At Vestavia Hills High School, there are many different clubs for students to participate in with a wide variety of interests for everyone. There are clubs ranging from Sci-Fi Club to Pickleball Club. However, one club stands above all, known for its social justice advocacy: Amnesty Club. Amnesty is sponsored by Mrs. Dalton and Mrs. Hyde. Amnesty Club is one of the smaller groups that are a part of the bigger Amnesty International. Amnesty is an organization known for its social justice advocacy, it stands for justice in nations that are facing conflicts with human rights.
During the Amnesty club meetings, snacks are always provided to the members who attend. Club President Anna Kate Bailey and Vice President Tina Gao usually have a slideshow where they share a presentation. Other board members include Davis Johnstone who is the Treasurer, Caitlyn Webster-Roberts who is the Social Media Coordinator, and Claire Placzek who is the Community Outreach Coordinator. Currently, Amnesty Club members are focusing on signing petitions that advocate for freedom of expression and its importance.
Last year, Amnesty Club did multiple fundraisers like “Change for Change” where students had the opportunity to donate their spare change to provide money for food kitchens in the Greater Birmingham Area. Students donated enough money to provide a little over 1,000 meals to a food kitchen. They were also allowed to go on a field trip down to the state's capital Montgomery and meet policy makers and learn about the justice system. Some students even participated in the annual Amnesty, “Write for Rights” event where they had the opportunity to write letters to policymakers in the United States and other nations to draw attention to human rights issues around the world that must be solved. Students also sign petitions through Amnesty Club to advocate for human rights issues.
This year, Amnesty Club is planning on continuing their annual, “Change for Change” fundraising event, “Write for Rights” event, and hopefully revisiting Montgomery this year. They are also planning to increase their community involvement by participating in multiple volunteer opportunities within our community.
Given the many different clubs Vestavia has to offer, Amnesty Club is a vital club in our school community. Amnesty Club is also important outside of our school community. Members work hard to advocate for all people. Through their hard work and dedication to doing what’s right, members use their voices to promote social justice globally.
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