LOA, initially meant "Ladies of Aztlan". Ladies of Aztlan were little sisters to a men club called Aztlan. Due to school policy and legal circumstances Ladies of Aztlan became Ladies of Athena. Ladies of Aztlan and Ladies of Athena are the same club with the same pride and love but just with different ending words. LOA was kept to keep our roots and togetherness with Aztlan alive.
Aztlan is an extraordinary men's club that supported LOA all the way through. Aztlan was founded in August 1991 and up to this day it is strong and proud to be called Aztlan. Aztlan is recognized for success through unity and brotherhood. Ladies of Aztlan came about because Aztlan started to choose girls that provided support for them. Every semester active members got to choose whom they thought worked hard and deserved to be called a Lady. Even though now our name changed to Ladies of Athena, this does not mean we are not Ladies of Aztlan anymore, on the contrary being two separate clubs gives us the advantage to be powerful in voice and united as one. No matter what, we will always be Ladies of Aztlan.
In the process to become a legal club at Long Beach City College, we came across the word Athena. Athena was the mythological Greek Goddess of wisdom, protector of cities and patron of craftsmen. We adapted Athena for the meaning and for the strong impact that the word has when it is said out loud. Also we wanted to portrait an image of stability, responsibility, unity and friendship. LOA will prove that it does not matter what name we have, what does matter is keeping our roots strong and in our hearts. Looking back to our beginnings LOA will give us the strength and determination to stick together and be successful in the years to come.
