UW-Madison students enjoy a rich organizational life, and those interested in U.S. Latinx issues are no exception. The following are some of the organizations the Chican@ & Latin@ Studies Program has worked with recently. Each entry includes a link to the organization’s Wisconsin Involvement Network page and contact information. Don’t see your organization here? Is your organization’s information on this page out of date? Contact the Program and we’ll fix the listing.
In 2018 a new Latinx Cultural Center opened in the Multicultural Student Center, one of four cultural centers on campus. Follow the Center on Facebook or Instagram for more information about its activities.
The Program regularly highlights the activities of student organizations on social media. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for regular updates.
ChiLaCSA (Chican@ & Latin@ Certificate Students Association)
We are an academic association that is affiliated with the Chican@ and Latin@ Studies Program. ChiLaCSA serves as the certificate student’s voice in the decision-making process in the Chican@ and Latin@ Studies Program, and we promote academic and cultural events focused on Chicano/a and Latino/a heritage. ChiLaCSA is open to all students who are interested in learning more about Chicana/o and Latina/o culture and traditions. We have members who serve and vote on the Chican@ and Latin@ Studies Curriculum Committee and the Chican@ and Latin@ Studies Student-Faculty Liaison Committee and who participate in a multitude of community service events. To be a voting member you must be a student who is a declared Chican@ and Latin@ Studies Certificate candidate. For additional information, check out ChiLaCSA’s bylaws or contact Advisor Rachelle Eilers.
Advocates for Immigrants’ Rights
The purpose of Advocates for Immigrants’ Rights (AIR) is to represent the interests of students advocating for immigrants’ rights through networking, community outreach, education, and mentorship. Contact: air.uwlaw@gmail.com.
Alpha Psi Lambda National, Inc. (UW-Madison Affiliate Chapter)
Alpha Psi Lambda National, Inc. is a co-ed Latine, social Fraternity that exists to promote continued personal and collective growth of our membership through education, leadership, cultural awareness and community service. Alpha Psi Lambda National, Inc. believes in the concept of Familia to create a support network for our members while creating the real-world experience of working with Men, Women, and other self-identifying individuals. Contact: apsiuwmadison@gmail.com.
La Alianza (formerly the Latinx Law Students Association)
The purpose of La Alianza is to provide an atmosphere of cooperativeness, innovativeness, creativeness, and friendliness among its members; to participate in public service designed to assist other Latinos and the community at large; to increase the number of Latinos at the University of Wisconsin Law School; to encourage the participation of Latino alumni to develop and remain responsive to the social, political, and academic needs of the Latino community; to participate in the law school admissions process; to assist members in academic development to ensure successful completion of legal studies; to rebut any racial or ethnic stereotype images of the Latino culture both within and outside the organization, and to advocate for the rights of the Latino community. Furthermore, with other LEO organizations, LLSA promotes unity amongst the entire UW Law School community, regardless of cultural background. Contact: laalianzauwlaw@gmail.com.
Association of Latino Professionals for America (UW-Madison Chapter)
ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals For America) was the first national Latino professional association in the United States, established in Los Angeles in 1972. It seeks to empower and develop Latino men and women as leaders of character for the nation, in every sector of the global economy. The student organization is the UW-Madison chapter of the national group. Contact: alpfauwmadison@gmail.com
The purpose of this organization is to advocate for undocumented/DACAmented students pursuing higher education. Additionally, DREAMERS aims to educate students, faculty, staff, and communities regarding the struggles and the needs of these students. This organization hopes to provide resources and serve as a support group to undocumented/DACAmented students whether they are in high school, undergraduate, or graduate school. We strive to provide series of educational workshops and presentations in various places such as schools, churches, classrooms and communities, along with mentoring services. Finally, we hope to organize fundraisers to provide undocumented/DACAmented students with scholarships to fund their educational endeavors. DREAMERS advocate and take action to ensure that students have equal access to higher education and become leaders of tomorrow. Contact: dreamersofuwmadison@gmail.com
Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc. (Chi Chapter)
Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, Inc. was established on January 25, 1993 on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. Our eight founders envisioned a sorority that will increase the number of women with a college education, provide mentors for youth, women and under-represented communities, enhance the individual leader in each member and provide a family of lifelong support for sisters who live their lives by the pillars of Honesty, Integrity, Leadership, Scholarship and Unity. Contact: chi@gammaalphaomega.com
Fuego Dance Crew is a dance team that features students from all across campus passionate about Latin American dance and committed to enhancing cultural understanding within the UW community. Our performances feature a variety of Latino musical genres such as reggaeton, salsa, and bachata. We come together for the purpose of creating solidarity amongst the various cultures of Latin America. Contact: dancecrewfuego@gmail.com.
Kappa Delta Chi (Alpha Kappa Chapter)
The purpose of Kappa Delta Chi (KDChi) is to promote the values of Unity, Honesty, Integrity, and Leadership among its members and UW students. Although we are Latinx founded we are not exclusive to Latinxs, we value diversity and welcome womxn from all walks of life. The purpose of our sorority is relevant to the university in that it helps to foster an encouraging environment for student leaders to take roles in making change by becoming helpers to those in need through service, to achieve academic goals, and to form a support system for multi-cultural womxn. Not only is there emphasis on personal growth, there is also a strong emphasis on giving back to the community. The chapter’s local philanthropies are the Catholic Multicultural Center and the Neighborhood House. Some of the organizational goals include increase service programming, service events open to the UW community, and opportunities for academic and professional growth. As a chapter, KDChi strives to serve the UW Madison community through regular service learning practices aimed to benefit the campus and surrounding areas. Every academic year our sisters manage to collectively complete hundreds of hours of service in the community, all while balancing their academics and other campus involvement. Contact: alphakappa.president@kappadeltachi.org
Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. (Gamma Mu Chapter)
The purpose of Lambda Theta Alpha shall be to provide a siblinghood based on unity, love and respect in an effort to foster the development of strong leaders who will then provide and practice political, social and cultural activities. It shall also be the purpose of Lambda Theta Alpha to promote unity through charitable and educational programs, maintain a higher standard of learning and serve as a voice for all students. Contact: lta.gammamu@gmail.com
Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity Inc. (Gamma Theta Chapter)
Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. was founded on December 1, 1975 in Union , New Jersey at Kean University . We made history as the first nationally recognized Latino Fraternity. There was no other Latino Fraternity in existence at that time. In the Spring of 2006, Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. became the first Latino Fraternity at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The ideals of this brotherhood are the following: Academic Excellence; Brotherhood; Leadership; Latino Unity; Service. On a daily basis, our brothers live up to these ideals, as set forth by fourteen young Latino men decades ago. The purpose of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. is to provide the Latino college student the opportunity to be part of a family with a mission. Our mission is to cultivate a spirit of brotherhood, to value an education, to promote unity among all Latinos, to be proud of and cherish our heritage, to assert roles of leadership, to develop character, to practice chivalry, and to serve mankind. Though we are historically Latino based, we are not solely a Latino Fraternity. We have Brothers of all different races, religions, and national origin. Contact: gtlambda.nl1@gmail.com
Latinx Pre-Law Students Association
LPSA was founded to help Latinx students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison navigate through undergraduate and prepare them for law school. By creating a welcoming space for Latinx students, LPSA aims to establish a community of prospective law students who will not only help each other but also the Latinx community throughout Wisconsin. Contact: lpsauwmadison@gmail.com
The purpose of the Latinx Student Union is to bring together all UW-Madison students who want to build a strong community and presence on campus for Latine identifying students. We serve as the advocates for all Latine identified students and educate our peers, faculty and staff regarding our needs to be successful. This organization hopes to provide resources, spaces and serve as a support group to all Latine students on campus. Contact: uwmlsu.president@gmail.com
Leaders Igniting Transformation (UW-Madison Chapter)
Leaders Igniting Transformation (LIT) is a statewide Black and Brown-led organization. Founded in 2017, LIT organizes young people to build independent political power for social, racial, and economic justice. It engages in values-based issues and electoral organizing, direct action, public policy advocacy, and leadership development. Contact: xquinones@wisc.edu.
Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (UW-Madison Chapter)
Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS), is a student organization open to all University of Wisconsin students. Our goal is to assists members with developing the skills and tools to succeed in the professional world. Members also have opportunities to network with professionals in agriculture, natural resources and other related sciences. The national organization of MANRRS hosts an annual Career Fair and Training conference. Members may participate in workshop sessions, keynote addresses and a national career fair. Contact: lewis27@wisc.edu
Mecha means flame in Spanish, it represents the fight for the liberation of all oppressed peoples. We are a student organization that promotes higher education, community engagement, political participation, culture, and history. Mecha chapters are often the only groups on campus that seek to open the doors of higher education for our communities and strive for a society free of imperialism, racism, sexism, and homophobia. Our Mecha chapter is focused on self-determination and education through art and workshops. We host art-based workshops, such as screen printing, spray painting, and block printing to name a few, led by either students or experienced artists we bring out. We also focus on unlearning and reeducating ourselves and our community on issues in our community. All members have the opportunity to create their own workshops. Contact: mecha.uwmadison@gmail.com
We are here to serve as individuals that motivate and learn from one another through shared experiences and our desire to learn about the history of the LGTBQIA+ community we identify with. This group will have 3 different components including a social aspect to establish trust, an intrapersonal education aspect where we educate and learn from one another, and a community-engagement aspect where we’ll give back to the Dane County community through different LGBTQIA+ identifying non-profit organizations. The purpose of the club is to create a safe space for BIPOC students to practice their own cultural identity as well as find community with those who have similar gender and sexuality identities. Contact: multiculturalclubq@gmail.com.
Multiracial Student Union (MSU) aims to raise awareness and foster community of the UW-Madison mixed-race and mixed-ethnicity student body through social events, discussion, and support. We use multiracial as an all-encompassing word for all different racial/cultural backgrounds, whether, multiracial, multicultural or whatever you may choose to identify. We support each other as we all have fairly similar backgrounds and experiences no matter our racial make up. ALL ARE WELCOME (whether mixed or not!). Contact: swhitehead2@wisc.edu.
Professional Association of Latin@s for Medical School Access
PALMA is a student organization at the University of Wisconsin Madison, founded in the spring of 2008 by several UW-Madison pre-med students. PALMA is meant to provide yet another resource to pre-med students at UW-Madison. The mission of PALMA is to provide resources for, but not exclusively to, Latino/a students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who are interested in medicine and/or a medical career. PALMA aims to expand the participation of groups who have traditionally been underrepresented as doctors. To best serve students, PALMA will offer a number of resources for Latino/a students to enhance their academic and civic credentials for successful entry into medical schools across the country. These resources include mentoring, MCAT information and preparation, networking, social support, shadowing, volunteer opportunities and professional development. Most importantly PALMA desires to maintain an environment where collaboration and respect among those students who aspire to be a part of the medical profession is fostered. Contact: palma.uwmadison@gmail.com
Queer and Trans People of Color, UW-Madison
The Queer and Trans People of Color is an inclusive space built by and for queer and trans people of color at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It fosters a space for folks who identify as being at the intersection of being a racial minority as well as a part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Although the university has taken steps to cater to historically underrepresented students of color as well as students who are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, separately, it has yet to integrate both of those identities into one intentional space. Through shedding visibility and orchestrating a diverse, inclusive and equitable environment, QTPOC of UW-Madison hopes to combat this lack of representation and carry its community forward, with pride. It accepts all students from any racial, sexual or gender background in solidarity with its community but especially encourages queer, trans people of color to connect and be a part of the organization.
Because QTPOC are singled out as minorities in virtually every space, the organization is focused on establishing awareness and representation, building connections and elevating our community through continuously educating ourselves on the importance of the QTPOC community and celebrating our individual voices, creativity, struggle and shared resilience. Contact: qtpoc.uwmadison@gmail.com.
SACNAS UW (Madison Student Chapter)
SACNAS was founded in 1973 by a group of minority scientists, and was incorporated in 1986 under the name of Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science, Inc. SACNAS is an inclusive organization dedicated to fostering the success of Chicano/Hispanic and Native American scientists, from college students to professionals, in attaining advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership in STEM. We achieve our mission impact through outcome-based programming and initiatives. Our main goals are:
To increase the number of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans with advanced degrees in science and the motivation to be leaders.
To increase the number of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in science research, leadership, and teaching careers at all levels.
To increase governmental commitment to advancing Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in science resulting in increased resources, elimination of barriers, and greater equity. Contact: sacnaschapteruw@gmail.com
Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Inc. (Delta Delta Chapter)
Sigma Lambda Beta (ΣΛΒ) is the largest Latino-based social fraternity established on cultural understanding and wisdom. Founded on April 4, 1986 at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, the organization is committed to create and expand multicultural leadership, promote academic excellence, advance cultural awareness and service while influencing its mission amongst all dedicated collegiate men worldwide. With over 144 entities consisting of colonies, chapters, and alumni associations across the country and in Puerto Rico, Sigma Lambda Beta is the largest historically Latino Fraternal Greek Lettered intercollegiate fraternity in America. Contact: deltadelta.president@slbcentral.com
Sigma Lambda Gamma Nat’l Sorority Inc. (Kappa Gamma Chapter)
Sigma Lambda Gamma (ΣΛΓ) (also known as Gammas or SLG) is a historically Latina-based national sorority with multicultural membership founded on April 9, 1990, at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa by five collegiate womyn who wanted an organization to empower all womyn. The sorority focuses on five principles – academics, community service, cultural awareness, social interaction, and morals and ethics – to unite their members as “hermanas por vida” (sisters for life). Since its beginnings, Sigma Lambda Gamma has implemented national programs to empower their members and womyn of the community, such as the Young Women’s Leadership Program and Emotional Intelligence. They have also partnered up with other organizations to improve political, educational, and social conditions in the United States. A sisterhood of over 8,000 members, the sorority believes that Culture is Pride, Pride is Success and explores the richness in the traditions of Latina culture. This encompasses the cultural heritages of Native Americans (North, Central and South), Europeans, Africans, Asians and their multiple and interesting mixtures. They celebrate the diversity of the backgrounds of all the members of the sorority, representing over 110 nationalities. Contact: slg.kgpresident@gmail.com
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (UW-Madison)
The concept of Networking was the key basis for the organization. SHPE quickly established two student chapters to begin the network that would grow to encompass the nation as well as reach countries outside the United States. Today, SHPE enjoys a strong but independent network of professional and student chapters throughout the nation. Contact: shpemadison@gmail.com
La Unión Puertorriqueña
La Unión Puertorriqueña is a student organization at the University of Wisconsin-Madison that strives to maintain and enrich Puerto Rican culture throughout the UW-Madison Campus. The LUPR strives to foster unity and increase awareness of Puerto Rican culture. Throughout the academic year the organization strives to organize several educational, social, cultural and political activities those of which include the celebration of Puerto Rican Heritage Month, and many other events around the Madison community. Contact: launionlupr@gmail.com