Backyard Boulé in the Bronx

Backyard Boulé in the Bronx who are feeling the same fear of isolation?” Duggins recalled. In the spirit of sisterly love, she decided that over

By Soror Nyahalay P. Tucker

Kappa Epsilon Zeta Chapter Journalist

It stemmed from a single statement.

“I don’t want to experience Boulé alone.”

During a service event, Soror Jennifer Jackson spoke with Soror Juliet Duggins regarding the bittersweet nature of Zeta Phi Beta’s upcoming Virtual Grand Boulé. By all means, this Grand Boulé was exciting in a sense. Zeta was again at the forefront of history by being poised to become the first Black Greek-Lettered Organization to hold an all-virtual international conference. However, Jackson, like many other women across the sisterhood, felt saddened that so many elements of what made the Boulé experience wonderful would indeed be missing.

“When I attended my first Boulé in 2018, I loved the fellowship with sorors and getting different perspectives on Zeta business matters,” Jackson explained. “This would be completely lost had I watched Boulé alone, which is why I asked Soror Duggins if we could experience it together.”

From this confession, Duggins, who currently serves as president of Kappa Epsilon Zeta Chapter in the Bronx, N.Y., came up with an idea to host a “KEZ Backyard Boulé.”

“Could I host a safe and socially-distanced Boulé? How could I provide an opportunity for chapter sorors the course of the two-day Boulé, she would open her backyard to chapter sorors who wished to participate and social distance guidelines would be followed. She sent invitations to the chapter, and interested sorors were able to RSVP.

Before sorors entered on the morning of Oct. 3, 2020, temperatures were checked, and then they made their way to the backyard to find several workstations equipped with Wi-Fi, a hand washing station, and delicious food to nourish their bodies. For Soror Nicole Oestricher, the backyard Boulé was a welcomed and needed experience.

“I first heard of Boulé while I was with seasoned sorors of KEZ during Centennial weekend,” she said. “They recounted previous Boulés, including the long days of meetings as well as the even longer and enjoyable nights of sisterly fellowship. I was really looking forward to getting a better sense of the business of Zeta that occurs at Boulé. So naturally, I was sorely disappointed when (the in-person event) was cancelled.”

“What Juliet did was really special,” Soror Oestricher continued. “For her to open her home for sorors made me feel all the rays of sisterly love. I had the opportunity to really talk with sorors, learn from them, and actually feel like they were my sisters. As a new initiate, still trying to find my place in the fold and still feeling very awkward around older sorors, this moment was everything! I felt that I was with family, not just my sorority.”