After reading the book, Half the Sky, Circle of Sisterhood founder Ginny Carroll identified a chance to turn oppression into opportunity for women worldwide.  Ginny created the Circle of Sisterhood Foundation because she is a strong proponent of the sorority experience and is well aware that the sorority movement came forth out of oppression. The Circle of Sisterhood Foundation is a mechanism by which all sorority women can stand together across affiliation, age, color, and creed to make a difference in the lives of millions of girls and women.

This fall sorority women, Panhellenics, and campuses took the Circle of Sisterhood founding to heart and hosted various programs based on the Half the Sky book/movie viewing.

We are honored to bring you their stories and inspire you to bring Half the Sky and Circle of Sisterhood to your campus organizations.

Devin Cowhey, Student Activities Coordinator, Virginia Wesleyan College

We chatted with Devin Cowhey, Student Activities Coordinator of Virginia Wesleyan College on both her individual and campus experience of Half the Sky and Circle of Sisterhood.

College Lifestyles:  How did you first hear about Circle of Sisterhood?

Devin Cowhey:  I first heard about Circle of Sisterhood during the annual Southeastern Panhellenic Conference in March 2012. It was my first year at the conference as a professional.

Virginia Wesleyan College Panhellenic

CL:  What events did Virginia Wesleyan host in conjunction with Half the Sky and Circle of Sisterhood?

DC:  Virginia Wesleyan hosted a campus-wide viewing party for the October 1 premiere of ‘Half the Sky.’ From there we hosted speaker Carissa Phelps, a survivor of sex trafficking in the US. Lastly, we hosted Ginny Carroll, founder of Circle of Sisterhood. These events were to being awareness and knowledge to our students. We believe if they know and understand the what and why, then fundraising comes easy. Currently, we have penny wars amongst our Greeks and our women’s basketball team and women’s lacrosse team. We will be hosting many more fundraising events until the Southeastern Panhellenic Conference in March 2013!

CL: Why you became involved with Circle of Sisterhood?

DC:  I am a college-educated woman, why shouldn’t every girl have that right? I find it tragic that we are in 2012 but our world is littered with hate and terror for women and girls. Moreover, this is such a struggle domestically that my heart breaks. I have a good life with amazing support, but not every girl has that.

 Devin Cowhey and Ginny Carroll, Circle of Sisterhood Founder

CL:  How did you feel after watching ‘Half the Sky?’

DC:  I felt more empowered than ever before. It was eye opening to see the conditions our world is in. My heart broke with each story’ however, each girl wore a smile on her face. Each young woman was striving to break the barriers. That, well it is just inspiring!

CL:  Tell us about any future developments you have in conjunction with Circle of Sisterhood?

DC:  Currently, we are working to bring our College Panhellenic and departments across campus together. This is not just a sorority organization, but for all women. We need our professors, our athletes, our administration, because that is how we can make waves of change. The world deserves it. The young women and girls deserve it.

You can find Virginia Wesleyan College Panhellenic on Facebook and on Crowdwise.