By: Cecilia Holte
This year, the QV Voice club has been working to implement peer support and unifying practices throughout the Quaker Valley community and the greater Pittsburgh area. QV Voice is a peer support and mental health awareness club that seeks to make QV a safe, healthy space for all students. In October, student representatives from the Black Student Union, the Cultural Alliance, and QV Voice represented the district, along with teacher sponsors Mrs. Keller and Dr. Gordon, at the Global Eradicate Hate Summit hosted in Pittsburgh.
As part of a three-day conference, the anti-hate and anti-violence organization welcomed local schools to view the short film REPAIRING THE WORLD, which was created in response to the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Squirrel Hill. Additionally, student representatives listened to the stories of survivors and victims’ family members and the story of Former United States Representative Gabby Giffords, who shared her personal experience as a target of gun violence and how she continues to fight for gun control and peaceful solutions. Attendees were then tasked with brainstorming ways to prevent violence in their own school communities, and our student representatives are currently in the process of coordinating an action plan to present back to the members of the Eradicate Hate Summit in the spring. There will be more announcements in the future as the students finalize plans. The clubs brought their learning back to QV with two school-wide assemblies the week of March 10, making an impact on the high school community and sharing a message of resilience and empathy.
After having filled two locations with artwork and positive messages, QV Voice looks to revisit painting murals in the bathrooms in the upcoming trimester. All interested students can visit the QV Voice Schoology group or reach out to a current member if they have interest in painting. There is also a dropbox in Schoology where any potential art designs or inspirational quotes can be submitted for consideration to be added to the QVHS bathrooms in the next couple of months.
Finally, in partnership with Student Council, QV Voice presented a Therapets Day where, in addition to spending time with therapy dogs, students had access to coloring pages and mental health resources. As part of this initiative to improve students’ mental health, students could also opt to participate in the “Be Kind to your Mind” photo wall.
QV Voice is always looking for new members, so interested students can reach out to current members or club sponsor Dr. Gordon.
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