DEI Update: fall 2021
Chi Omega Specific Tools and Education for Members
Additional DEI resources based on the Symphony have been made available to all collegiate chapter members.
Official resources for the required collegiate DEI Chairs continue to be updated on a regular basis.
A dedicated track of education for the DEI Chairs was developed to be delivered as part of 2022 Firesides Leadership Training in late January.
Individual chapters continue to work with Consultant Marlon Gibson, a DEI resource and subject matter expert for educational opportunities and discussions with chapter members and leaders.
Increasing Affordability and Promoting Lifetime Value of Membership
Through a gift from the Fraternity, the Chi Omega Foundation was able to endow the Helping Hands Fund for Chi Omega Undergraduate Support designed to assist with financial obligations that may present barriers to membership or hardships in maintaining membership. In Fall 2021, 15 grants were awarded to Chi Omega collegiate members in need.
Development continues on set-up templates for local emergency dues funds for collegiate chapters to assist members in financial need.
Modeling DEI Education on Campus and Among Fraternal Groups
Chi Omega Executive Headquarters staff members convened a meeting with other National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sororities and national men’s fraternities at the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors Annual Meeting in December to idea share on diversity education an inclusivity practices.
Development of marketing tools for Chi Omega chapters and College Panhellenics to use highlighting non-NPC groups began and will be shared in 2022.
Increasing DEI Initiatives from the National Level
Chi Omega provided funding for an Executive Headquarters employee to receive her certification as a Certified Diversity Practitioner.
Three collegians participated in The Eleusis Editorial Board meeting this fall, ensuring the magazine remains relevant to all generations and provides a broader scope of Sisterhood.
A task force met and began the process of evaluating all of Chi Omega’s ceremonies in order to maximize belonging and inclusivity language.
Chi Omega has released six episodes of Chi O Conversations, a podcast covering a myriad of topics and highlighting a variety of members and nonmembers with a story to tell.