"Inclusion is not just an emotion
or a simple phrase on a diversity policy."
It is a purposeful decision to create a safe and compassionate environment, and it is with intentional actions of outreach and seeking to truly understand others that this environment is cultivated and maintained.
On a local level, the Beta Zeta chapter made a decision to open
up their recruitment to women of all cultures and backgrounds, and in turn, they had to take action to ensure the environment would be welcoming to each individual girl who joined. So why does it seem so much harder to do on a larger scale? Building cultural competence at national level requires the ability to form authentic and effective relationships across differences.
Once a central leadership commitment is clear: attempting to diversify our organization at both local and national levels, we must challenge ourselves to think differently, and strive to adopt an attitude of continuous learning and outreach to women from all backgrounds. It’s not a blame game, it’s a group
36