Dearest gentle reader,
Your patience while we refreshed our vibe is appreciated. Essentials is back from the dead, and we are excited to share our new stories with you. Since the whole publication world has gone digital and it isn’t really just our niche anymore, we’ve shifted our lens to a storytelling outlet. We want to hear from you – tell us your stories about situations you’ve encountered that could help other people.
Our new style is more casual, less academic, and easily digestible – yet packing a punch with a valuable lesson told through a story. Topics like programs you’ve created/run and how they went/lessons learned, crises you’ve experienced, ethical decisions you’ve faced – these will all meet the Essentials storytelling goals. Have you worked with your local police department to help build relations and partnerships with the community? We want to hear about it. Have you revamped your council installations and now your campus runs itself? We want to hear about it. Does your campus have a new tradition that the community has now claimed as its own? We want to hear about it.
Essentials is now the place for great conversation starters and thought pieces that really impact the day to day of our profession. When you find yourself wondering, “I wonder if anyone else has done this yet…”, let’s build up the bank of stories and experiences here in Essentials, to help build those foundational pieces of our work. We are targeting shorter reads to meet that digestibility goal – about 700 words is ideal, but anywhere from 500 words to 900 words can work. From resource sharing to call to actions – we want YOU to help build the Essential blocks of what it means to live and work in the field of Fraternities and Sororities.
So what’s next? That’s up to you. Essentials will only be as strong as the voices behind it. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to the field, if you’ve navigated something meaningful in your work – big or small – we want to help you share it. Not a polished writer? No problem. We’re here to help shape your story and make it shine. We believe in the power of storytelling to connect, inspire, and equip fraternity/sorority professionals at every level. So crack open the group chat, reflect on that wild chapter meeting or hard-earned win, and send us your story. Essentials is your space – claim it.
About the Authors
Morgan Brickley and Armando Rijo are the 2025 AFA Essentials co-editors. Morgan currently serves as the senior director of leadership programs for Triangle Fraternity, and will begin as executive director of Triangle Fraternity on July 1. Armando serves as assistant director for Fraternity & Sorority Life and Student Government at the Metropolitan State University of Denver.
