Diversity Club

Photo from the first meeting of Diversity Club. Photo submitted by Hokanson

Emily Hokanson

What is Diversity Club?

Diversity Club is an upcoming club that officially started in the fall of 2021. Richelle Thornton, a junior at Hamilton, presented the idea of the club to the school board in 2019. With the uprising of COVID-19 and online school, the club wasn’t established until 2021. Since the club has started they’ve successfully had multiple meetings with their members and a few fundraisers. 

The goal of the Diversity Club is to hold discussions about current events to educate its members on topics such as religion and culture. The leaders of the club also find it important to have open discussions with its members to get a better understanding of their peers and the community they come from. If you’re asking yourself why it’s so important, take some time to read the following quotes. 

Junior Sara Zafar, the Treasurer, said, “It’s important to have these conversations in a safe environment especially when there isn’t always an opportunity to in school.”

Junior Iffy Ebije, Vice President, said, “These discussions are when we can be our most transparent selves and are able to really get to know the beliefs of our peers, through informational conversations.”

Freshman Natalie Lassiter, a club member, said, “The different perspectives help bring different viewpoints to the table and help better understand how different people are affected by varying factors.”

Freshman Ally Popanz, a club member, said, “Open discussions are so important because it really gets everyone engaged and you get everyone’s view on the topic.”

When and Where?

Club meetings take place in Mrs. Farrell’s room, room 36. There are two meetings held every month. An advisement meeting is held on the 2nd Wednesday of every month, and an afterschool meeting is held every 3rd Thursday of the month. Snacks are provided at some meetings! 

At the last advisement meeting, December 8th, club leaders and members discussed ideas for the themes of the display case in January and February as well as sharing ideas for how to spend some of the club’s budget. Many members suggested doing care baskets for the bathrooms again, especially with how much positive feedback was received from the last time it was done. 

Why Is It Important?

Everyone’s voice is important and deserves to be heard. This club provides an open, safe space where students can come together and express their opinions, thoughts, and beliefs on numerous topics. This is a great opportunity to learn how to properly communicate with peers. Unlike the club OREO, Diversity Club gives members more of a chance to really showcase their ideas whether that’s through a presentation they’ve made or a short lesson. 

Along with communication is also a chance for discussion. The discussion of current events has many important purposes. It educates students about what’s going on in the world around them and exposes them to important topics. Being educated allows students to form knowledgeable opinions. Not only are current events a great way to learn, but the discussion of other religions and cultures that some students may not be as exposed to as others. Getting a chance to learn about other religions and cultures help students to further understand others’ views and outlooks on situations. 

Members usually set the tone for discussions as they suggest topics that should be discussed and then the most voted-for topic among members is what gets talked about first. Oftentimes, the discussion of one topic leads to another, and sometimes there are disagreements among students. When this happens, the club advisor Mrs. Farrell will step in and ask both students to share their side. If students cannot come to an agreement they are asked to respect each other’s opinion and move on to another talking point in the discussion. 

Why Should You Join?

The club offers many opportunities to its members, new or returning. It currently has 18 members and 5 elected leaders. The club is always on the lookout for new members! Students have a chance to share their thoughts and opinions with peers they can collaborate with. Members are also encouraged to recommend discussion topics that they are interested in, giving everyone in the club a chance to explore their interests with others. 

Lassiter adds, “It’s so fun to get to know new people and have fun discussions about cool topics I’m interested in!”

There are also many chances to get involved with events Diversity Club participates in. If students are interested in volunteering, the club is sometimes looking for students to help with concessions at basketball games. 

Popanz commented, “Doing concessions was so fun and I got to talk to a lot of new people.”

There are also many fun fundraisers the club creates to raise money for donations. In the past, they have had fundraisers at restaurants like Cousins and Pizza Crafters. These fundraisers allow members to get their family and friends involved as well. The money made from these fundraisers is either donated or put towards supplies needed for the club and activities for members. 

The club also hosts occasional, fun get-togethers after school for its club members! In the past, they’ve had a PotLuck with a feast of food to get into the spirit of fall. They’ve also had get-to-know-you parties that allow new members to get to know others and really become part of the club. So many opportunities for fun and learning!

Junior Allison Gierach said, “Joining the club was one of the best decisions I’ve made!”