HERstory: Hermanas Unidas' Founding

In the Fall of 1994, five young women: Zuleyka Heredia, Ricki Robles, Amelia Schustz, Erica Solorzano, and Bernadette Vargas decided to establish a new Latinx support group at the University of California, Berkeley. This organization was created to give the Latinx community 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 & collegiate and social networking.

Since then, Hermanas Unidas has become a non-profit incorporation that has expanded into 18 chapters over California campuses, including the University of California, Davis.

In the fall of 2012, fourteen women came together with the goal of establishing Hermanas Unidas at the University of California, Davis. These inspiring women worked to have this organization on this campus to provide a safe space where students felt supported throughout their undergraduate careers. The goal was attained on February 12th, as they became a recognized campus organization.

We thank all of the fourteen Founding Mothers of Hermanas Unidas de UC Davis:

Ruth Vizcaya, Karen Soto, Kimberly Moreno, Francina Osejo, Jennifer Zermeno, Kristy Ayala, Tanya Anaya, Monique Palacios, Angela Muñoz, Melissa Castillo, Melissa Vega, Darlene Ruiz, Carla Rodriguez and Lili Bonilla.

Purpose

I. To reach out to the Chicanx/Latinx community and provide resources as well as a familial networking system through the avenues provided by the three pillars of Hermanas Unidas: Academics, Community Service and Social Networking.

II. To provide a place where women can come together and be themselves. We accept any and all ideologies. We are an organization attempting to provide a healthy transition to and from the university.

III. To raise awareness and educate the campus and the community at large about Chicana/Latina issues.

Symbol

The Quinto Blossom

The Blossom tells the story of the Hermana. This is the story of a young woman, her face in profile, depicted by the leaf and steam of the logo. This woman is on the path to enlightenment, through the pursuit of education, symbolized through the winding stem, which also represents the winding, challenging yet rewarding road towards personal growth. Her path leads to el Quinto sol; this is the fruit of her sacrifice, the sum of her experiences, the rewards of the relationships that she has built.

This is the story of the Hermana that blossoms into a woman of truth, a better woman for having traveled that road. El Quinto Sol remains the focal point of our logo so that we may never forget where we came from and that we may keep clear where we are going together in hermandad.

Motto

"Poder de la Mujer"

All Hermanas strive to embody "Poder de la Mujer", both as individual women and as an organization. The motto symbolizes the strength and will of each and every hermana in their quest for higher education, the empowerment of their families and communities, as well as equality in education, the workplace and the rest of society.

Colors

Blue and Silver

The official colors of Hermanas Unidas are blue and silver and are depicted in everything from the HaU banner to paraphernalia. The founding mothers chose blue because it is one of UC Berkeley's school colors. Silver was chosen because of Amelia Solorzano, one of HaU's founding mother's, who often wore silver go-go boots.