Wins from the (20)10s
It happens at the end of every year: your friends are posting their top 9 on Insta, the internet publishes (even more) listicles, and cable TV fills our pre-New Year week with countdown shows.
It seemed only natural that we joined the fracas as we end not only a year, but a decade. This is an extra special year for us: not only are we closing out the 2010s with the rest of the world, we’re closing out our first decade as an organization!
Celebrating the wins is important in any stage of leadership, so we are using this week to celebrate our wins from the ‘10s! Each day, we’ll celebrate 3 accomplishments, which will culminate in what we’re most proud of this decade.
Check this post every day leading up to Dec. 31, 2019, as we add to the list!
10. AFLV develops operating system
As we continued to grow as an organization, we knew it was time to take a step back and make sure the AFLV experience was addressing the ever-changing needs of the fraternity/sorority experience at all levels. In 2017, through work with our amazing Board of Directors, we developed the AFLV Operating System to guide who we are, what we do and how we make decisions.
Most of our organizations made tweaks and changes to things like rituals and symbols in the early days, and all of our organizations have evolved their programming in the past 40 years. We are no different as we strive to make changes that enable you to accelerate progress in your communities.
Just like our AFLV LeaderShape attendees, we did the work to find out who we wanted to be and who we could be.
9. #TeamAFLV continues to grow
In the past decade, have hired a professional staff of six while expanding volunteer opportunities. It takes a village and then some to make AFLV experiences happen, and we’re proud to have a team dedicated to serving more than 250 campuses and 75 organizational partners full time.
8. Assessment Proves Conference Impact
In fall 2017, we wanted to measure what conference attendees had always told us in conversation: AFLV West and AFLV Central made a difference in their leadership experience. We partnered with Dyad Strategies to measure specific objectives.
Here’s what Dyad found:
For two consecutive years, attendees became less tolerant of hazing.
For two consecutive years, attendees report increased willingness to hold their peers accountable.
Year 1: 2018 conferences
Conference attendees saw gains in key measures related to diversity and social activism.
Year 2: 2019 conferences
Loyalty/Commitment Hazing Motivation decreased significantly among participants.
Fraternity members saw gains in key measure of diversity and inclusion.
Attendees have increased beliefs in their own ability to impact positive change in their communities.
7. AFLV Pledges sponsorship dollars to scholarships
It takes more than just committed individuals to make systemic change. We can’t thank our organizational partners enough for their support. We are proud to commit 10% of all sponsorship dollars to increase access for more students to engage in AFLV experiences.
Each organization is a valued partner to us and the campuses who are engaged in what we do. Thank you for putting your money where your mouth is and making a commitment to student leaders and their development.
6. AFLV Launches The Journey
What began as service immersion trips to El Salvador evolved into The Journey in 2013. Through intentionally designed curriculum, reflection and hands-on service in communities in need, we’ve truly evolved from service immersion to a lifelong journey.
We launch the logistics of these trips for national organizations and institutions across the country.
5. AFLV Supports the Anti-Hazing Coalition
2017 was a watershed year for fraternity and sorority. After the deaths of Tim Piazza and Max Gruver, the Piazza and Gruver families joined forces with the North American Interfraternity Conference, National Panhellenic Conference and other families who had lost sons to hazing to form the Anti-Hazing Coalition.
AFLV was proud to support the coalition and bring the Piazza, Gruver, Braham and Kowiak families to keynote our 2019 conferences. Additionally, we trained facilitators to deliver curriculum to unpack the keynote and truly make a difference. The effort continued all year as the families each wrote for Connections for #NHPW19.
4. Connections moves online
You know that dope magazine that you always wanted to share with everyone? We heard you loud and clear for something digital and sharable.
In 2017, we moved Connections online to expand our content and make it easy to share our no-holds-barred content. In 2019 (tbh, this week), Connections had a glow up. This is our first article on the new site with the new look!
3. Conferences move cities
There are a lot of things to consider when looking for a conference site. As we prepared for a new AFLV Central contract starting in 2013, we had some boxes to check on our list.
✓ The largest hotel ballroom in the Midwest
✓ Space for all attendees to watch the NBGLC Stroll Competition
✓ The same city as 27 fraternity/sorority headquarters
Indy, the largest city in the Crossroads of America, checked all of the boxes. In fact, after moving the conference every four years, AFLV Central has been in Indianapolis since 2013.
AFLV West moved to San Diego from Costa Mesa, California. Right on the San Diego Harbor + Marina, the Sheraton San Diego gave us more space with all the vibes of America’s Finest City.
2. AFLV Co-founds It’s On Us Greek Leadership Council
In 2017, we became one of 12 organizations to co-found the Greek Leadership Council. As fraternity/sorority members, we know that harnessing the power of national organizational structures can create real change.
In the last two years, AFLV has sponsored the Biden Courage Awards, which celebrate student heroes who are working to stop sexual assault. We’re proud to be a leader in creating content and grassroots efforts college to help campus communities step up and make a pledge to end sexual violence on campus.
1. Provided change-enabling experiences to nearly 40,000 individuals
Our mission is to accelerate progress through change-enabling experiences.
Here’s how the decade shapes up by the numbers:
More than 35,000 attendees at our flagship conferences
AFLV Central: 29,676
AFLV West: 6,539
696 AFLV LeaderShape attendees
116 The Gathering attendees
It’s hard to believe that AFLV Central 2020 will see our 40,000th individual attending an AFLV experience.