ONEVision Spring 2017 - 20th Anniversary Edition

20th Anniversary Edition The Official Publication of Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc.

Agents of Change: Reflections of a Theta Nu Xi Sister on Our Founding Principles and Place in Social Justice Movements

By Bahareh Moradi, Pi Chapter Founder, FA02 On May 16th, 2016, during the MAR Regional Conference held in Washington, D.C., Soror Bahareh Moradi had the opportunity to serve on a keynote panel to share her reflections on Theta Nu Xi's place in social justice movements, including whether the mission of Theta Nu Xi implies that sisters are expected to be change agents, different types of activism, and how sisters can feel empowered to tackle issues that they are passionate about in ways that best fit their lives. The following is a transcript of her remarks, modified for purposes of print.

To me, social justice means that everyone gets a fair shot and enjoys equal political, social, and economic opportunities and rights. In other words, systems are in place to level the playing field. I believe social change is an act, a verb, to strive for something as a society. One might use social change to achieve social justice.

I believe that the mission of Theta Nu Xi absolutely implies that we are expected to be social change agents. Being an agent for positive change is specifically mentioned throughout our mission statement, starting with, “to promote leadership, multiculturalism, and self-improvement.” It then goes on to explain how we are to promote these values “through involvement in and service to the campus and community as well as being living examples of sisterhood across different races, cultures, religions, backgrounds, and lifestyles.”

So, we are tasked with being change agents in 3 ways – • Involvement in our communities or on our campuses • Service to our communities and campuses • And living in such a way that uplifts and empowers our sisters, celebrates the variety of our paths, and contributes to our own personal growth READ MORE ON PAGE 6

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Founders’ Day Celebrations highlights/picture collage Jobs/Networking

Sexual Assault Awareness

FEATURES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Jobs & Networking Page 2

Sexual Assault Awareness Page 5

Founders’ Day Celebrations Pages 10-11

Table of Contents, Letter from the National President & ONE Vision Staff Page 1-2 Jobs & Networking: Interview Page 3-4 Legislation How-To Page 5 Social Justice/Activism (continued) Page 6 & 15 Sexual Assault Awareness Page 7-8 Autism Q&A Page 9-11 Desiree's Credit Corner Page 12 Body Positivity Page 13-14 Special Announcements Page 14 Letter from Founders Pages 16 Founders’ Day Celebrations Highlights/Collage Page 17 Regional Conferences Highlights Page 18 Convention 2017 Highlight & Memoriam Page 19

FROM THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT My Dear Sisters, As I ponder on our celebration of 20 years, I’m taken back to my first day as a member of Theta Nu Xi. As a sophomore in college I went through a process with 7 other women who brought the best out of me and encouraged me each day to give it my all. I embarked then in a journey that lead me to where I am today. It hasn’t been easy, I can tell you that; I even walked away for a while. But always lingering inside me was a desire to continue working on the vision our Founding Monarchs and so many others had for us.

As a member for 16 years, I have been able to grow and learn and make decisions that could impact not only my own well-being, but also that of my sisters; after all, I am my sister's keeper. In our poem The Theta Woman, there is a stanza that captured me the moment I first read it: “With honesty and courage, She lives and loves without conditions. Surrendering to her beauty and power, She gives and receives freely, Remembering her vision, her purpose, her heart. Creator of her own definition, She inspires those around her to be proud and selfless, To give unselfishly over and over again. Loving herself as she loves others, The butterfly transcends, Taking others with her in her flight.”

I knew that it was my duty as a member to first remember where I came from, rising out of a lavender dawn with my

butterfly wings; sisterhood was not just my destination, it is a journey. Becoming a member was not just the end of it for me, it was merely the beginning. I thank the sisters who reached out to me when I was inactive, allowing the chance to bring back an inactive chapter, my current chapter of Xi Kappa.

Still there was more in store for me, and with the influence and encouragement of sisters, I served on a regional level. I never would've thought that my dedication and love for this organization would lead me to where I am today as National President. Honestly, I freaked out the moment my name was announced at our 2015 National Convention. What have I done? Will I be good enough to serve my sisters?

Would I make the right decisions to lead our organization in the right direction? It hasn’t been easy. As you can imagine, it's not easy carrying an organization on your shoulders. However, I have had the privilege to work with a great group of women on the National Board, and these women have shared the responsibility to lead with me, making it possible for me to work harder, centering and encouraging me to continue working each day for all of you and for the future of our beloved organization.

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MORE FROM THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Sisters, there is so much more for us beyond our vision and our duty to promote leadership, multiculturalism and self-improvement through academic excellence, involvement in and service to the campus and community, as well as being living examples of sisterhood across different races, cultures, religions, backgrounds and lifestyles.

Dear Sisters,

There is still so much left to my journey as well as yours, and just like me, no matter where you are in your journey you are forever a member of this sisterhood. Always remember our vision, because as the world changes, so will you, and so will our organization, but it's what we do as ΘΝΞ that will make the difference. We are all unique in our individual ways, and can provide so much to the growth of our organization. Whether you have been active or inactive, there is always a place in this sisterhood for you to call home. As we transcend as ΘΝΞ and celebrate 20 years of diversity, let's bring everyone home! Let’s continue our journey moving forward as ΘΝΞ to all the great things yet to come.

I hope to see you in North Carolina in August!

ONE love,

It is my absolute honor to bring you this very special ONEVision issue – the Spring 2017 20th Anniversary special! In this issue you'll find 20th anniversary messages from our Founding Monarchs and our National President, pictures of how different sisters and chapters across the country marked our 2017 Founders' Day, and so much more.

We hope you'll enjoy the variety of articles we've compiled for you, and hope they will give you an opportunity to learn something new, dive deeper into a topic you're already familiar with, and inspire you to pursue issues you're passionate about.

As you know, ONEVision can only be successful with content that's relevant to our Sorority and the diverse interests of our membership. This is why we encourage you to share your feedback on this issue, your comments overall, and above all, to submit story ideas and consider joining the committee as a staff writer or if it suits you better, being a guest writer. And don't forget to check out (or contribute) to our blog in between issues!

Thank you for your continued support and love of ONEVision!

Edith Rodriguez #2 Whispering Aspen Epsilon, Spring 2001

Tanya Arditi Saavedra #3 Creyente Xi Gamma, Spring 2010

ONE VISION STAFF Editor in Chief: Tanya Arditi Saavedra Art & Layout: Cheryl Johnson Staff Writers: Bahareh Moradi Danielle McCamey-Smith

Contributing Writers: Malia Mel O. Faison Vianessa Castaños Stephanie Chavez Nadira Mathlin Tina Bigdeli Desire Bolibaugh

ONE Vision Committee Members: Ngozi “IzE” Ahanotu Danielle Klank Michelle Watkins Tanisha Yorrick Nicole Zavodny

Thanks to: Our Founding Monarchs Edith Rodriguez, National President Jazmin Peralta, National Vice President for Intake and Expansion Lauren Trethaway, Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic Dana Sporbert, Regional Director, Northeast

Ashley Croft, Regional Director, Southeast K. Necole Workman, Regional Director, Central Kelli Anderson, Regional Director, West

Jobs & Networking

Putting Your Network To Work: How One Sister Turned Her Job Search Into Opportunities for Others

By: Soror Vianessa Castaños, Summer 2001, Lambda Chapter Fresh out of college I got my first ‘survival job’ at an advertising agency. It wasn’t my intended career, but it did play into my interests. The plan was for that job to hold me over until I was able to save and move to Los Angeles to do what I actually wanted: work as an entertainer.

Getting this job required a bit of ingenuity. I’ve always considered myself to be proactive, a go-getter, an attitude that definitely contributed to my commitment to bring Theta Nu Xi to the Florida State University campus. But when it came time to apply to jobs after college, I realized that my limited experience working in retail wasn’t going to cut it if I wanted my survival job to be something that could benefit my long term goals. I reached out to friends, sisters, and family for advice, but no one seemed to share my interests or even a similar career trajectory, so the advice I got often didn’t apply.

Just as quickly as I had allowed myself to be filled with doubt, however, I came to the realization that I did have the skills to break into the industry. I was a writer applying for a job at a business whose business is to convince people to make choices. So, I convinced them that my experience as treasurer, publicity chair, and newsletter co-creator for my chapter - plus my degree in Spanish- made me their only logical choice. And I got the job. Thus began a 13-year journey of constant network-building as my survival job turned into a freelance career that would go hand in hand with my work in entertainment.

Working on a freelance basis has the potential to turn you into a ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’. For over a decade, it allowed me the freedom to work around my schedule and pursue my television career. But freelancing forces you into a state of non-stop job hunting, never-ending networking events and conferences, plenty of which don’t result in much. While searching for the next contract, I continued to pick up on information and meet people who were fascinating and useful in their own right, but didn’t necessarily fit my career goals. Which got me thinking: these opportunities and introductions might be perfect for someone else, so why not pass them on to sorority sisters who might be able to make the most of them?

When we look at older, more established sororities and member-driven organizations, they offer the benefit of presenting opportunities to ‘their own’. Many times a driving force to join an organization is the potential to make solid business connections in the future. This sort of clout and access to resources is built up over time; but I had to ask myself: how much time is necessary before one can determine that members are established enough in their careers to be able to pay it forward? I realized that we are already there. Theta Nu Xi has in its membership sisters with a wealth of experience and knowledge across countless industries and some are even in hiring positions. What I thought to be most important is that these resources be accessible to active and inactive sisters alike. And since many large and respected job boards and networking groups already function primarily on Facebook, it became the perfect platform for our group.

Theta Nu Xi is many things to many people, but one way it can serve all sisters equally is by serving to empower one another by helping those looking to establish, change, or leave their careers. The ‘Theta Nu Xi Job & Networking’ group is currently serving 432 members, just a fraction of our organization’s total membership.

My hope is that over time the group will continue to grow to the point where all members will see it as one of the greatest benefits of being a sister.

And if we’re lucky, the more we continue to support one another and provide access to resources, the more sisters will feel reinvigorated by their decision to join Theta Nu Xi.

INTERVIEW TIPS FROM SISTERS ON THE NEXT PAGE!

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Jobs & Networking

Interview Tips

Anton Gvozdikov/Shutterstock

1. Never wear bracelets or rings because you might fidget with them. Body language is important, so carry yourself with confidence and like you already work there. Chest out, shoulders back, eye contact and a little banter!

2. Remember: they already have your resume, so don't repeat that. Allow yourself to tell them about you, your personality, the dynamic "you". They want you to be a good fit as much as you want to get the job, so relax and let your talent and personality shine through.

3. Have a couple of questions to ask them. Some good ones are: "How do you define and measure success for someone in this position?" and something about the culture of the organization/team. Don't ask about salary and vacation time – that will come later.

4. Read the mission statement and take note of the vocabulary they use to describe themselves on the website so you can speak to them in "their" language. It shows them you'd be a good fit.

5. Study the job description and have examples of where you used/learned the skills they listed (and the results you got!) ready to discuss.

6. When you're asked to demonstrate a skill/a specific set of skills, set up your response this way: 1. general situation/issue; 2. what steps you took to address the situation; 3. the outcome (ideally positive!).

7. Remember to answer the questions asked, but don't try to anticipate too much, so you don't end up rambling. If they want to know more, they'll ask you follow-up questions.

8. And once you're done with the interview, send that follow-up email!

TESTIMONAL I posted in the group about a year ago that I needed help with my resume. I even had a sister with a background in HR do a mock interview with me which helped because many of her questions were asked during my interview. I think the group is beneficial for sisters on any spectrum of their job search as it allows folks to address any job related questions from how to deal with unfit working environments to how to fill out a W2.

Very informative and most importantly: FREE!!

Jazmin A. Peralta Assistant Director of Special Projects for Equity and Inclusion, Pratt Institute

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Legislation How-To

The Ins and Outs of Writing and Understanding Legislation for TNX

By: Sorors Nadira Mathlin, Beta Chapter, Spring 2001 and Stephanie Chavez Tau Chapter, Spring 2009 Legislation is the cornerstone of Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. It is what makes our organization operate and move forward.

Without legislation, we cannot prosper, grow, and stay relevant in changing times. Because legislation is important to progressing as an organization, it is even more important that sisters know how to write and understand legislation.

When you have decided that you would like to submit a legislation piece, you must first determine if you are writing a bill or a resolution. A bill is when you want to make changes to existing sorority documents (e.g.

National Constitution). A resolution is when you are proposing new ideas to the Sorority or want to create temporary committees. It is extremely important to identify the type of legislation you are submitting as it ensures a smoother review process for the National Parliamentarian and delegates.

The next step is to formulate the legislation using the template that can be found on the National Organization’s OrgSync Page: (Location: Files  Convention and Delegates  Legislation Information and Instructions).

This template makes writing a bill or resolution simple, especially for sisters writing legislation for the first time. Also, be aware that legislation will need to be complete in accordance with the template to be accepted – so use the template!

We highly recommend that you ask other sisters or National or Regional Board members to review your legislation, even if you have written legislation before and especially if you are submitting legislation for the first time. In the process, you may even acquire support for your legislation in the form of co-authors.

DRAFTING LEGISLATION Legislation can be challenging to write and also difficult to understand. Bills and resolutions change our policies, procedures, and practices so it is incredibly important to review and understand proposed legislation before voting. Delegates have the added responsibility of leading their chapters in discussions on proposed legislation. If you are a delegate, make sure you are carefully reading the proposed changes and asking questions of the authors during national legislation sessions. If you are not a delegate, remember that legislation will affect you too, so you share the responsibility of understanding it. Your delegates represent your chapter and in order to do so properly, they rely on your opinions as informed sisters.

REVIEWING LEGISLATION Here are some helpful tips on how your chapter and delegates can prepare for legislation.

• Create discussion boards on OrgSync so that all of your chapter members can share their opinions on the pieces of legislation.

• Set time aside during chapter meetings to go over the legislation together if in person discussions work better for your chapter.

• Create/provide a spreadsheet summarizing the legislation.

• Partner up with chapters in your region to work together to understand the legislation and create the resources for your chapters together.

• Prepare questions or comments on proposed legislation in advance of national discussions.

• Create polls for your chapter to vote on each legislative item.

• GroupMe works well for when a delegate is at convention and needs a fast response from the chapter.

Legislation can be overwhelming regardless of how many years you have been in Theta Nu Xi but it does become easier over time! Don’t be afraid to ask for help in understanding how legislation works!

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Social Justice/ Activism (continued)

Agents of Change: Reflections of a Theta Nu Xi Sister on Our Founding Principles and Place in Social Justice Movements

By Bahareh Moradi, Pi Chapter Founder, Fall 2002 empowerment through Girls For A Change, our (former) national philanthropy. We were GFAC activists when we donated funds or did service in support of their important work to empower girls.

Other topics can be contentious, like Black Lives Matter, a movement started by one of our own sisters, and one that is controversial in many cities as well as within our own sisterhood.

Activism can come in many forms. Obviously, the most common image of activism is someone holding a sign at a protest march, but just as I define multiculturalism broadly, I also define activism much more broadly than only the act of protesting.

Feeling empowered is a personal sentiment. The first step to feeling empowered to tackle an issue is to find out what you’re passionate about. I’d assume most of us are passionate about equality, but I’m also sure that some us are more passionate about something else – maybe ending homelessness, increasing literacy, or making sure every Veteran feels dignity and appreciation for his or her service to our country. There are a myriad of topics to be passionate about – politics, women’s equality, your faith.

To be an activist about any of these things can be as simple as running in a 5K, fundraising, signing a petition, or sending an email. I come from a faith background that teaches that to smile at a stranger is considered an act of service. So for me, activism doesn’t necessarily involve a loudspeaker and it definitely includes service to others.

It makes sense then, that because we are committed to being involved in and serving our campuses and communities, Theta Nu Xi is about activism. That’s how I see the “question” of whether we are activists. Activism can be simple and noncontroversial: Volunteering at a food bank? You’re an activist! Donating coats for a refugee family? You’re an activist! Hosting a sexual assault awareness event? Definitely, an activist!

That brings me to how we decide what we want to be activists about. And this is where I think we often get tripped up. Some topics are easy – for example, girls’

So, how do we as a unified Sorority decide what to take a stand on? How do we support our sisters who may be affected by controversial issues without alienating others?

Much like the foundation of our Sorority at UNC, these issues are usually at the forefront of different social movements. In light of the fact that we were founded in the spirit of forging a new path despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles, how do we continue to trailblaze? How do we stay relevant? As I pondered this dilemma, two thoughts came to mind.

The first is that unified doesn’t mean unanimous. Like you, I’m a member of many groups, including professional associations to which I pay dues in exchange for having representation in the form of a vote, delegates, board members, and so on. I don’t always agree with the way the votes go and I don’t always feel passionately about the topics that these associations fight for. Sometimes, I may even be on the other side of an issue.

An example for me would be the issue of police using excessive force. (Full disclosure, I hold liberal views and I also identify as a brown person in America.) A dominant position among many ethnic and racial minority liberals, and some of the groups to which I subscribe, is to take a very strong and vocal stance against law enforcement in any a situation where a civilian is hurt or worse. The images of children and unarmed civilians being harmed always haunt me. So does the thought that my husband, who is a federal law enforcement officer, risks his life and our life together, every single day. Nevertheless, I certainly understand that institutional racism, unconscious bias, and police brutality are real issues.

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Sexual Assault Awareness

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, But We All Know We Have To Talk About This To Everyone Every Month

By Tina Bigdeli, Xi Gamma Chapter, Summer 2005

Last year, a friend of one of my best friends was sexually assaulted at a New York City restaurant. I found out about it because my friend, the victim, and the other women who were with her that evening shared her story on social media. Within 24 hours, the post had been shared almost 300 times. Her story was covered by the Gothamist, and numerous friends had taken to Yelp to write reviews on the restaurant’s page. The next day, when my friend and I were discussing what happened, she pointed out a sad reality: Her friend’s story was “easy to share because it was so clear cut.” The assailant was a stranger who pushed his way into the bathroom she was trying to exit... As soon as she realized what he was trying to do, she pushed him away and ran out... Her friends were there... She’s white.

I’ve been working on sexual violence and intimate partner violence issues for over a decade, and the frustrating, aggravating, sad reality is that cases are rarely that clear cut, victims are not always in a space where they can articulate what has happened, and friends and family do not always know how to respond.

The Department of Justice defines sexual assault as “any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient.”

Things are changing.

When I was an undergrad, no one was really talking about rape, sexual assault, dating violence, etc. That’s why I started talking about it. I was outraged that SO MANY people I knew and loved had been sexually assaulted and abused. Even as I was learning about the issue, and trying to educate others, it was still happening all around me. And I’m not just referring to rape at a frat party; I’m talking about school administrators, boyfriends, and friends. Sadly, I had no idea what to do about it. In recent years, campus sexual assault has received a lot of attention, and it’s a great time to contribute to changing the systems that further victimize survivors of sexual violence.

What can you do?

• Start with yourself. Challenge your thoughts and the language you use to describe women and men, and their choices about sex. Many women don’t come forward after sexual assault out of fear of being labeled a “slut” or a “thot”. Many men don’t come forward because of the common myth that men can’t be raped, especially by a woman.

• Start talking about social norms that contribute to sexual violence like masculinity, the myth of the “real” victim (cisgender, female), homophobia, and transphobia.

• Collaborate with male membership organizations and sports teams to educate men about sexual violence and bystander intervention.

• Volunteer with your campus and/or local rape crisis center.

• Screen a film and panel discussion about sexual violence on college/university campuses • Collaborate with a national sexual assault prevention organization to bring programming to your campus.

• Check out AAUW’s Toolkit for Ending Campus Sexual Assault; sign the It’s On Us pledge and encourage everyone in your network to do so as well; and you can also find a list of organizations to partner with here.

• Advocate for policies on your campus that will protect victims of sexual assault. Learn more about federal guidelines for colleges and universities here.

MORE ON THE NEXT PAGE!

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Sexual Assault Awareness (continued)

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, But We All Know We Have To Talk About This To Everyone Every Month

By Tina Bigdeli, Xi Gamma Chapter, Summer 2005 Your friend tells you they’ve been sexually assaulted. What do you do?

There’s no perfect way to respond to a friend who’s experienced sexual violence, but there are a few key ways we can support them: • Tell them that it was not their fault. Sexual assault is NEVER the victim’s fault. It doesn’t matter what you wear, how much you drink, or how late you walk home at night. Sexual assault is a crime, and the person committing the crime is at fault.

• Listen, and don’t ask a lot of questions. It should be up the person to share as much, or as little, information about this very personal experience. It can be very triggering to recount a sexual assault - almost like reliving the experience. If we ask a lot of questions, even if it comes from a good place or wanting to help, it can also seem like we’re questioning the validity of their experience.

• Encourage (but don’t pressure) your friend to: • Go to the hospital and get a Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE). The exam is conducted by a trained nurse. In addition to collecting DNA evidence (think Law and Order: SVU), you can get emergency contraception and HIV prophylactic drugs to reduce the chance of HIV contraction.

• Contact a local rape crisis center. Most centers have a 24 hour hotline that the victim (or the victim’s friends/family) can call for support by someone who is trained and ready to listen. Most centers also offer free counseling ranging for about 10 weeks to 12 months, depending on the organization.

• Check in with them regularly, and continue to listen and support without judgement. Everyone responds to trauma in different ways.

• Seek support. Secondary trauma is real, and can happen when you’re supporting someone who has experienced a traumatic experience. Find healthy ways to cope, and explore counseling.

FAST FACTS ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT • 1 in 5 women have been raped, or survived an attempted rape. To put this into perspective, if you crossed on a line of 5, then one of you has either been raped or almost been raped. Bottom line is, we all know people who have experienced sexual assault - they just may not have told us about it.

• Over 80% of victims are assaulted by someone they know. So, although stranger rape absolutely occurs (like in the story above), it’s usually someone the victim trusts.

• Over 60% of rapes (this does not include other forms of sexual assault/harassment) are never reported to the police. There are lots of reasons why victims don’t report an assault: shame, fear of the perpetrator, fear no one will believe them, distrust of the justice system, self-blame, etc.

• 2%-8% of reported rapes are classified as false allegations. Keep in mind that number above includes rapes that did occur, but the victims recanted because of the reception by law enforcement, retaliation from the perpetrator, or community response. Imagine you muster up the courage to go to the police, give multiple interviews recounting what happened (which is triggering in and of itself), but the police accuse you of lying, and/or your family stops talking to you, and/or you begin receiving death threats. At that point, for many victims (women and men), it’s less painful to drop the case. There’s a crazy myth out there that women frequently lie about being raped. Not only is that clearly untrue, but it just doesn’t make sense.

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Autism Q&A

Until All The Pieces Fit: An Interview with Soror Jazmin Peralta about Autism

As told to Soror Danielle McCamey-Smith, Pi Chapter Founder, Fall 2002, by Soror Jazmin Peralta, Lambda Chapter, Spring 2010 April is Autism awareness month, so we wanted an opportunity to share Soror Jazmin Peralta’s journey with having a child with Autism. According to Autism Speaks, Autism “refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences. We now know that there is not one autism but many types, caused by different combinations of genetic and environmental influences.” Organizations such as People First and Autism Speaks, to name a few, are dedicated to the education, advocacy and support to those individuals with Autism and their families. Their goals are to empower and find solutions that work for an individual with Autism and their families. Let us take an opportunity to experience a glimpse at our sister’s journey with her child with Autism.

Can you introduce yourself and your child to our readers?

My name is Jazmin Peralta (Spring 2010, Lambda Chapter) and I am the proud mommy to Ernesto Augusto Armstrong, III, 6 years old, born Feb. 6, 2011, my Super Bowl Sunday baby, who was born at 39 weeks and 1 day gestation at 9:31pm. He weighed 8.1 lbs and was 21.5 inches long. There were no physical signs at birth that Ernesto had Autism. He was born perfectly healthy. At 22 months, however, when he was almost 2 years old, Ernesto was diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). Since then he has undergone various types of behavioral therapies, especially speech therapy.

How would you define Autism?

Autism is a disorder that affects everyone differently. In my son’s case it affects his speech, his social skills and interactions, and some of his senses. However, he is considered extremely high-functioning, as in, high on the spectrum. Intellectually he is above age-level, reading at a second grade level, and is currently mainstreamed as a Kindergartener. All this while still receiving speech therapy and behavioral therapy.

How did having a child with autism change your life?

From gestation I knew Ernesto was different; he barely moved and once born only cried to eat. I found it strange that he didn't cry to be changed or anything.

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Autism Q&A (continued)

Until All The Pieces Fit: An Interview with Soror Jazmin Peralta about Autism

During a doctor's visit I sat next to another mother that had a baby boy about my son's age and noticed that her son mimicked other children, brought toys to show his mommy, clapped his hands, and pointed to other children and toys. Sitting there I knew that something was different about my son. I remember I mentioned my concerns to the Pediatrician and she had me fill out a questionnaire with First WORDS, a non-profit organization through the Center for Autism and Related Disorders in Tallahassee, Fl. She mentioned that they would contact me for a consultation based on the results. Waiting for answers was excruciating. Up until that point I had never heard of Autism. In fact, we thought he had a hearing impediment, which was causing him not to be able to speak, and being a first-time parent was not going to hinder my knowledge so I began doing my own research. I came across a blog of a first-time parent with a child of Autism and she depicted her story and how she found out.

I remember reading every sentence and thinking, “my son does that too.” Every characteristic matched my son almost identically. So I decided to try it, to try her method of how she found out her son had autism. Children with autism live in their own little word ... the blog stated... I walked into my son's bedroom where he sat on the floor aligning his blocks, with a kitchen pot in one hand and a wooden cooking spoon in another. I began banging as hard as I could on the pot. Nothing. Not a sign, not any reaction; it was like I wasn't even there. Tears rolled down my eyes as I continued to bang on the pot until I exhausted myself and I picked up my son and cried hysterically as I hugged him. I wanted so deeply for him to turn around to acknowledge that I had even entered the room! Needless to say that was a very hard day. I remember sitting in my living room bawling my eyes out as I continued reading the blog. Once I finished, I remember thinking to myself, “I will never hear my son tell me he loves me.” That was the first of many hard days to come. A day I will never forget because by the end of that day, I had accepted that my son was different and that as his parent, I would have to advocate for him until he was able to speak up for himself. That day I realized that I had been selected to be his mommy, that my entire life had prepared me for this very special role.

What do you find to be the greatest challenge?

In my case, the lack of knowledge and available resources were our biggest challenge. If it wasn't for his pediatrician and First WORDS, Ernesto wouldn't have received early intervention, which skyrocketed his progress. Early intervention opened doors, and provided us with support groups, classes for parents with children with autism,

doctors, therapists and other resources. Most of these resources were free and some even came to the home, which was amazing. Our biggest challenge was relaying what autism is to Ernesto's very Latino grandparents, the language barriers made the already difficult and delicate situation even harder, having to explain why or how he was different or why he had certain behaviors was difficult. That’s because in many cultures, his behaviors are considered as him “misbehaving,” when in actuality they are characteristics of autism.

What is the greatest moment to date that you have had with your child? He finally said “I love you mommy,” and that was the highlight of my life and I felt like I could die now. To be able to hear him say that without being coached was everything. Ernesto is funny, has so much character, he's unpredictable, witty, and inquisitive. Logic is now reflecting in his personality. He is a great big brother, and Gaby is his little keeper.

What have you learned from raising your child?

The nurses had to educate us, his parents, on the key things to be tuned in to. Ernesto is currently mainstreamed in Kindergarten while still receiving supplemental therapies for social behavior and speech.

He’s extremely smart - he's 6 years old and can read and write and has an extensive vocabulary. He gives the class a run for their money because he is outlearning the material in the c2lass. So the school is forced to come up with creative outlets for him to channel his energy and intellect. CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE SPECIAL MENTION In spring 2016, my brother began his junior year at the University of Florida. Most incoming students typically experience the anxiety off moving away from home among others. Though he experienced the same anxiety as most students…Cameron also lives with Autism. With years of counseling and therapy, he has overcome a number of obstacles that some of us may take for granted. At this time, I would like to acknowledge sisters Nia Eddie and Jessica Grobman of the Alpha Alpha chapter for lending an ear and reaching out to him so that he knows he is not alone. I greatly appreciate these sisters for creating a safe space for him.

One Love & Mine, Yatevia S. Manning, Xi Lambda Chapter, Spring 2011

Autism Q&A (continued)

Until All The Pieces Fit: An Interview with Soror Jazmin Peralta about Autism

We learned that change is really hard for him to adjust to, and that it is important to go step by step for our son to feel comfortable with any subtle changes that can cause tantrums or outburst. Routines are very helpful to eliminate anxiety and creating comfort for him, and being sensitive to his needs for communication is key for example, understanding that children with Autism are literal; they do not understand sarcasm or metaphors really well. There are options to help challenges to make the journey easier. Like any other child there will be happy days and sad days. Every 3 months there is an evaluation with a caseworker; they are key to the success of your child and to connect you to resources. Evaluation day is usually dreaded in my house; there used to be a laundry list of things that were wrong with my child. As of late they are solidifying that early intervention is critical and now the evaluations give us a long list of things to improve on as well as all the things that he has improved on. Then there’s therapy, which is fun because they get to play with toys while specialists monitor reactions and behaviors.

Ernesto will analyze the details of a particular object outside its intended purpose or functions. For example he will look at a toy car and flip it upside down and play with the wheels, instead of rolling it on the floor. We’ve also learned that over-stimulation can increase energy and hyperactivity in actions "acting out", so he will flick the lights on and off until he decompresses whatever is causing him anxiety or he will repeat the same words over and over or grind his teeth, all behaviors to release stress. I've learned to read behaviors to help be more in tune and be PATIENT. It's difficult to decipher what are typical 6-year-old behaviors versus Autism behaviors at times.

defends Ernesto and is very protective, and goes out of her way to educate others on autism.

What advice can you give other families who are raising a child with autism?

Testing is important! It takes about 8 weeks, and then they match you up with services, caseworkers, therapies, and more to help achieve milestones. Prayer has been key to help with patience and acceptance to learn to advocate for his needs and educate themselves as well as support groups.

Any final thoughts?

Learn the signs, seek screening, and find access if you find that your child exhibits any signs of autism, educate yourself and most importantly know there are large networks of support to help you get the assistance you and your child may need.

Up to this point, what has been the hardest thing for you to deal with when advocating for your child? Articulating to parents that are very religious. My parents were suspicious of the diagnosis and feared it was spiritual in nature. Encouraging them to learn to adapt to his needs and advocating for the importance of his needs to be met was big, and my parents have since self-educated and now have a better understanding. Now my mom

And what’s your favorite memory with Ernesto?

I was getting a mani/pedi and I took him with me. Not the first time. At the time Ernesto was learning how to potty train. All of a sudden Ernesto, announces “I gotta go to the potty”... then proceeds to take down his pants and runs to the bathroom. Imagine a little boy pulling down his pants in the middle of the nail salon and just take off with no idea where the bathroom is in a panic!

It was funny to say the least. He is still learning about social queues, personal space, etc. Behavioral Therapy has helped him mingle with his environment.

Is there one thing that you would love for people not familiar with raising a child with autism to know?

Always use people FIRST language. They are regular people that see the world through a very unique lens.

They are extremely smart and obsessed about things that many of us would normally overlook or take for granted. They may often be misunderstood or come off as rude or abrasive but they are actually super sweet and kind. Take the time to speak to someone with Autism. Children grow up and become adults and as they grow so does their Autism. So the diagnosis may change and they may outgrow some of their behaviors and adapt to their circumstances.

What are some of Ernesto’s favorite things?

Ernesto loves cars - trains are his most favorite, cartoons, and the Disney Channel. He also loves letters and spends hours spelling out words as he learns them.

Anything to do with his hands he truly enjoys.

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Desiree’s Credit Corner

Saving/Investing and Paying Off Debt

As many of you know, Soror Desiree Bolibaugh has been a staple in the sorority for periodically doling out financial advice. Whether it’s posting personal finance tips covering a wide array of topics like tackling debt, understanding credit scores, or saving money, Soror Bolibaugh has helped innumerable sisters throughout the years.

What’s the best way to pay off debt and save/invest at the same time? The short answer is to do both. Every person’s situation is different, so it’s hard to go down the rabbit hole of every scenario. What follows is high-level information that can be generally applied.

A note to keep in mind: This is a lot. I don’t mean to make it sound easy or like something that comes naturally to everyone. Financial literacy is one of the most undertaught topics in our country, yet we all still have bills to pay, should be saving for the future, and most likely have debt. Remember to take it one step at a time – getting started is the hardest part.

Think of investing and saving as a little bit different animals. Investing is preparing for the long-term (like retirement!), while saving is preparing for the short-term (like replacing a dishwasher or taking a vacation).

The best way to do it all at the same time is to force your hand at the saving/investing and to pay off the debt wisely. But how to force your hand?

INVESTING Enroll in your employer’s 401k or 403b (ESPECIALLY if they match what you put in!) If your company matches your 401k contribution, and you don’t contribute, it’s like your employer coming to you and saying “Hey! We want to give you a raise,” and your response is “Nah! I’m good. I don’t need any more money.” You wouldn’t do this, right?

When you enroll in your 401k, it’s money that is taken out before you ever even see your paycheck, so you don’t miss it.

SAVING Set up either a direct deposit (90% to checking/10% to savings) or an auto-transfer from your checking account to your savings account for every paycheck. A great rule of thumb for financial health is that you should save 10% of your net income every pay check. This 10% adds up over time, and that’s money that you can turn to in case of an emergency or the loss of a job. If you think you can’t afford to save, that may signal that you’re currently living outside your means and that’s something you will need to address, whether it’s reevaluating your expenses or other factors. Saving should be the very first bill you pay EVERY single month.

If you have a goal of making a fairly large purchase within the next 3 years (ie: furniture, a car, a big trip) research what that item costs now, divide that by 36 months and start saving that amount every month. This way, when the time comes you can pay for it in cash and not have to borrow the money or charge it! Some people even set up multiple savings accounts for different purposes: one for a trip to Jamaica, one to buy a new refrigerator, one to put down a sizeable down payment on a car, and so on.

DEBT Do not fall behind on loans. If you are currently behind, contact the lender and set up a payment plan.

If you have multiple credit cards that all have a balance, put them in order from highest interest rate to lowest interest rate and pay off the card with the highest interest rate first.

You should continue making at least the minimum payment on the other cards while you do this.

Pay more than the minimum balance on your credit cards whenever possible. This is helpful because it gets you out of debt faster and you pay considerably less in interest.

When you only make the minimum payment, you stay in debt longer, owe the credit card company more money, and they get rich off of you.

We’d love to know what topics you’d like to see tackled in this column. Please let us know by emailing director.communications@thetanuxi.org!

Meet with a financial planner. Only a certified financial planner can give you advice on how to invest money, so that’s not something I can do here. What I will say, however, is that you SHOULD invest!

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Body Positivity

Accepting Your Body is One of The Bravest, Most Liberating Steps You’ll Ever Take

By Soror Malia Mel O. Faison, Gamma Chapter, Spring 2007 Unless you've been living under a rock, or possibly cocooned, you have probably heard of body positivity, also referred to as the body positivity movement.

As a Plus Model, a Mother, and a body positive influencer, it's important for me to address what I believe body positivity is and what it isn't.

I find the most visible people on the forefront of the body positivity scene are often women whose weight has fluctuated throughout their lives. They were an active, healthy athlete who had a life changing injury and now have this fat body to come to terms with, or they're struggling with the after-effects of motherhood, etc. to the point that they feel trapped in someone else's body, a fat person's body, and they just cannot deal Until…BODY POSITIVITY hits the scene.

That's not my story. I have been fat for as far back as my long-term memory will take me. I've been jiggly puff and thunder thighs since elementary school. In fifth grade, outside of Joe Boxer smiley-face night shirts worn as t-shirts, my favorite outfits were women's bejeweled pant suits from JCPenney that you probably remember your favorite Tia wearing to bingo. I packed salad for lunch and drank slim fast for a snack, all before I even hit puberty. I didn't even know I was fat until someone else told me.

I guess I could've kept this self-love to myself, but one day my daughter came home upset because kids at school had been calling her fat, and that's when I realized that expressing self-love was something that needed to be shared. I immediately listed all of my daughter’s amazing characteristics, and rounded it off with some of that “what you look like on the outside has no bearings on who you are as a person,” lesson. “How thick or thin you are doesn't determine your ability to love, be kind, or achieve your goals,” I told her. If you're not happy with your body, do what you need to do to change it, but don't do it out of hate, do it out of love.

Love yourself enough to accept where you are in your journey.

This conversation reminded me of how I was in the same situation at her age, and I knew I had to do something, so I decided to produce a video that showcased women and girls of different sizes, ages, and ethnicities. I produced the video I felt I needed to see, one I wished I’d seen when I was her age. My goal was to put material out there that any woman could watch and feel encouraged to love herself. I'm currently the largest I have ever been, but I decided to accept my body as is and no longer allow how the world may negatively interact with my presence to deter me from going for my goals.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

That someone was a little girl at a birthday party who forbade me to play princess because, "Princesses are pretty and you can't be pretty because you're fat and brown and princesses are skinny and white." Talk about blow to my ego because before that, in my mind, I was clearly a shoo-in for the next Disney Princess franchise.

So, what is body positivity?

For me, being body positive, or bopo, is accepting that the body that I am presently in is enough. That I am enough in it. Although there may be some things that I would like to change about my body, I'm not going to beat myself up simply because I'm not there yet.

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Body Positivity (continued)

Accepting Your Body is One of The Bravest, Most Liberating Steps You’ll Ever Take

By Soror Malia Mel O. Faison, Gamma Chapter, Spring 2007 Since doing that, I have not had a weekend off where I'm not actively participating in a fashion show or photoshoot that's going to help me excel. I'm an Ecommerce and fit model for a lingerie and fitness line based in Atlanta, GA that’s sold internationally. I am the face of a plus couture designer and walked during the latest New York Fashion Week for a small business trade show. I've toured from Georgia to New Jersey as a plus dancer in a stage play that's featured in the National African American History Museum. My latest job was for a celebrity stylist who was featured on Khloe Kardashian's Revenge Body along with being the personal stylist to RHOA, Monica Brown, and Gucci Mane.

I've lectured at local colleges with my video and opened dialogue on fatphobia and body positivity.

None of that work would've been possible if I didn't take the time to listen to my body, acknowledge my heart, and follow my dreams. I'm always going to be a work in progress and every day is not a good day. However, every day is an opportunity to take one step in the direction of your purpose and realize that you are enough. Your body may be changing, and that's ok. Or your body may be the same that it’s always been, and it is time to make peace with it.

This is the only body you have; cherish her. And if you ever need any extra encouragement, know that there's always a sister out there who is or was where you are. We are our sister’s keeper, and I hope you all know your worth!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS CONGRATS, GRADS, AND WELCOME, NEW MEMBERS! We'd like to extend huge congratulations to all 2017 graduates. Spread your wings and soar to new heights, Butterflies! We'd also like to welcome all our new members – we look forward to seeing you grow within our Sisterhood

INTRODUCING GIRL UP - On January 1st, 2017, Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. officially began a partnership with Girl Up, a campaign of the United Nations Foundation, when it became the Sorority's new National Philanthropy. As such, the Sorority has a chance to be a part of Girl Up's movement for gender equality globally by supporting their efforts via financial support, as well as service and leadership opportunities. In fact, sisters participated both individually and with chapters in the Girl Up Global 5K on May 20th. Sisters also have access to information and resources, and opportunities to connect with other Girl Up supporters from around the world via the Girl Up portal online. As Melissa Hillebrenner Kilby, Director of Girl Up, told Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc., Girl Up is "thrilled to partner with Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. to help develop girl leaders, and work with [the] membership to raise awareness of issues facing girls in places where it is hardest to be a girl. As one of the only 'by girls, for girls' programs, it's important for [Girl Up] to partner with organizations like Theta Nu Xi to encourage the best and brightest leaders of tomorrow to empower each other and girl leaders all over the world."

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Body Positivity (continued)

Accepting Your Body is One of The Bravest, Most Liberating Steps You’ll Ever Take

The point is that we all lead complex, multi-layered, and sometimes contradictory lives. Moreover, our beliefs may change over time. Unanimous opinion among an organization of more than 1,500 members is unrealistic.

I often lack an internal consensus about which shoes to wear with my outfit. Just as unrealistic is expecting every member to feel equally passionate about a cause.

So where does that leave us as a sisterhood that is supposed to bonded and unified? That brings me to my second thought.

We need to go back to our core values and reflect on what the Founding Monarchs envisioned when they established our Sorority. They and the first lines of Theta Nu Xi wrote it all down for us in our Sisterhood Creed, in the symbolism and metaphors of our many poems, and in our mission, motto, and tenets. These are our core values – we all pledged to uphold these ideals for all our lives.

To feel comfortable about activism as an organization, we need to connect whatever it is we are going to be activists about to our values. In other words, we need to root our activism in promoting scholarship, leadership, service, multiculturalism, and sisterhood. We’re told to do this through self-improvement, service to our communities, and our interactions with each other – that’s the part about being living examples of sisterhood. I’ve already given examples of activism under each of our values. But the whole idea is really so simple. And it’s what first drew me to Theta Nu Xi: The idea that the women of Theta Nu Xi are proactive in our communities.

The beginning of this exploration focused on definitions but I urge us not to get caught up in semantics. Our values can be described in a myriad of ways and our passion can be channeled towards many different causes.

Finally, I feel compelled to remind us all to approach each other with compassion. Think of our Sorority as ONE big ΘΝΞder Woman – maybe split up into parts that represent regions, chapters, active or inactive, undergrad, GAP, regional leadership or national boards.

If ΘΝΞder Woman makes a mistake – maybe she says something awkward, maybe she makes a fool of herself, and then she starts berating herself for being stupid, or

ineffective, or an embarrassment, she loses selfconfidence and belittles herself so much that she’ll forget all the other parts of herself that she loves and is proud of, and she’ll begin to feel so small that she’s almost nonexistent...

Now imagine if she recognizes that all of her different parts make up the whole unique amazing woman that she is. She knows her strengths and draws on them to improve her weaknesses. She strives for balance and approaches her mistakes not as embarrassments or blemishes to hide, but as opportunities for growth and self-improvement.

This is what being living examples of sisterhood is all about.

By starting with love and compassion and having trust in the women we have elected to represent us publicly, and voluntarily, we can continue to strengthen our sisterhood rather than degrade ourselves from within.

On the flip side, before every decision should be a time of thoughtful reflection, especially when the Sorority takes a public position on a hot topic. Our regional and national leadership have to make the time to listen, reflect, prioritize, and prepare for the consequences of any public statements.

I encourage everyone to use those times when you find yourself disagreeing with your sisters, whether it’s about an activist position held by the National Board or an individual sister, to self-reflect. Search what you believe before questioning others. Get to know your sister and yourself better. Striving for self-improvement and being living examples of sisterhood are complimentary, not mutually exclusive.

Yes, there will be mistakes and everyone won’t always agree, but we are barely [20] years old; how many mistakes did you make when you were [20]? I already told you I can’t agree with myself about my shoes. But after a mistake or disagreement when we start with compassion, we can pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and keep moving forward.

Sisterhood and all that it entails is a balancing act, and it may not be unanimous, but it’s necessary if we want to stay true to our founding principles of involvement in and service to our campuses and communities

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Letter from The Founders

A Message From The Founding Monarchs On The 20th Anniversary of Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc.

Dearest Sisters, Twenty years ago on this day, seven young women sat in a closed conference room in Steele Building at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, facing the Director of Greek Affairs. Still unsure of the need for our organization and of our intentions, he probed us, questioning whether we weren’t just a bunch of friends who wanted to make their friendship official. With conviction we told him that we came together around our shared beliefs and the need for change on campus and our community. Staring at all of us in turn, he said, "Greek organizations often die after the founders graduate and move on. How will you ensure that Theta Nu Xi will survive after you all leave UNC?" Over the past twenty years, Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. has not only survived but flourished beyond anything we could have hoped for or imagined on that day. We are exceedingly grateful for that and overwhelmingly proud of each ΘΝΞ of you. You are the reason our beloved ΘΝΞ lives and continues to impact so many individuals and communities.

Reflecting on our winding paths and the tenets that unite us, we have made renewed commitments to ourselves and the organization, and have engaged in an ongoing process of rebuilding the belief that we are sisters for life. Know that we are deeply committed to healing and contributing to the vibrancy, success and longevity of our sorority. And we are grateful and humbled that you continue on this journey alongside us.

So here's to twenty and The Long Metamorphosis ahead!

TO BE CONTINUED...

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Founders’ Day

Founders’ Day Celebrations Highlights/Collage

As we do every year, on April 11, 2017 we celebrated our Founders' Day. This year was extra special since we were celebrating our 20th anniversary, a milestone that feels like it officially takes us into "young adulthood". Sisters across the country marked the occasion in different ways in the days leading up to April 11, hosting events and parties, sisterhood dinners and meals (and tea!), performing the history step, and so much more. Sisters also participated in the #TNX20Years Photo Challenge, where they posted pictures responding to the various prompts every day from April 1st through the 11th. Here are some highlights of ways in which sisters celebrated Founders' Day 2017.

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Regional Conference

Highlights from This Year’s Regional Conferences

Central Region The 2017 Central Region Conference was held on March 31 to April 1st in Lexington, KY, home of the Alpha Omicron Colony.

With 32 sisters in attendance, the weekend was packed full of learning, sight-seeing and sisterhood. Sisters learned more about our new philanthropy, Girl Up, about Essential Oils, and recharging. These fun workshops sparked a fire underneath many sisters, who were excited to return to their chapters to share the things they learned. The weekend also included activities such as horse riding, wine tasting, and a tour of the University of Kentucky, which provided sisters with the opportunity to experience Lexington's greatest attractions.

The weekend concluded with a small banquet where a few guests joined sisters, and where awards were presented.

MAR The Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference, MARC 2017, was a great weekend of sisterhood & new beginnings. It all started with a recruitment event on Friday, January 13th with the Delta chapter. Then Saturday morning was filled with business sessions and programming. After lunch, conference participants went to the UNC Challenge Course, which proved to be a highlight for most of the attendees, giving sisters time to talk to other sisters outside of their chapter as each activity required splitting up from the chapter groups. The reflections after each exercise presented great times to discuss how these challenges come up in Theta Nu Xi and what the takeaways are that can be applied to our organization, region and chapters. Communication and trust were big elements of the challenges. Saturday night was reserved for a painting sisterhood activity, were sisters painted TNX-colored canvasses and picked a word that represented us, with the night’s soundtrack set to hits from 1997. The conference wrapped up on Sunday with Intake training, awards, and a visit from Founding Monarchs Geeta Kapur and Melissa Murchison-Blake, who indulged attendees by answering questions for close to an hour.

Southeast The Southeast Regional Retreat was held May 19-21st at the Hampton Inn in Tampa, FL, where 44 sisters were Slaying Expectations. The retreat kicked off on Friday night with a game night. On Saturday, the schedule included a transgender membership workshop, UG/GAP programming, a stroll competition, and concluded with a banquet at Maggiano’s.

Northeast The 2017 Northeast Regional Conference was held at Wagner College on May 6th and 7th. The theme of the conference was “Building a Movement: Self-Care through Sisterhood” where were focused on the importance of self-care. With 31 sisters in attendance we had various workshops such as “Chapter Wellbeing” for our undergraduate sisters, “GAP Sisterhood”, a presentation from our local Girl Up Chapter and finally “What about me? Self-Preservation in the Workplace.” We also has an intake training presented by our ROIE Courtney Chase and a town hall discussion focused on bridging the gap between our undergraduate and graduate sisters. Our banquet was the most fun of the weekend where we had a short awards ceremony followed by our keynote speakers, the current Alpha Iota Chapter sisters, and a karaoke session which will definitely be repeated next year!

West The 2017 West Regional Conference, “Bridging the Gap,” took place over MLK weekend, January 13-15, 2017, in Seattle, Washington. The nearly 50 participants took to heart the theme of the conference, and focused the whole weekend on communication and meeting each other’s needs, bringing the sisterhood to a high level for the duration of the conference.

Sisters engaged in a series of workshops aimed at helping improve them as chapters and individuals – with an OrgSync training hosted by the Vice President of Undergraduate Affairs Katie Gipson-McLean, and a mental health awareness training hosted by Soror Rebecca Green. Participants also focused on recruitment and the RECHARGE program and how to best utilize tools at the disposal of the membership in order to encourage growth, hosted by the Vice President for Intake and Expansion, Jazmin Peralta, and dean training hosted by the Regional Officer of Intake and Expansion, Becky Checkett.

Regional Director Kelli Anders facilitated an open discussion on undergraduate and GAP relations. Sisters also took part in several outings, including tourist time in downtown Seattle on Sunday. It was a great weekend spent together – sisters felt reinvigorated through evening dinners, heart to hearts, culminating in a round circle where they focused on highlighting something learned and/or appreciated about other sisters during the conference.

Convention & Memoriam

Information About This Year’s National Convention

Convention 2017 is right around the corner and promises to be one of our biggest conventions in the history of Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc.! This year, we're going back to where it all started to celebrate 20 years of our ONEderful sisterhood August 4th to the 6th in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. We had a record number of Early Bird registrations this year – over 170! – and we're nowhere near done!

Things you have to look forward to: An open forum with our Founding Monarchs, who'll make themselves available to answer all your questions and share their reflections and knowledge as we celebrate our 20th anniversary; Leadership and Professional development opportunities; National Elections and Legislation sessions; the GAP luncheon; a stroll workshop; a special presentation by our new Philanthropy, Girl Up; an ever-growing Para Pit Stop, which for the first time will feature sisters with their own businesses showcasing their professional endeavors and services; and last but not least, the Awards Banquet, followed by a 90s-themed afterparty featuring a live DJ, cash bar, and all the nostalgia you can pack in a hotel banquet hall!

Regular registration closes on June 1st, and this is one you won't want to miss. See you in North Carolina!

Convention 2017 Award Bids deadline: June 7th If you want to recognize your chapter and individual sisters for their amazing accomplishments this year, please review the National Awards Policy found in OrgSync for the list of Convention awards, criteria, and submission requirements. Bids must be completed and submitted by June 7th, 2017. For more information or with questions, please contact the Director of Administration at director.administration@thetanuxi.org.

IN MEMORIAM

Soror Erica Havens, #5 Auroara Mu Chapter, Spring 2009

Soror Kiesha Mechelle Webb, #2 De La SOUL Beta Chapter, Fall 2009

Soror Edrecelia Colomer, #9 Flashback Alpha Alpha Chapter, Spring 2008

The loss of loved ���s is never easy, whether we’ve only experienced it once or several times in our lives. Logically we may understand that it’s part of the circle of life, but there’s no accounting for the different emotional responses we each might have. As a young organization with members in a wide range of ages, we are still learning to navigate the loss of sisters, each of which affects us deeply in ways seen and unseen. We honor the memories of our sisters who have entered the Omega chapter, and remember their lives for all our lives, in an unbroken circle of sisterhood. Forever Together as ���.

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See You In Chapel Hill!