Our History
Epsilon Sigma Iota Sorority, Incorporated was founded on November 4, 1920 and incorporated on June 17, 1921 at Howard University School of Law. The founding women of excellence were Pearl Beldon, Willie Hazel Blount, Ollie May Cooper, May Corinne Martin, Bertha C. McNeil, Zephyr Abigail Moore, Gladys Tignor Peterson, and Lillian Skinker.
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The organization was chartered with a threefold purpose. First, the sorority was to serve as a tool to motivate women to become lawyers. Second, it was to serve as a conduit to placing female Howard Law graduates in meaningful legal careers. Finally, it was to create a useful network of female graduates.
Our Mission
To encourage women to assume leadership positions in law school and throughout the legal community, to provide opportunities for networking and mentorship, and to promote the role of women as legal practitioners, academicians and scholars. The Sorority is to serve as a vehicle for achieving these goals, with an ultimate aim of facilitating the overall advancement of women, especially those of African descent, in the legal profession. While ESI’s mission continues to encompass the focus of networking and mentorship that was established by our founders, we have additionally committed ourselves to community outreach and economic development.
ESI seeks to empower women through programs that focus on academic, professional and personal development. Most importantly, we encourage women to assume leadership positions at the law school and in the greater legal community.
Our Purpose
Epsilon Sigma Iota, incorporated in 1921, was founded for social and educational purposes, and to induce other women to enter into the study of law. Today, our focus has expanded to include promoting the advancement of women in the legal profession, especially those of color and from disadvantaged backgrounds, for the ultimate purpose of achieving a better, more prosperous society.
