Did you miss our LIVE annoucement of Brittany Thornton’s 2023-2024 President’s Proejct? Don’t fret, watch the recording below!
Kasey Stevens:
Hi. Hi everybody. We’re so thrilled that you have taken the time to join us today. Uh, my name is Kasey Stevens. I am Omega Phi Alpha’s communications director. And with me I have Brittany Thornton, our national president. Hi, Brittany.
Brittany Thornton:
Hello. Thank you for joining in everybody.
Kasey Stevens:
Yeah, we’re so thrilled to be here today. know I’m really excited to talk to Brittany about her president’s project for this year. I do see the chat going on, so if you are live on Facebook or on YouTube, I am seeing your comments. So hello, everybody out there. Um, we are so excited. You know, before we get into your announcement for your next President’s project, Brittany, I wanted to ask you your thoughts about your last President’s Project, “Protecting Human Rights.” What have you heard, what have you seen, what, has gotten you really excited about, with that project culminating at the end of last semester?
Brittany Thornton:
Yeah. Um, I loved seeing the projects that came through for that. I feel like you guys really embraced, um, the heart of what was behind that, that project and that theme that I had of, of human rights. Um, we had a lot of great, honestly, I don’t think I can pick, you know, even one or two favorites. There were so many good ones, but we had several different chapters who did various types of book-related, uh, literacy-related projects. Some of them were geared more toward prison inmates. There were a couple different, um, ones of those. And then some of them were book donations and collections. So that was really great to see. There were multiple chapters who focused on women’s rights. Um, a lot of them specifically related to sexual assault and abuse and human and sex trafficking. Uh, a couple that did things like the Trevor Project and, and various organizations that focus on LGBTQIA and trans rights.
Um, oh, what else? There were letters to representatives, you know, kind of saying, Hey, we want to make sure that you guys are representing your constituents and these are the things that we care about and these are the human rights that we wanna make sure are really represented. Represented. And then, um, a couple others that stand out. Lastly, are, there was a few different chapters that did either visited to help kind of educate their members in the chapter, or volunteered and assisted at various, um, museums, human rights related museums. I know there was the Tulsa Race Massacre Museum that, um, there was a project around that. And then there was the, uh, center for Civil and Human Rights Museum, um, that a chapter did. So it was just, it was great. I love seeing the different ideas that come in. There were lots of others. So if I didn’t mention, you know, any, um, specific ones that your chapter did, please don’t take offense. I loved all of them. There were not any that came through that. I was like, I don’t know if they got it. You guys really embraced it, so kudos.
Kasey Stevens:
That is so awesome to hear. And for those of you who are alive, I’m gonna do a quick plug. Um, tomorrow we will be announcing on, um, all of our social sites, all of our, uh, award winners for this year. So, um, one of our first posts tomorrow morning is gonna be all of our area of service award winners, and there’ll be a blog that’s posted, um, that kind of gives a great synopsis about all of the, uh, projects that I’ve won this year. Um, I, as a member of the awards committee, um, invo on these projects, it was so hard to choose. So, uh, definitely when it came to our President’s project last year, it was just so amazing to see all of the, you know, impactful things that our chapters got together and did. So thank you. Thank you everybody. Well, with that being said, um, thanks for the Reflection <laugh>. Um, but let’s, uh, I’m gonna give the floor to Brittany so that she can let you know what she’s thinking of for her, uh, president’s project this upcoming year. Um, I am going to make it so that it’s just her lovely face on, um, the video screen here, and I’m so excited.
Brittany Thornton:
Thank you, Kasey. Uh, so just to give you guys kind of a little quick heads up, I’m going to give a little speech about this Year’s President’s project, and then afterward we’ll sort of open things up for a little bit of q and a and clarification and things like that. So here we go. I hope you’re as excited as I am.
Brittany Thornton:
Omega Phi Alpha has always been at the forefront of making a difference in the lives of others through various service projects, we’ve supported countless causes in organizations leaving an indelible mark on the communities that we serve this year. Tying in with our national song and the theme of convention, I wanna take our commitment to service even further by focusing on projects that are more hands on. So for my 2023 to 2024 President’s Project, I wanted to create an initiative that embodies the spirit of service and the essence of our sisterhood.
Brittany Thornton:
And I’m calling it “Helping Hands.” It aims to provide a platform for our chapters to engage directly with the communities they serve. We often find ourselves working to lift others up, writing letters to representatives, raising awareness, things of those sorts, all of which are essential. However, it’s equally as important that we really get our hands dirty and actively participate in projects that create a tangible impact. By adopting a hands-on approach for the Next President’s project, we can truly connect with those we serve. On a deeper level, we’ll witness firsthand the challenges that people face and the difference that we can make. Through this theme, we can empower our chapters to engage in a wide range of service activities that require active involvement and physical labor. From building homes with Habitat for Humanity to serving at soup kitchens and volunteering at local shelters, we can immerse ourselves in projects that demand our time, effort, and unwavering dedication.
Brittany Thornton:
We’ll work side by side with community members, forging lasting bonds, and fostering meaningful relationships. By utilizing our collective skills and resources, we can transform lives one project at a time. Helping Hands also presents an opportunity for personal growth and skill development. As we venture out into the community and work Shoulder to Shoulder, we can hone our teamwork, leadership, and problem solving abilities. We will witness the impact of our efforts firsthand, building confidence and a continued sense of purpose within our sorority. I encourage each chapter and individual to embrace creativity and innovation through this, identify local needs and tailor your projects accordingly. Engage with community leaders, local and national nonprofits and other community stakeholders to understand their priorities and work together toward a common goal. Remembering that our hands hold the power to transform lives and shape communities for the better.
Brittany Thornton:
So I think Kasey’s going to come back.
Kasey Stevens:
<laugh>. I AM BACK! Awesome. So if you missed it, uh, Brittany’s project is “Helping Hands.” Um, I absolutely love this tie in, um, not only to our national song with “Willing Hands, Helpful Hands,” but also with our convention theme for next year. Um, so I actually just saw it in the chat. Um, you know, Brittany, when it comes to the impact that Covid 19 had on our organization, I know that hands-on projects really took a hit. Um, I know it, you know, we couldn’t be in-person for projects. Our chapters couldn’t be, uh, in-person for projects. So, um, I’m assuming, I won’t assume, um, that that was kind of a, an impetus for you choosing this project. Am I correct?
Brittany Thornton:
Yes, yes, absolutely. Um, COVID definitely was difficult for all of us in many different aspects. I don’t think anyone would argue that fact. Um, but as far as the sorority specifically goes, um, it, it sent us for a loop in various ways through membership numbers and of course through our service and how we were able to perform our service projects and do, um, you know, our community service hours and things like that. And we had to innovate, and we chapters and members did amazingly. I think we did really, you know, well in sort of getting creative and figuring out how we could still do things, um, at a distance. And it opened up a whole new sort of, uh, whole new door and, and, you know, area for us to get creative. But in doing that, of course, we had to sort of get away from these more hands-on projects. And we’ve definitely come, you know, chapters. I see all the, you know, different projects that come through, and you guys are definitely still doing hands-on projects or getting back into doing hands-on projects. And I don’t want to minimize the work that you have already been doing, but that was definitely a reason that I was like, I really wanna focus on this and kind of take us back as much as we can to those days where we were really getting out and getting dirty and doing things hands-on. So,
Kasey Stevens:
Yeah, absolutely, that makes complete sense to me. Um, you know, that is definitely something that I, uh, thoroughly enjoyed when I was active. Um, we had a lot of really hands-on projects that we did at Phi Chapter at Arizona State. And, um, I see in the chat there’s a question about what are some of our favorite hands-on projects. Uh, one of my favorite ones, um, there’s two actually. And, um, some of the folks who are here live might remember them if they’re from my chapter. Um, one of them was, we did this thing called Rock and Roll Paint A Thon, where we got assigned to a house, and it was, um, someone in a low income neighborhood who also couldn’t physically do the work to fix up their house. So we actually went and painted this, uh, woman’s house. Um, and she was just the sweetest lady. Um, it was, it was so much fun.
Kasey Stevens:
And it was a project that I helped kind of coordinate with my service director at the time. Um, it was really fun, um, to do that project. So I kind of was like that project chair. It was really great. Um, and another one really similar was for MLK Day of Service. Um, there were a bunch of us at Phi Chapter who got together with other organizations across the campus and did something very similar. We were dropped off in a historic neighborhood in downtown Phoenix here in Arizona, and we got to go and help revitalize this community that has these historic bungalow homes. And I, I know I have pictures of a few of us up on the roof, like painting trim and stuff, <laugh>. So those are some of my favorite hands-on projects. Like, I wanna get out there and get dirty and sweaty. <laugh>. Yeah. What are some of your favorite, Brittany, what are some of the other projects that come to mind, um, when it comes to this project? What do you hope to see?
Brittany Thornton:
Yeah, I’m very much the same. I like to do, I really enjoy things like the Habitat for Humanity type projects, um, where you, whether it’s just for a couple hours or a whole day or however long you’re there, you see what you’ve done in, even in that short amount of time. Like you can tangibly just see it with your eyes and you’re like, I just did that and I helped with that. Um, and those are, those are some of my favorite. And then, you know, now as an alum, I do a lot of volunteering, um, with, um, food, um, food kitchens, especially like the veteran, the VFWs and things like that. They do different things, especially closer to the holidays. And I volunteer with local, um, medical response groups where we work with unhoused persons and, um, things like that. So I, yeah, I just really love getting my hands dirty. Um, some other ideas, just to give you guys kind of an idea of what I’m thinking and what I’d like to see, these are not inclusive, of course, so please use your imagination, come up with more.
Brittany Thornton:
But like I mentioned, Habitat for Humanity, um, you can volunteer at local shelters, and this includes animal shelters, you know, go and help wash the animals, wash their pens, feed them, things like that. Um, the Humane Society is a great organization to reach out to for things like that. Cleaning up parks and roadsides or other areas in your community that maybe need some attention of, of cleaning up, um, cooking and serving at the soup kitchens, like I mentioned, also the Ronald McDonald House charities. Uh, they do a lot of food related things. Um, like Casey mentioned, helping, you know, the woman with her house, you see if there’s either members of your community or, you know, maybe there’s an elderly community where it’s, um, you know, housing specifically for elderly members or disabled members or people who maybe can’t on their own get out and mow their lawn or fix their fence or, you know, clean up their house or whatever and, and help with that.
Brittany Thornton:
Um, some local libraries will let you volunteer to help organize books. Um, you can put together first aid kits or toiletries and needs care kits for shelters in your area. You can do a school supply drive. Um, and ideally with that, you would gather all of them and then hopefully make up like kits that you can then give out to people in need or take to the shelters. Um, girl Scout badge days are great ways to really get involved. There’s usually really fun things that they’re doing that you can get hands on with. Um, and then, you know, you could always do, we’re coming up in the fall, you can help with voter registration and, um, depending on, you know, your age and, and things, assisting with elections and helping out with that process is a great way to, to get involved. So those are just some of the ideas that I have kind of percolate in my head. Yeah. To, um, get creative, get innovative, and, you know, hear from your, the different members in your chapter, what ideas they have, and figure out, you know, what works best for y’all and what, what excites you and what brings passion to your chapter. And really just get in and, and dive in deep.
Kasey Stevens:
Yeah. Oh, that’s so exciting. I’m seeing some really awesome, uh, projects being called out, uh, or at least organizations that folks have been interested in, uh, volunteering with, uh, you know, girl Scouts, of course, food banks, all of that… Gardens. Yeah. It, it’s so much fun. Um, you know, I, I’m super pumped to see the projects that our chapters come up with. Um, and I think this is just a great extension already of like our community at large, but like even deeper. Yeah. Um, so I’m really excited. This is gonna be super fun.
Kasey Stevens:
Penny, our new foundation president, um, she is, uh, definitely over there, uh, uh, definitely promoting the foundation. Make sure you apply for a chapter grant through the Omega Phi Alpha Foundation. Yes. Plug it up. Love it. Um, well, anything else that you want everybody to hear or, um, know about this project or anything else that you’ve got to say, Britt, before we bounce <laugh>? Um,
Brittany Thornton:
I don’t personally have too much more to say. I do wanna call out. Taylor just gave a great, um, idea of this is a great way to connect with your alumni as well. Get them involved. Uh, we hear, and we are, we’re working on trying to sort of figure out, you know, making that connection easier for y’all. But we do hear from alumni who say, you know, I wish I could get more involved. And they just don’t know how to get involved on the, with the actives. And on the chapter levels, it’s really hard, uh, for anyone who’s not an alumni yet. You just sort of get into your own bubble in your own world and it’s kind of hard to come back to that. So definitely if you have, you know, member lists, um, send out emails, send out letters, whatever it is you do, use
Kasey Stevens:
OPAportal. Use OPAportal, there’s my OPAportal, plug <laugh>,
Brittany Thornton:
Look up your alumni, reach out to them, um, and get them involved if they want to. But overall, I just, I’m, like I said, I’m really excited to see what you guys come up with. I have yet, well, I don’t wanna say have yet, cuz that implies it’s gonna happen. I have not been disappointed, um, by any projects that you guys have come up with or done thus far. So every time I announce a new project, there’s like, I get giddy and butterflies in my stomach waiting to see what comes through. So I’m excited to see what happens. And then this will tie in beautifully with our convention next year, um, and sort of wrap it up in a nice pretty bow <laugh>.
Kasey Stevens:
I love it. My, my brand brain is very happy with that. <laugh>,
Brittany Thornton:
I knew you and Nanda, I knew you guys would love it.
Kasey Stevens:
<laugh> awesome. Well, um, everybody, you know, I think, you know, you just said, uh, about like getting alum involved. I would also encourage alum to just get together themselves too, right? Like I, from a communications perspective and helping to, you know, put those service stories out there, would absolutely love nothing more than for a group of alum to get together and do something. Um, I know we don’t necessarily have alumni chapters, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t get together and do some hands-on service. If you’re in Phoenix, it will likely not be until, you know, it’s not a hundred and million degrees outside. But we can get together and we can make an impact together. And, um, you know, I am super excited. Um, I can’t wait, uh, to get together with folks here in Phoenix and Arizona, um, and maybe elsewhere, uh, to do some service. Let’s get dirty. Let’s get sweaty. Um, and let’s make some amazing connections.
Kasey Stevens:
I wanna thank everybody, uh, who’s in the chat, everybody who’s gonna be watching this later. Uh, thank you so much for taking the time to listen in. Um, I am so excited for the future and I know Brittany is too and everyone else. So, um, I hope everybody has an amazing evening, afternoon, night, whatever it is for you and, um, we will catch you later.
Brittany Thornton:
Bye
Kasey Stevens:
Bye.