This program aims to tell my personal and professional story about how sorority made me who I am ( with excellent and challenging chapters along the way) and the ways we all could do better. During my time as a student, I was sexually assaulted. I speak to the power of creating a culture of care and consent that will help the sorority/ fraternity movement grow and transform. I saw how I and others acted in situations of violence and spaces where we all had the opportunity to work and be change-maker. For years I have wrestled with the feeling of not being able to catch my breath; because I know there is a story to tell here. A story about strength in humans and the development of someone’s brain in traumatic situations: looking back at my account and the stories of many people when they decide not to act or act, many regret not making the right decision. I hope to teach the audience that fighting or flight in those traumatic situations is very typical. However, many do not talk about how many of us FREEZE and that it is also a normal response to trauma. If we can understand that, we can start the process of proper intervention.

I want to empower audiences to react, advocate, and make decisions to pave the way for a better sorority or fraternity experience in the future- for them and their brothers and sisters. The goal of this program is for attendees to see that there are many small moments in someone’s experience in a sorority/fraternity ( or any organization) to make a difference, change situations for the better, and give them some tools in their toolkit to bring home with them.