This means that our sisterhood needs to become …
More diverse.
This means seeking more potential Delta Gammas who are from different backgrounds and walks of life. You can take part in this by expanding your circle and exploring new areas of your campus and community. For some, this may be uncomfortable at first but it’s important to build relationships by identifying shared and differing experiences with the individuals you meet.
More equitable.
This means ensuring that our day-to-day actions are customized to fit each individual so all members have the opportunity to experience the benefits of Delta Gamma membership equally. It requires all members, not just officers, to call attention to policies, procedures and events within the chapter and alumnae group experience and in everyday life when you see a lack of equity.
More actively inclusive.
This means celebrating and embracing the differences within all Delta Gamma members. We need to move beyond saying “we don’t discriminate” and seek opportunities to amplify the differences that Delta Gammas bring to the table. You should value experiences that are unlike your own. As individuals, we all have so much to gain and learn from how others see the world.
We encourage you to review our Antidiscrimination Policy Statement and our BEID initiatives to further understand some of what Delta Gamma is working on to make our sisterhood more equitable.
Find resources and engage in dialogue with your sisters and community.
This can be within your collegiate chapter, alumnae group or group of friends!
We have hosted several webinar-style learning sessions for members and non-members within the past three months. These talks are grounded in the pillars of Article II of our Constitution: high ideals of friendship, educational and cultural interests, social responsibility and the best qualities of character.
Join four sisters as they talk about their experiences as beneficiaries of white privilege while fostering a space for judgement-free learning and growth. We believe it is important to note that all guest hosts identify as white. Although it is incredibly important to listen to and amplify the voices of people of color, the hosts acknowledge that it is not the responsibility of people of color to educate white individuals on the topic of white privilege. Watch here.
Join Beth and Sarah from Pantsuit Politics to discuss how healthy disagreement is valuable in any organization and practical ways to draw out, discuss, and work through disagreement – not just in theory, but in practice. At the end of this talk, participants will leave with good language to use in meetings and conversations. They’ll share their tips for getting unstuck in thorny discussions and their exit strategies for leaving those hard talks. Watch here.
The impacts that microaggressions have are anything but small. And as sisters who come together in the name of “Doing Good” and social responsibility, it’s on us to talk about them. Watch here.
Why is talking about race and racism so emotional? How can we understand one another across racial differences? Join Corey Williams, Zeta Phi-Cambridge Area, for an honest and loving conversation about why these subjects are challenging, how you can overcome anxiety about the conversations, and be part of racial healing. We will look back at the historical creation of race and develop practical strategies for these important conversations. Watch here.
Implicit biases exist within all of us – what’s important is what we do with that information. According to the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, implicit biases are attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions and decisions in an unconscious manner and are a better predictor of behavior than our explicit beliefs. Challenging our implicit biases allows us to align our good intentions with desired outcomes. Watch here.
Join two prominent allies and advocates within the fraternal movement, Stevie Tran and Jess Pettitt, as they engage in a conversation about what it means to have pride in themselves, each other, and their sisters while also being real about how being a woman has been accepted and rejected by their chosen families. The pair will also discuss why LGBTQ students seek out and stay involved in our organizations. Watch here.
DG Dialogues, launched in 2018, is part of Delta Gamma’s collegiate member education programming. During DG Dialogues, chapters complete four programs over the academic year, corresponding to each value of Article II. Programs are completed in small groups of 10-15 to allow for deep discussion and meaningful learning.
A portion of the program options for our ‘educational and cultural interests’ value center around diversity, inclusion and equity, including “Social Identities 101,” “The Importance of Language” and “Social Justice Issues: Race and Ethnicity.”
Chapter management team (CMT) officers who want to improve their chapter members’ commitment to equity and inclusion should implement one of these programs, whether virtually or in person. Though four are required for each chapter, that does not mean your chapter can only do four programs. If you think your chapter needs more opportunities for DG Dialogues or would like to see different topics, tell your CMT officers what you would find valuable for your chapter.
Alumnae, even though DG Dialogues was created for our collegiate audience, we encourage you to utilize any trainings you believe would be beneficial to your alumnae group. Many of these options can even be done virtually!
As a collegiate chapter of Delta Gamma Fraternity, you and your fellow chapter members have a unique ability to impact change on your campus. The values listed in Article II of our Constitution are a good place to begin when you are considering ways to impact change within our sisterhood and larger community. While the International Fraternity Council and Executive Offices drive organizational policies/procedures and provide a framework for all chapters to thrive, you are empowered to enact change and make decisions for your chapter. This includes:
Collegiate chapters are encouraged to embrace this freedom to shape your sorority experience to what works best for your members and your campus. Your chapter advisers, regional team and Executive Offices staff are available to support chapters in finding ways to individualize their chapter experience through the Delta Gamma chapter framework. What are we missing? Tell us what you’d like to see from us as we work toward becoming an intentionally inclusive organization, by emailing us at EquityandInclusion@deltagamma.org.
Restorative Practices video provides a brief introduction to the Restorative Practices method. Restorative practices is a technique used to restore and rebuild relationships between people and communities. The purpose is to build healthy communities and place folks who have been harmed at the center of the restoration. The is the preventative side of restorative justice.
