas Unidas.
As noble as these aims were, however, the infancy of Hermanas was not without its challenges. They had a hard time legitimizing the group with some of the other male Latino groups on campus and getting past the "party girl" image. The first meeting was held at Casa Joaquin Murieta, the Chicano/Latino co-op near the UC Berkley campus. Soon after, the founding mothers agreed to shorten the Hermanas Unidas letters to “HaU”, with an emphasis on the “A” in HermanAs.
As Hermanas has developed into a nineteen year organization, it has expanded into eighteen chapters statewide. The group has also grown tremendously in terms of its members, growing from the original fifteen members to hundreds of intellectual and aspiring young women.Overall, Hermanas Unidas has grown to be not only an organization that fosters academic excellence or a foundation through which we empower our communities, but a true familia away from our loved ones at home. And regardless of where ever Hermanas may roam, one thing continues to remain true:
¡Once an Hermana, Always an Hermana!
Hermanas at Saint Mary's
Hermanas Unidas was established at Saint Mary's College of California in 2001 by two students, Vanessa Cornejo and Claudia Araiza. The first Hermanas Steering Committee included Vanessa Cornejo, Claudia Cornejo, Manuela Totah, Liliana Carrillo, Yecenia Parra, and Miriam Bauwens.
Our Mission
To provide resources and leadership opportunities for predominantly Latina college students and alumni by participating in and organizing service events, social activities, and academic/professional workshops
Our Purpose
A. To reach out to the Chicana/Latina community and provide resources as well as a family networking system through the avenues provided by the three pillars of Hermanas Unidas. B. To provide a place where women can come together and be themselves. We accept any and all ideologies. We are a sisterhood attempting to provide a healthy transition to and from the university.
C. To raise awareness and educate the campus and the community at large about Chicana/Latina issues.
Our Pillars
ACADEMICS Through the emphasis of academics not only do we empower our minds but our futures as well. COMMUNITY In the struggle to empower ourselves we must remember our communities and empower them as well SOCIAL In stressing Hermandad a family network is created to foster an environment of mutual respect and unity, while supporting individual interests and talents.