Empowered Women
EMPOWER WOMEN Gamma Pi Chapter sisters Addie Erickson and Molly Nhean share impactful words in the Mankato community
Minnesota nonprofit YWCA Mankato oversees and runs all programming for the Girls on the Run (GOTR) of Greater Mankato council. On October 17, 2020, the nonprofit hosted Mankato Women’s March. And because of its partnership with GOTR, the organization encouraged members of Gamma Pi Chapter at Minnesota State-Mankato (MNSU) to participate. Twenty members, including Chapter President Addie Erickson, did precisely that.
outstanding contributions to civil rights and gender equality. Addie reflects on the day, saying, “The most inspiring thing about the event was seeing how many like-minded women there are in our community. In Gamma Pi, I’m constantly surrounded by women who have the same values. But it was overwhelming to see the number of women in my community that also share these values that we, as Gamma Phi Betas, work toward every day.” The event featured an incredible lineup of speakers, with Addie and Molly Nhean, Gamma Pi’s belonging, equity, diversity and inclusion (BEDI) chair, being two of them. Together, the sisters took to the stage to read an impactful speech they co-authored. An excerpt of their inspiring speech is on the next page.
Two hundred and fifty mask-wearing spectators attended the event to honor the life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, former associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States and member of Alpha Epsilon Phi, and her
“It was important for me to speak at the event because I believe so strongly that as a chapter, we have so many capabilities as powerful women in our community to make a difference. I also felt that our community needed to see young college women in support of the event.” Addie continues, “On a more personal level, this event was important to me because it meant I did my part to educate myself about the different experiences of being a woman. By doing that, I learned how to continue to build strong women both in my chapter and throughout the rest of my career.”
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