Hello! It’s Jess Pentel, the VP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Alpha Phi. After serving as ISC Representative last year, I knew I wanted to continue uplifting the chapter’s voices and perspectives in similar ways. So, when Alpha Phi Nationals announced the creation of this new department, I immediately started conjuring up ideas dedicated to promoting an inclusive environment, educating members on DEI topics, and holding members accountable. This semester, we are brainstorming how to engage members with education and outreach in a meaningful way, as we pioneer what it means to serve in the DEI department.
One of our first initiatives was to educate our members on important topics related to diversity and equity. We now dedicate a portion of our chapter meetings to speak about current events, promoting ways to help, and providing resources at UVA connected to these events. For example, our committee recently presented “How can we be there for the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in our community?” after the recent crimes against Asian Americans. Another way we try to support minority communities is by sending a weekly newsletter, called the Zeta Iota Bulletin. This newsletter consists of an event of the week, a resource of the week, a company of the week, and a “the more you know” section. We want this information to equip our members with the necessary tools to bolster underrepresented and underserved communities in Alpha Phi, at UVA, in Charlottesville, and beyond.
Our other initiatives focus on outreach to the local community, in which we encourage our members to engage with their surroundings in meaningful ways. Our first event was a huge success, as members picked up coffee and pastries at MarieBette, a local Black-owned, queer-owned café and bakery. Next semester, we aim to create an internal scholarship related to DEI and to enact a Day of Equity and Action, a community service event in Charlottesville.
We hope to continue supporting our members and the surrounding community in a positive way. We are so excited to trailblaze the responsibilities of this department, and cannot wait to see our ideas come to fruition!