Courtesy of Peggy Bonbrisco

As she mentally prepares to practice the cyberbullying skit the club will perform to 4th grade girls at Monteith, junior and co-club CEO Molly Spence walks into the latest Women in Leadership Leading Our World meeting.

WILLOW mainly focuses on performing skits for 4th and 5th grade girls at elementary schools on issues commonly associated with adolescence, such as gossip and general exclusion. 

 “One of the skits is about cyberbullying. One of the girls finds out about a birthday party they were not invited to through social media and then it causes a huge outburst in the class,” Spence said.  “We just talk about how to resolve it and talking to a trusted adult about it.”

The skits are not just for the elementary school girls.  The Strong Boys accompany the group of girls in WILLOW and perform the same skit to 4th grade boys, teaching them the same values as the girls.  The themes in the skits are universal to all demographics.  

“If we expanded our group into the community, we could definitely reach more people,” Spence said.   “The teachers think it’s great and they encourage the younger girls that we present to and the guys that the guys present to join WILLOW when they come to North.”

Spence has plans for how the group can expand their influence into the community, particularly when it comes to the realm of charitable giving.  

“I’m definitely thinking of talking to Mrs. Bonbrisco about possible charities we can donate to,” Spence said. “Ones that just supply menstrual products to women in need, women who are less fortunate who can not afford them themselves.”

Inspired to join it by older friends who participated in the club, WILLOW has now become Spence’s favorite extracurricular activity.  The club provides a positive atmosphere, with fun activities at every meeting.  

“People should join it because it really feels like a family,” Spence said.  “It gives you people to say hi to in the hallway and good friendships.”