Sasha Kezhaya
A local family gleams with enthusiasm as they unpack Christmas gifts from students. A teenager proudly holds a protest sign, surrounded by a crowd demanding safer communities that are free from gun violence. Students gather after school to have open conversations about substance abuse and mental health in order to reduce the stigmas surrounding those topics. Across Grosse Pointe, students are proving that giving back isn’t just about helping others—it’s about building connections and transforming the community for the better.
Adopt-A-Family is a shining example of this spirit of kindness. Since 1993, it has brought joy to families in need all over Michigan. By connecting less fortunate families with individuals who can donate gifts and food for Christmas, the organization hosted by the Student Associations allows students to give back to the community one donation at a time. With the price of food rising at alarming rates and Nerd Wallet predicting prices to continue to increase by 2.4% in 2023, Christmas fundraising is essential for families in need. Through organizations like Adopt-A-Family, students continue to have an impact by easing the holiday expenses and helping to create lasting memories for community members in need of holiday cheer.
While Adopt-A-Family is a great way of giving back to the community during winter, everyone can take advantage of the student-run clubs, which provide opportunities to advocate for change and inclusion in Grosse Pointe year-round. In school, teenagers are creating more and more clubs that focus on activism, for example, the Black Student Alliance, FaceActionNow and Peer2Peer. These clubs aim to raise awareness on issues such as gun violence, equality, and mental health, to name a few. Just one club can make a major impact in the community. For example, Peer-2-Peer’s annual Suicide Prevention Walk helps to facilitate change to reduce the negative perceptions surrounding mental health and create a safer environment for students to express themselves. A more recent club, GP Students for Change works to advocate for representation in curriculums, equitable funding and job security for teachers, addressing challenges both locally and at the state level. Similarly, Students Demand Action raises awareness about gun safety through events like Wear Orange while hosting essential conversations about firearm safety. These groups allow teenagers to share their desire for change and even put it into action, just as they have with school, state, and nation-wide issues.
The commitment and enthusiasm shared by students to change the world is a key component of what makes North such a diverse and inclusive school. While Adopt-A-Family offers vital assistance to families throughout the Christmas season, student activist clubs encourage inclusivity and social change. In addition to meeting current needs in society, the combination of assistance and long-term change is powerful and effective in promoting a culture of understanding, compassion, and most importantly action. All of this proves how necessary it is that we continue to share our voices and help the community. By keeping this momentum of change going, we can recruit students to join these efforts, increase participation and continue to form a community where everyone is accepted, supported and empowered to make a difference.
