Back for another year, the JBHS Equality Club opened its doors for their second year. As participants welcomed the club return, the officers kicked it off by sharing exciting and shocking ideas planned for this year. Though already facing internal challenges like officers resigning, club leaders persevered to make sure that everything rolled smoothly. The club meets every other Monday in Mrs. Stums’ room (109) during activity period. The Equality Club’s mission is to provide a safe space for all of the students at JB who feel like outsiders – the LQBTQ+ students, the students of color, and anyone else who feels out of place. The club focused on anyone who walks in feeling welcomed and safe, creating their own little family of sorts. The club strove to keep JB safe for the minorities at the school and have a safe and fun time while they do it.
September 20, 2023
Slay All Day
Equality Club Returns
Zoey Gearhart, vice president and Sawyer Strine, president
More to Discover
About the Contributors
Sawyer Strine, Staff Writer
Written by Emma Smith
This brand-new addition to the yearbook staff is just what we need! Sawyer Strine finds that the yearbook is one of the most memorable parts of your school. During school, he enjoys the English and art classes for the creative opportunities they give. Music and writing are huge parts of how Sawyer decompresses after his busy schedule. He uses those elements for decompressing after dealing with his busy schedule.
Besides being on the journalism staff, he is president of the Equality Club and wants to make sure everyone in JBHS can safely express themselves. In an interview, Sawyer states, "...what can we do to help other kids who aren't able to be as open as we are and feel safe because even they get made fun of for just being themselves.” While having the president of a club and having a job can take a lot of his time, You can rest assured that he will dedicate time to achieve the best pieces of writing and the best photos!
Emma Smith, Staff Writer
Written by Sawyer Strine
A girl in this small town with even bigger dreams. Emma joined the yearbook team to help create something that most every student in the school will keep for generations to come. Smith says, “I would watch Chloe Hawbaker try and create the yearbook and then seeing her create stuff that other students were going to see kind of enticed me because I've always kind of really liked to create things”. Smith has always loved being creative and using her brain to get out of a sticky situation. As a sophomore this year, Emma is diving deeper into the school, but also what her life will be like after she leaves our green and white halls. She tells us about some colleges she's taken a look at already, like Kutztown! After asking Emma what she wants to do after school I was told this, “I'd like to go to college. Maybe major in marketing or something in the design realm so I can work in marketing”. So we at the JB yearbook can’t wait to see what Emma does, not only for the yearbook, but what she does out in that big world!