Activist group We GP creates high school board of directors

After last year’s divisive election, some in the Grosse Pointe community decided to reject polarization and instead focus on combating civil and human rights issues that they feel affect everyone regardless of party affiliation. So, they started the organization We GP.

“It doesn’t matter whether someone is Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Green party, or nonparty,” Stephanie Samuel-Lucas, We GP’s LGBTQA chair, said. “(We GP) is a group for all. As long as you personally believe in those guiding principles of wanting equality for all (and I can’t really imagine anybody not wanting equality for all), then it’s the group for you.”

We GP’s stated purpose is to promote equality both locally and nationally through political activism and community organization. Members hope to achieve these goals by encouraging people to be more active in the community. One way in which they try to accomplish this goal is through different task forces focused on certain issues such as immigration, LGBTQA rights, and the environment. They hope to get community members involved in helping a cause that they are personally passionate about.

“Specifically racial matters speak to me and the LGBTQ plus branch. I would show up to the LGBT and the racial (task force meetings) definitely,” senior AJ White said. “Actually, I would try to show up to all of them if I could.”

Now We GP is attempting to reach out to young people to get involved. They have come up with a plan to encourage high schoolers to participate in their organization. One part of that plan is appointing youth division leader, Lisa Lipscomb, who will be working with young people who decide to join We GP. Another part of that plan was revealed at North’s Diversity Club meeting on Wednesday, March 8.

We GP will have up to four youth positions on their board of directors for high schoolers from Grosse Pointe North, Grosse Pointe South and University of Liggett School. Lucas said students from the 9th, 10th or 11th grade can apply and can  format their application in any way they choose. Applicants should convey what causes they are passionate about and why they are the best fit for the position. All applications will be due by Friday, April 14 and can be sent to Lucas via email: [email protected]. They are meeting with clubs from each school that represent their guiding principles in order to find interested candidates.

Junior Zoey Lightbody said that she plans to apply for one of the positions in hopes of helping with the current national issues of affordable health care and LGBT rights.

“I really like what they are doing with a lot of the stuff in the community and they are really trying to get people involved in learning and becoming more involved in learning and being more active,” Lightbody said.

The decisions will be made by a three person review committee who meet on Saturday, April 15 to look over all of the applications and choose the candidates they feel are the most passionate and best equipped for the responsibility. The appointments last for two years and will start this May.

“We just want to find the best people who are going to help move this community forward…We can do this, but it takes a village… It’s very important especially to you guys because this is your future…This is your time and it’s just so important that everybody learns the lesson that everybody is equal,” Lucas said. “And to be a frontrunner in the community, to help those guiding principles is, even for me, it’s an honor. So we really look forward to working with the youth directors who will be on the board.”