Women’s Empowerment Club Has Devoted Following

The Women’s Empowerment Club at Huntington High School is constantly evolving. Faculty advisor Sara Guagliano is in her fourth year of guiding the organization and she has centered its mission around four “pillars of empowerment.”

Education and Awareness

This pillar focuses on educating students at Huntington High School about various issues such as breast cancer awareness and Women’s History Month. “During the annual homecoming bonfire, members sold breast cancer awareness bracelets and socks to show support for those that overcame or currently battling breast cancer,” Ms. Guagliano said. “The club also began a building-wide initiative during the month of October by encouraging staff and students to wear pink during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.”

On October 23, Women’s Empowerment Club members distributed pink ribbons and infographics to raise awareness and educate the Huntington High School community about the symptoms and misconceptions surrounding breast cancer. During Women’s History Month in March, club members plan to read notable achievements made by women figures during the morning announcements.

Confidence and Self Worth

The group calls itself “small but mighty” as members are involved in multiple extracurricular clubs and activities. “While balancing other clubs, members always pull themselves together for events, bake sales or meetings,” Ms. Guagliano said. “One goal that the group wishes to accomplish this year is developing better confidence and self-worth among the women found in Huntington High School. Last year, a guest speaker from Family Service League was invited to the high school to run a workshop on planting ‘Seeds of Self-Worth’ by writing positive affirmations and ‘planting’ them in soil so students can tend to their affirmations.”

Leadership

The club continues to find opportunities for students to develop leadership skills. This year’s club officers include Bella Bernzweig (president), Gabby Genao (vice president), Alejandro Orjuela (treasurer) and Emma Gutierrez (secretary).

Ms. Bernzweig is exciting to be the organization’s president. “ I can definitely prove to myself that I am strong enough to not only lead this club but also encourage other women at the high school to follow in our footsteps.” she says.  “My future goal is to find and invite guest speakers to discuss topics such as Breast Cancer and developing confidence.”

Global Citizenship

The final pillar of the Women’s Empowerment Club is learning how to be a global citizen in society. “A global citizen describes someone who takes an active role in their community to make it more equitable, peaceful and fair,” Ms. Guagliano said. “For the last four years, Women’s Empowerment has used club funds to purchase menstrual and hygienic products and create care packages to be dispersed by teachers, counselors, social workers and other staff members. The goal of creating these care packages is to provide students with equitable access to a necessary product needed for women. Last year, students donated menstrual packages to Family Service League and plans to donate to Huntington’s Blue Market.”

Membership in the Women’s Empowerment Club is open to all members of the high school. Meetings are after school on Wednesdays, 2:30-3:00 p.m. in room 141.