WELCOME TO THE
Southern Region of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority Inc.
Didi S. Boynton
Regional Director, Southern Region
Welcome to the Southern Region of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. We are a national business and professional women's organization that was founded on June 1, 1929, by Lola M. Parker and her friends, who were outstanding trailblazers. Our mission is to unite qualified business and professional women in sisterhood and to enhance and improve the status of women in the highly complex and competitive business and professional world.
As the elected Southern Regional Director, it is my pleasure and honor to welcome you to our region's virtual home. I am Didi S. Boynton, a proud member of Delta Chapter (Atlanta, GA). I follow in the footsteps of our first Southern Regional Director, Mrs. Odessa Parada Williams, who was instrumental in chartering Delta Chapter in 1930 and playing a significant role in the establishment of our region.
This website serves as a hub of information, resources, and opportunities for our members. Here, you will find details on our national programs, events, and initiatives. I encourage you to explore and take advantage of the resources available, scholarship opportunities, program, and networking events.
Thank you for visiting our website, and please feel free to reach out to us with any questions, ideas, or suggestions you may have. We look forward to connecting and collaborating with you.
Our Impressive Legacy
Since its founding on June 1, 1929, in Chicago, Illinois, Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. has been committed to empowering African American women in business and the professions. Founded by Lola Mercedes Parker and a group of visionary women, the sorority was established at a time when opportunities for African American women were limited, particularly in the business world. As the first African American business and professional sorority, Iota Phi Lambda was created to encourage women to pursue careers in business, seek professional training, and support one another in achieving economic independence and success.
Over the years, Iota Phi Lambda has grown into a national organization with a proud legacy of leadership, service, and sisterhood. Through mentorship, education, scholarship, and community engagement, the sorority has continued to open doors for women while remaining true to the vision of its founders. The organization's impact can be seen in the generations of women who have been inspired to lead, serve, and excel in their careers and communities.
The story of the Southern Region begins with one of the sorority's most influential pioneers, Mrs. Odessa Parada Williams. In June 1930, she founded Delta Chapter in Atlanta, Georgia, becoming both the chapter's first president and Iota Phi Lambda's first Southern Regional Director. An educator, businesswoman, and community leader, Mrs. Williams believed strongly in the power of education and entrepreneurship to create opportunities for African American women.
Her leadership helped expand the sorority's reach throughout the South and laid the groundwork for future growth. In 1935, she played a key role in establishing the sorority's first undergraduate chapters at Florida A&M College and Morris Brown College, helping to develop young women who would carry the mission of Iota Phi Lambda forward. Today, her legacy continues to inspire the Southern Region as we work to uphold the sorority's longstanding commitment to leadership, professional development, and service to the community.