“Call Me, Daddy: Stories From Your Daughter,” an event centered on sisterhood and sharing similar father-daughter experiences in a safe space, was held on Nov. 13 in the Pioneer Café and hosted collaboratively by Women In A New Direction (W.I.N.D.) and Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha Inc.
Through storytelling and open conversation, a supportive environment was created where women connected, validated one another and explored the influence of family dynamics on their identities. The event was founded by Tatiana Betances, Utica University alumnus and sister of Hermandad Sigma Iota Alpha Inc., who graduated in 2015 and originally launched the program in 2014 under the name Daddyless Girls.
Betances said her goal was “to hold space for those who raised us, honoring the masculine energy in female lives.” She added that the conversations are intended to provide a safe space for students to process their family dynamics.
“Being away at school, we get into those deep thoughts on family, and we want this to be a safe space talking about family dynamics and healing, so no one feels alone,” Betances said.
Betances, who talked about the struggles she faced with her father growing up, began sharing her story to help other young women with similar experiences feel less isolated or ashamed. Her openness, she said, helps create a community where vulnerability is welcomed and healing is encouraged.
“ At the time, I was beginning my own healing journey, grieving the relationship my father and I didn’t have, so building this space felt especially personal and necessary.”
Rebranding to Call Me Daddy gave it a fresh identity and included new components aimed at healing.
At the end of the event, the women in attendance had the opportunity to write a letter to their fathers and start a healing wall.
One of the most important aspects of the program that Betances loves is the diversity of the panelists, not just in who they are, but in their relationships with their fathers. Despite their different upbringings, they all shared a desire to understand their experiences, tell their stories and heal publicly.
Zeniyah Gholson, a business administration major with a minor in psychology and the current president of W.I.N.D, has been a member since her sophomore year.
“For me personally, I believe this event opens doors for comfortable conversations among women,” Gholson said. “For W.I.N.D, I’d say the same thing — we’re creating a safe space. Women in a New Direction is a club that fosters community, unity and sisterhood, because if we don’t have that, what are we?”
Gholson said she hopes more people will attend a meeting and learn about W.I.N.D. Although joining might seem intimidating because it is a women’s group, she emphasized that the organization is a welcoming space that also hosts fun, engaging activities.
One participant, Monic Kumih, said the event was especially meaningful because she grew up as a very private person. Her mother always encouraged her to keep personal matters, especially her relationship with her father, to herself, so she rarely opened up about her home life.
She explained that speaking at the event brought her out of her comfort zone and that being in a safe, supportive space “unlocked something” in her. Opening up allowed her to reflect on how her family dynamic shaped her and the kind of relationship she hopes to build in the future.
Growing up in a single-parent household made her deeply appreciate her mother’s constant support. As Kumih shared her story, she recognized that her mother often had to fill both parental roles, providing stability, security and guidance on her own. Realizing the strength her mother carried inspired her to work hard and acknowledge the impact her upbringing has had on the person she is today.
For more information, reach W.I.N.D and Hermandad de Sigma Iota Alpha Inc. on Instagram at @wind.utica and @sia_alphaphi.
