Pennsylvania Gets Engaged To Elect a New President

By Diane Wilson

Gamma Alpha Tau Zeta

Sorors in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania take the GET ENGAGED initiative very seriously. During last year’s presidential election, Pennsylvania was considered one of the key battleground states. Understanding that the 2020 election was too important to sit and watch, sorors across the state planned a variety of activities to Encourage, Educate and Ensure that the residents in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania had everything that they needed for the election.

Gamma Alpha Tau Zeta (Allegheny Valley, PA) educated and empowered voters by supporting voter registration with members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. at a local Pittsburgh voter registration event. The three southwestern Pennsylvania chapters, Gamma Alpha Tau Zeta, Lambda Lambda Zeta and Upsilon Eta Zeta partnered with V.E.E.E.M Pittsburgh (Voter Empowerment Education & Enrichment Movement) and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. to “Turn Up The VOTE!” VEEEM Pittsburgh, founded by Soror Maryn Formley is a faith-based, nonpartisan community organization dedicated to increasing voter turnout in the Greater Pittsburgh area.

Lambda Lambda Zeta (Pittsburgh, PA) worked diligently to get out the vote! They canvassed low-income minority communities, provided voter education, reiterated the importance of the election and encouraged citizens to register to vote. LLZ also partnered with the organization PA Black Votes Matter along with PA State Representative Jake Wheatley to assist people with mail-in ballots and in-person voting.

Philadelphia was listed as one of the major cities in the United States that struggled to get communities of color to the polls. Alpha Alpha Omicron Zeta (Northeast Philadelphia and Bucks County, PA) knew that they needed to be a voice of hope and change for their community. The chapter participated in the 2020 Census Zeta Text-A-Thon and a Voter Registration Email Campaign. The chapter hosted a Vice Presidential Watch Party and partnered with When We All Vote to host an Early Voter Activation celebration. Sorors canvassed the community by providing PPE and early voting location and ballot information.

The Social Action Team of Beta Delta Zeta (Philadelphia, PA) encouraged the citizens of Philadelphia to register to vote for the 2020 presidential election and local elections. They hosted a two-day voterregistration drive to provide information and assist with voter registration. They helped residents check their registration status, encouraged voters to visit satellite mail-in ballot locations, and encourage them to have a voting plan.

Sorors, along with brothers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated, canvassed the community, providing resources and holding important conversations about having a successful voting plan. They hosted a Trunk O’ Treat event to ensure that the members of the community had a voting plan. They decorated trunks, provided pre wrapped treat bags, voting giveaways, personal protection equipment (PPE), music, activities, contests, and dancing.

The Sorors of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania were relentless in educating the community and making sure their voice would be heard in this election. Their efforts resulted in returning Pennsylvania to its original blue state.

I BECAME A MEMBER

of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Omega Kappa Chapter in 1995. The women who were a part of bringing us through the organization taught us the fundamentals of working hard, not taking any shortcuts, and being action-oriented. This has been the theme of my activism, leadership and political aspirations.

Tonya McKenzie, Los Angeles County Commissioner