Hermanos Unidos was conceived as being the first Chicano/Latino Hermandad at the University of California at Berkeley during the fall semester of 1989. Hermanos Unidos was the name chosen for this Familia to serve as a reminder of our goals and of the need for our existence. Hermanos Unidos was founded at the University of Southern California in the spring 2002 semester. Prior familias include Berkeley, founded in 1989; University of California at Santa Barbara, founded in 1998; Cal Poly Pomona, founded in 2000; and UCLA founded in 2003. These five familias are centered on creating a powerful and sensitive Hermandad oriented towards Chicano/Latino cultures beginning with the indigenous roots of our ancestors and extending to the modern day movimiento. The motto of Hermanos Unidos is “Fuerza en la Hermandad.” This sole phrase captures the essence of our organization, in that we derive our strength through a unified brotherhood with our fellow Hermanos.

At USC, Hermanos Unidos is becoming a strong organization through our unity and adherence to the Three Pillars. The Three Pillars of Hermanos Unidos are Academic Scholarship, Community Service, and Social Interaction. Academic Scholarship reflects the Hermanos’ primary reason for attending an institution of higher learning, to earn a quality education. In order to encourage good study habits, we have mandatory study hours that Hermanos are required to attend. Community Service is the second pillar, and represents a Hermano’s commitment to community involvement. Our community project, “Heads Up” is an Hermanos run service event where we take kids from nearby Foshay Learning Center and Manual Arts High School and educate them about college life and teach them software such as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. Last is the Social Interaction pillar. Collegiate life involves more than classroom instruction, Hermanos Unidos strives to become socially interactive by attending the events of other LSA organizations and by hosting our own social events. By fulfilling the obligations of the Three Pillars, Hermanos will become well rounded men who will shed the stereotypes that have been imposed upon the Latino generations by others and become the leaders of tomorrow.