Belonging and Inclusion

INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS: PRIORITIES AND ACTION PLAN

Gamma Phi Beta is committed to creating a more just, equitable and loving sisterhood through our belonging, equity, diversity and inclusion (BEDI) framework.

Belonging is exemplified in Gamma Phi Beta when members share and experience both greater belief in themselves as individuals and connection to something larger than themselves. Belonging can be experienced individually, within social circles, on the chapter level or broadly within Gamma Phi Beta.

Equity is exemplified in Gamma Phi Beta when members are provided fair access to the type and quantity of resources individually necessary to have the same opportunities.

Diversity is exemplified in Gamma Phi Beta when members embrace and honor a multiplicity of both individual and shared experiences, values, beliefs and characteristics.

Inclusion is exemplified in Gamma Phi Beta when members intentionally bring historically excluded and marginalized individuals and/or groups into processes, activities, decision/policy making, and sharing of power in a way that empowers and celebrates individual/group diversity.

Social justice is exemplified in Gamma Phi Beta when members actively practice allyship and coalition work in order to promote equality, equity, respect and the assurance of rights within and between communities and social groups.

GAMMA PHI BETA’S BELONGING AND INCLUSION PRIORITIES:

Audit our policies and organizational systems (e.g., dues and fee structure, recruitment practices, etc.) to decrease barriers to membership
Improve accessibility of our facilities, programs and technology
Increase education and programming surrounding implicit biases and anti-racism
Ensure our diverse membership is celebrated and has a voice
Foster diversity of leadership through inclusion
Audit manuals, how-to-guides and resources for inclusivity
Work collaboratively with our peer groups and universities to support the development and transformation of the entire fraternity and sorority system to be more inclusive
Diversify our revenue model to make membership more accessible
Examine our own history as it relates to discrimination with race, religion, etc.
Streamline our process for reporting incidents of discrimination
Establish chapter leadership dedicated to belonging and inclusion
Evaluate our Legacy Policy

Statement obtained from gammaphibeta.org/prioritiesandactionplan

CHAPTER ACTION PLAN

The Gamma Psi chapter at the University of Northern Iowa condemns all acts of hate, discrimination, and injustice against the BIPOC community and other minority groups. We welcome and value all members in our sisterhood, regardless of race, ethnicity, sexuality, background, or religious beliefs. In an effort to be more inclusive in our practices as a chapter, we instilled a new officer position of Belonging, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion chairwoman. This woman will audit current chapter practices and create strategies for more chapter inclusivity, educate members on topics of diversity and inclusion, and manage incidents of bias using bias incident report forms.