I am a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Xi Delta chapter at the University of Pittsburgh. We are a Community-Conscious, Action-Oriented organization that prides ourselves on scholarship and service to our communities. Through this organization, I have been able to serve many underprivileged people on campus and off campus. We do this through collaborative programs with other campus organizations, educational events to inform on a specific topic, hosting various drives throughout the year, and volunteering our time out in our community.

One of the most rewarding service projects we did was hosting an educational event about women in the Caribbean and Latin America. During this event, we analyzed the cultural perceptions and stereotypes of these women, the truth, and how both implicate them in society in one way or another. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to rely on what I’ve learned about women of the African diaspora from my Cultural Dynamics studies in order to educate attendees. We discussed the cultural connection between the United States and the Caribbean/Latin America; American tourism and perception of Latin American women are causing factors in Latin America holding the record for the number for female plastic surgeries occurring each year. As a group, we looked at what parts of our lives perpetuate these stereotypes and checked our own biases/privileges. The conversation was successful and many walked away enlightened. It was also inspiring to hear the women at the event who identified as Caribbean and/or Latin American talk about their experiences and how much this event means to them.

As an organization that is community conscious, we do our best to spend adequate time around Pittsburgh serving different areas. We have partnered with Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens for their annual Homewood Good Food Festival, an event focused on the health and wellness of Homewood residents. We also volunteered at a community baby shower for mothers who could not afford one, a Pittsburgh walk for suicide prevention, and many other service initiatives.

For me, the most gratifying service project we did was collaborating with the Hillel Jewish University Center for their service day. This service day took place only a week after the tragedy at the Tree of Life synagogue, so it was especially moving for me. Us, as well as six other volunteers, we tasked with making pizzas from scratch for families at the Pittsburgh Ronald McDonald House Charity. While waiting for their children to receive treatment, these families can stay at the Ronald McDonald House for days or months at a time. Being able to provide them a fresh meal to ease their burden, and being able to come together and stand in solidarity with the Jewish community of Pittsburgh, warmed my heart to no end.

Though these experiences do not directly align with my Global Studies concentration, volunteering within these communities has enabled me to experience new cultures and have a little insight into the dynamics within them. Regardless of race or religion, I have seen similarities amongst people in Homewood that I’ve seen in the Jewish community that I also recognize in African communities as well. The Global Studies Certificate places an emphasis on experiencing new cultures with the goal being to understand and not necessarily to change it. Volunteering in communities around Pittsburgh allow me to do just that.