Garfield’s rich history of activism is reflected through the work of its student-run clubs. Certain clubs are especially focused on creating a positive impact through direct work with the community.
Girl Up is focused on creating a safe place for female identifying students at Garfield. Recently, they have been working to expand their outreach to less fortunate communities.
In recent meetings, the club has prioritized creating pouches for feminine hygiene products to distribute to those in need. Talea Griffin, vice president of Girl Up, is excited about the results so far. “We made period pouches and got over 15 pouches to donate to a local women’s shelter,” Griffin said. Girl Up’s presence at Garfield has highlighted the importance of having a female oriented club in school. “Some girls can’t afford period products, so having that community and safe place at Garfield for girls to come in and get the resources they need [is crucial],” Griffin said.
Razas Unidas works to uplift the Latinx community at Garfield through providing leadership opportunities and celebrating cultural traditions. They strive to embrace and uplift their culture through supporting their community and immigrant families. “We partner with Fundación Corazón who runs a community food pantry in Seattle’s Central District and provides resources to help immigrant communities feel safe and supported, and we’re happy to help uplift their mission,” Ashley Quiroz, president of Razas Unidas, said. Additionally, they create an annual ofrenda, “a tradition where we honor our ancestors and our beloved members of the community who have passed,” Quiroz said. Additionally, she added that their club activities are “designed to bring everyone together, help people connect, and build real friendships.”
Green Team works to reduce food waste and educate students on sustainability. Currently, they are working to set up student volunteer opportunities in the lunchroom to help sort Garfield’s compost. During meetings, members discuss a variety of environmental topics to encourage students and work toward sustainability. “This year, Green Team will continue to do trash cleanup and clothing swaps as a way to remove waste from our environment and contribute to our school community,” XinTong Xe, president of the Green Team, said. Recently, Green Team has implemented a “compost bin in classroom” system, providing teachers with a small bin to encourage students to compost their food waste.
The Parkinson Disease Club helps educate people about the disease along with fundraising for patient care. “We’ve worked with the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation(NWPF) and [did] volunteering and fundraising,” Haywood Albert, the vice president of the club, said. The club does a lot of its advocacy closely alongside the NWPF, a local non-profit organization that aims to provide care for people affected by the disease. Last May, the club started a team to raise money for the NWPF’s WALK for Parkinson’s fundraiser, raising $4000 after multiple weekends of door knocking. Recently, many members volunteered at the NWPF’s annual Gala and auction, one of the organization’s largest fundraising events.
