The Importance of Community and Belonging

Have you ever thought about what true community and belonging looks like within your respective chapters? As members of Delta Zeta, we are guided by our six shared values which include community and belonging. There are plenty of practices that can help promote community and belonging within our chapters and having a sense of belonging has many positive effects on you and your respective members. Let’s walk through how groups foster community and belonging! 

To strengthen or develop community and belonging in our chapters, we need to understand what this truly means. Community as one of Delta Zetas shared values emphasizes that we are committed to fostering communities rooted in human connection, identity development and collective well-being. By creating a community, Delta Zeta provides opportunities for individuals to engage with others, build relationships and contribute to a shared purpose or common good. Delta Zeta’s sisters shape spaces that share common characteristics, interests or goals and are connected by social, cultural and/or geographical ties. Delta Zeta members create communities by promoting inclusivity, collaboration and cooperation, shared responsibility, open communication and positive well-being through interaction and engagement. Sharing the value of community connects the values of belonging, empowerment and friendship at the center of those efforts into our greater sisterhood and communities in which Delta Zeta women positively impact.

There are four stages of building a true community by Dr. M. Scott Peck from his book “The Different Drum” (M. Scott Peck, 2010):

1. Pseudocommunity: This is a stage where people pretend to have a balanced and open friendship with one another, and cover up their differences, by acting as if the differences do not exist. Pretending differences don’t exist can never directly lead to a true community: so the goal is to maintain open communication and a commitment to celebrating diversity so people can spend as little time as possible in this stage of community.
2. Chaos: When pseudocommunity fails to work, the members start falling upon each other, giving vent to their mutual disagreements and differences. It is a time when the people in the community realize that differences cannot simply be ignored. 
3. Emptiness: People learn to empty themselves of those ego related factors that are preventing their entry into community. Emptiness is a tough step because it involves the death of a part of the individual (ego). This paves the way for the birth of a new creature, the community.
4. True Community: Having worked through emptiness, the people in the community are in complete empathy with one another. There is a great level of tacit understanding. People are able to relate to each other’s feelings. Discussions, even when heated, never get sour, and motives are not questioned. 

Once we can move into a true community, our members will be able to experience the true sense of belonging. Having a culture of belonging proves to have many benefits for our members’ social and emotional development.

But first, what really does it mean to belong? As Delta Zeta members, we are committed to being a lifelong, values-based membership experience for women with varying backgrounds, differences and experiences to find a place where they can truly be themselves. We believe belonging is the cornerstone of the membership experience and synonymous with sisterhood. Delta Zeta members strive to cultivate a sense of belonging, acceptance and empowerment to be one’s authentic self within the Sorority. The value of curiosity should empower you and your members to learn beyond just your own experiences and lead with empathy to build true friendships across differences, so all members can feel and know they belong within your sisterhood.

Brené Brown does a fantastic job of explaining this in Finding our way to true belonging. Brown says, “True belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.” This is when we need to bring our authentic selves to the table and, to do that you, really need to be open and honest with yourself on who you are, and to be open to getting uncomfortable to be vulnerable with others without sacrificing who we are to please others. Brown goes on to say, “True belonging is not something you negotiate externally, it’s what you carry in your heart.” 

As you reflect on these ideas, remember that cultivating community and belonging within your chapter is an ongoing journey. It requires intentionality, patience and the willingness to show up as your authentic self while embracing the diverse identities and experiences that make up your sisterhood. By creating an environment that fosters inclusion, empathy and open communication, you are not only strengthening your chapter but also deepening the bonds that make Delta Zeta so special. Community thrives when individuals work together toward common goals. Develop initiatives, activities and events that encourage collaboration and contribute to a shared sense of purpose. With each step toward building true community and belonging, you’re paving the way for lasting connections, personal growth and a shared sense of purpose that will resonate throughout your life. Take some time to sit and think about how your chapter promotes community and belonging with its members!

References

Brown, B. (2017, September 11). Finding our way to true belonging. Ideas.ted.com. https://ideas.ted.com/finding-our-way-to-true-belonging/

M. Scott Peck. (2010). “The Different Drum.” Simon and Schuster.

Written by: Kyra Mymo, Learning and Development Graduate Intern Spring 2025