The Political Action Club recently held a club meeting where the members contacted government representatives to learn how to drive political activism.
“We had an incentive for people to contact representatives of issues that they weren’t changed,” junior Max Backover, president of the Political Action Club, said. “We’re having a Starbucks gift card raffle.”
Contacting government representatives inspired members to politically engage and bring local issues to their chosen representative.
“We just had a meeting where we contacted our representatives,” junior KG Acosta said. “I enjoyed that because I liked feeling like I was doing something. That’s why I sent an email about the trash and the loss of native plants near my house.”
Purpose and Encouraging Political Action
The Political Action Club ultimately hopes to increase political engagement and grow its members’ knowledge through covering current events.
“We want it to be interactive, entertaining,” Backover said. “If this club is entertaining for people, it’ll actually have a profound impact on them and their beliefs.”
During meetings, leaders discuss political topics to educate their members.
“We go through slides and we talk about topics, maybe [people] don’t know before,” junior Vivian White, vice president of the Political Action Club, said. “It’s definitely more structured in that sense, but at the same time, it’s still relaxed and still [going].”
The leaders recently presented a slideshow on the U.S. government shutdown, on what it was and the political context behind it.
“They had they had a presentation and a slideshow walking through, what the Republicans were asking for, what the Democrats were asking for,” Upper School History Teacher and Political Action Club Sponsor Scott Cotton said.
PAC Impact
Discussing political topics in meetings and activities also promotes a shared space for the members to openly express their opinions.
“[The club] promotes an open environment where the students dictate it,” junior Valentina Rojas, secretary of the Political Action Club Valentina Rojas, said.
Members feel the club offers a safe space where they can communicate with others on political topics.
“It gives everyone a space where they can talk about their views,” freshman Evan Huang said.
Members have also gained the benefit of meeting new friends from the club, as well as gaining more knowledge of politics.
“I’ve gotten the benefit of meeting new people,” Acosta said. “I also have gotten the benefit of just kind of understanding how politics works.”
Future Goals
In the future, the leaders hope to bring in guest speakers to connect students with real government experiences.
“One of our representatives that was common amongst most people was Beth Van Duyne, a Greenhill alum, so we’re looking into getting her,” White said.
Ultimately, the leaders hope to grow club membership and see future leaders continue to make an impact in their community.
“I just hope that we can expand,” White said. “These people who have been attending every meeting, when we graduate, can then take over and help just turn this club into something that’s even more impactful.”
