In their first year, Women’s Empowerment Club has worked to make improvements for the school and the people in it. The club was created by sophomores Annika Adiga and Stella Crilley to bring awareness to young women in the school community.
Earlier in the school year, the group added feminine products to some of the girls’ bathrooms. They asked for donations from the club members to help fill up the products and keep them in stock. They continued to raise money for the period products by working concession stands at different sports games.
“We worked on putting pads and period products in the bathrooms, and I think that’s a really good idea because sometimes I see them empty, so people are using them,” freshman Austin Waller said.
WEC is working to make more improvements to the school for girls so that they feel seen and welcome. While they have just gotten started, they have future plans and there are more to come.
“I would like to see us continue expanding our feminine hygiene products to all bathrooms, and one of our next things we want to do is some kind of community closet for formal wear so that the girls and women in the school are able to have access to things for dances,” WEC sponsor Carrie Bowman said. “And I think getting input from members has had a big impact.”
WEC met every month during the school year, and the officers and the club members came together to find new and improved ways to support girls, for instance, going to girls sports games.
“We’re currently planning soccer night for the girls soccer team because that was one thing that we saw as a gap that our women’s sports weren’t getting the same attention as the men’s sports,” Bowman said.
WEC not only wanted to help the school, but other students from different schools and communities.
“One idea that I’ve had is trying to volunteer at a women’s shelter,” Waller said. “Just to really see kind of what it’s like there and get an idea on how we can help the community more. I think it is a really good club and that other schools would benefit from it also.”
WEC hoped to add more members who are male so people know that WEC is for everyone. “It’s been a really great first year, and I’m excited to see where we continue to head in future” Bowman said.
