Newest Hermanos of the Latino based fraternal organization are known for their respective work as Presidents of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Hispanic Federation.
New York - On February 21, 1998 La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. held it’s 16th Anniversay Gala, commemorating the organization’s commitment to the Latino community, as well as honoring individuals who have dedicated their time and efforts to ensuring the strength of the Latino community. This year’s honorees were Juan A. Figueroa, President and General Counsel of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense & Education Fund, who also served as the gala’s keynote speaker, and Luis Miranda, President of The Hispanic Federation. The hosts of this year’s event were the Hermanos of the Lambda Chapter of La Unidad Latina, at Long Island University/C.W. Post.
Juan A. Figueroa has been a long-time champion of the Latino community tackling such issues as affirmative action and language rights. Mr. Figueroa served on the Connecticut General Assembly and was the first Puerto Rican State Representative from the Third District in Hartford. While in office, Mr. Figueroa helped to create ground breaking legislation in the areas of housing, language rights and welfare reform, as well as defeat a series of proposed English-only legislative initiatives.
Since 1993, Mr. Figueroa has served as the President and General Counsel of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (PRLDEF). During Mr. Figueroa’s tenure, PRLDEF continues to be the leading national Latino civil rights organization. Based in New York, PRLDEF carries out class-action litigation and advocacy to combat discrimination in the areas of education, voting rights, housing, women’s rights, and language rights. In addition to his work with PRLDEF, Mr. Figueroa has organized a coalition of civil rights groups to begin a dialogue with President Clinton and several congressional representatives on the future of affirmative action.
Luis Miranda was also honored at the annual gala. He has been a prominent participant in New York City politics, serving as a Special Advisor and the Director of the Mayor’s Office for Hispanic Affairs during the Koch administration. During his distinguished career, Mr. Miranda has served as a consultant to the Ford Foundation, Teachers College at Columbia University and Boricua College, among other institutions. He has also lent his expertise to the Board of Directors of the Primary Care Development Corporation, Aspira of New York, HACER/Hispanic Women’s Center, Advocates for Children, and the Non-Profit Facilities Fund, just to name a few boards he has served on.
He is currently the President of the Hispanic Federation, a membership organization of health and social services agencies dedicated to addressing the human services and health needs of the Latino community. During his tenure, Mr. Miranda has worked to advance the Federation’s mission -- to increase the resources and capacity of Latino based organizations, thereby improving their ability to deliver vital services to New York City’s Latino community.
Both Juan A. Figueroa and Luis Miranda were made honorary Hermanos at a private ceremony held shortly before the Anniversary Gala. They join the ranks of distinguished scholars, businessmen and activists who have become Honorary Hermanos of La Unidad Latina. Recent Honorary Hermanos include: Dr. Felix Padilla, Samuel Sanchez, Piri Tomas, Manuel DelValle, Dr. Hector Velez, and Dr. Luis Muñiz.
Since it was founded and chartered at Cornell University in 1982, La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. has been committed to enhancing the quality of life of all Latinos, as well as other historically underrepresented groups. In a multi-tiered approach which seeks to address: contemporary issues of higher education, the importance of exploring and propagating the richness of Latino culture, community service, and creating professional networks, La Unidad Latina continues onward into the next millennium in service of the Latino community.