This school year, Pinckney High School welcomes a new club called Club America. Club America works to empower young leaders to create a space for learning and healthy debating.
Club America is influenced by the organization Turning Point USA. “The high school level structure is provided by a non-profit, non-partisan organization called Turning Point USA that stands for and encourages students all over the country to be able to succeed in this initiative”. Club America has a student-led executive board is held by Jolene Hardesty (President), Annie Robinson (Vice President), Rylee Girard (Secretary), and Lucas Goodfellow (Treasurer).
When asked why she wanted to start Club America, Hardesty answered, “The other members who helped start this club and I have really been spurred on by the increasingly critical state of the social and political climate in our country and world. Especially the decreasing ability to be able to look each other in the eye and disagree in a healthy and respectful manner without being dismissive, outright hateful or inciting violence”.
Club America meets every Thursday after school to try and create a safe space for students to voice their opinions while also listening to others.
Hardesty and Robinson were asked what they would like students to know about Club America. Hardesty answered, “This club does not encourage radical extremist viewpoints, racism or fascism. It is a form of activism group: encouraging youth to be well-read, educated and active, Conservative: in the root meaning of the word, to conserve – in the sense of the constitution and the core founding principles of America, and welcoming: to any and all interested in participating in the club’s goals.”
Robinson also replied with “Not only do we want to make this club a safe place for sharing opinions in healthy conversation and debate, but we want to give confidence to those who are being brought down for what they believe. And we strive to help them grow and be slow to anger when someone disagrees”.
