When You Know Better, Do Better

DAPHNEY BITANGA Chair Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, California Eta University of California, Irvine

Minutes after Pi Beta Phi announced my appointment as Chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee, my cell phone began to buzz with messages of congratulations and support from Pi Phi sisters. Their outreach was reassuring because I was deeply doubting myself. How do I approach this work? Where do I start? What if I make mistakes? That’s when I realized this work is simply not about me. As a committee and a sisterhood, making Pi Phi a stronger, more inclusive space depends on all of us working together.

After many years as a volunteer, I joined Headquarters staff as the Traveling Event Specialist with the Ring Ching Roadshow. For 18 months, I traveled around North America, visiting numerous alumnae clubs and nearly every Pi Phi chapter, and connecting with alumnae and collegians from all walks of life. My role allowed me to share the history of our organization and our amazing firsts, but also to meet thousands of strong, dynamic women we call sisters, listen to their experiences and share their stories. I learned that no matter our experiences, we chose membership in Pi Beta Phi because we found value and meaning in this sisterhood. We are valuable as individuals, and our experiences build our character. Bringing these experiences into shared ritual, shared values and shared belief in the strength of the sisterhood makes Pi Phi a richer, more fulfilling experience for every member.

In my own search for support, I reached out to several of my California Eta sisters. They allowed me to ask difficult questions and provided their own insights on diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice. They advised me to slow down, ask for help and act with authentic boldness. They helped me articulate our core values in an updated context that resonates with life right now. Our time together brought to mind my favorite core value: Sincere Friendship. With this lens guiding our conversations, we learned from listening to each other and trusted each other enough to engage in honest, open dialogue.

This is an essential time in the history of Pi Beta Phi: the intersection of urgency and opportunity, meeting our members where they are and moving our sisterhood forward. And, while the conversation may not always feel comfortable, I believe Pi Beta Phi is at greater risk if we choose not to engage in it. To guide my day-to-day work, I keep in mind Maya Angelou’s quote, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” We all have an opportunity to help move our sisterhood forward; we all must commit to doing the best we can as we learn from each other. Within the feature, you’ll see ways we all can take a few steps forward: engaging in conversation, opening our hearts and listening and encouraging community. No matter where you are in your personal journey, I invite you to join me in this work — as an advocate, as a Sincere Friend and as a sister.