“The whole point is empowering women.”

-- Stephanie Gonzales

On Saturday, September 26th at Florida International University, about 150 people came out to recognize the face of domestic abuse at a charity event hosted by the "Infamous and Fly" Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc. Gamma Pi Chapter and Campus Progress. The event, the 4th annual “Art of Surviving Banquet,” managed to raise over $1,500 for the cause.

Guests, who included FIU students, those involved in Greek life, and members of the local community, were encouraged to write empowering messages on pieces of cloth that were then strung together. Over 40 pieces were contributed and subsequently donated to Safespace Foundation, a shelter and advocacy group dedicated to supporting and protecting the survivors and victims of domestic abuse.

During the banquet, speakers shared their stories of domestic abuse as well as startling statistics about domestic violence. One powerful speaker, Nadya Chapra, is a survivor of domestic abuse and a volunteer at Safespace. After telling her own personal story, she shared this thought: “There are always risks in freedom, but the only risk in capture is freedom.”

When the banquet ended, guests were encouraged to dance and enjoy themselves. As their school paper acknowledged, the eight sisters, who are currently members of Gamma Pi, did an excellent job of giving a voice to domestic abuse survivors in their community. Party City and Gourmet Chef on Tour, Inc. also lent a helping hand by donating food, decorations and supplies.

Alumni Lissette Medina summed up the spirit of the evening when she said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in helping others.”