Written by Julia Hernandez
At the University of Michigan, Alpha Phi Omega (APO) helps define what it means to build community through service. Rooted in its 3 pillars of leadership, friendship, and service, APO offers a space where students can make a meaningful impact both on campus and across the Ann Arbor community. Established in 1940, Alpha Phi Omega is an all-inclusive service fraternity with the goal of creating inclusive communities by developing leaders and uniting members through friendship and rendering service to all.
“Service has always been a big part of who I am,” said Simar Bhatia, Vice President of Internal Service. “When I came to campus, I knew I wanted to give back to the Ann Arbor community, APO gave me that space.” From knitting hats and scarves for the Women’s Center of Southeastern Michigan to assembling care packages for individuals experiencing homelessness, APO’s projects are intentionally designed to address inequities and meet community needs.
Members also work closely with local schools, writing letters, creating craft kits, and volunteering in classrooms. They particularly serve in under-resourced districts that may not otherwise receive consistent support. “We try to be intentional about where we go and who we work with,” Simar explained. “It’s not just about doing service, it’s about making sure it’s meaningful and equitable.”
A key strength of APO lies in its long-standing relationships with community partners. APO has lots of community partners, including the Women’s Center of Southeastern Michigan, Ann Arbor Public Schools, Food Gatherers, Huron Valley Humane Society, Luke’s Landing, SCRAP Creative Reuse, Special Olympics, Red Cross Drives, and Ronald McDonald House. These relationships are strengthened through proactive communication, collaboration, and a shared commitment to community impact.
The support from the Ginsberg Center and a donation from a previous APO member, Susan Meyer, have also helped APO expand its reach. By connecting the organization with new community partners, the Ginsberg Center has enabled APO to deepen its engagement and create even more opportunities for students to get involved.
Simar pointed out how impact does not have to be large to be meaningful. “It doesn’t feel like we’re doing a lot at the moment,” she reflected. “But when you look back, all those small actions of reading to kids, making care packages, knitting scarves, they all add up. They really make a difference.”
As VP of Internal Service, Simar coordinates all the service events within the fraternity on campus. A piece of advice that Simar gave was to reach out. “There's a lot of people who are willing to work with you and who are excited to hear about what you have to share with them,” she said. “A lot of these community partners’ goals are to give back to the community in their own ways.”
If you want to get involved with Alpha Phi Omega, the rush process for Alpha Phi Omega is held at the beginning of the fall and winter semesters, and at these times, the chapter will hold mass meetings to help inform students about the organization. While this phase of joining the organization is called "rush", it is extremely easy and non-competitive. During the week of their mass meeting, they hold a series of rush events, which are open to anyone interested in joining APO (these often include service projects, happy hours, and fellowship events). These give you a chance to get to know members of APO and see if it's something you'd like to be a part of. There is no "bid" selection - anyone who wants to be a member of APO can join. Follow them on Instagram @apouofm or email them @[email protected]