Greetings!
We continue to believe that change has to occur in a balanced way, accounting for the ways racism shows up in
structural,
internalized,
institutional and
interpersonal levels of our organization. We know our success is dependent on the help, feedback and actions of our individual members.
WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO:
While our organization’s foundation and values have an established vision of inclusivity, we will be the first to say that we have not done enough to prioritize the education and accountability necessary for lasting societal change. We have dedicated time assessing our priorities and pace in the work ahead of us.
This will not happen all at once, however, we cannot hesitate to leverage the momentum and gained perspective our collective membership is experiencing in this moment. We have the opportunity to widen our initiatives to include a thoughtful look at all minority and marginalized groups. We are prepared to combat the inevitable fatigue with passionate and knowledgeable experts to lead our efforts. We have to remain focused on serving our sisters who we count on to hold us accountable.
WHAT WE HAVE DETERMINED:
Anti-racism, active allyship and inclusion will not be achieved through a single program or training. Instead, it will exist as a learning outcome in every program, procedure, document and communication our members experience.
WHAT'S NEXT:
We are operating with great urgency. In order to move quickly, we have opted to organize those members who have reached out to us and who have personal and professional experience, to collaborate in small groups to shape the work that will need to be done to address the changes that are needed throughout our organization. Interested in working with us? Or know someone we need to talk to? Email
sci@phisigmasigma.org.
WHAT SHOULD I BE DOING:
- Educate yourself on the history of oppression and white supremacy.
- Listen to and amplify Black voices.
- Speak up when you hear a racist comment.
- Research ways to create change and help enact these changes through signing petitions, contacting government leaders or donating to causes you feel passionate about.
- Register to vote and use your voice in local, state and national elections.
- Support Black-owned businesses and Black artists.
- Acknowledge your privilege and blind spots.
We recognize you may be at capacity at this time. We encourage you to set healthy personal boundaries.
In Our Bond,
