MACES is showing its passion for social justice as a newly formed club formed during the summer called resistance & reimagination club, also known as the R&R Club, aims to educate and encourage activism.
The Resistance & Reimagination Club started over the summer which was founded because of the rise in deportations and heightened immigration enforcement. These students say that those events sparked urgent conversations about racism and inequality that needed to be expressed on the campus of MACES. “It’s important for us to focus on fighting against these different injustices,” Ana Mendez, a middle schooler explained. “Students need to be aware of all these issues and know how to fight against them,” Itzel Bautista, a middle schooler said.
During the break, R&R Club created a series of art pieces and posters protesting deportation and calling attention to families affected by the ICE enforcement around the community. These posters and pieces were displayed at school to spark awareness but also dialogue and voices among the students including the staff. “Yes, that was one of our projects and it was the first,” Claudia Robles, another middle schooler added. “We all came together and we’re on the same page about what was happening- and how we wanted to fix it.” With the students of the R&R Club coming together in solidarity, they also credit their advisors Ms. Carvajal, Christin and Victoria Villalobos, all teachers who are supporting and guiding them into organizing their community actions and involvement.
With larger projects in the works next semester, the group had hosted a Human Rights Day event on Thursday, December 11. For this event, it educates and encouraged people about Human Rights Day, which according to the nation day calendar organizations and website, honors the adoption of the universal declaration of human rights for all people and all nations.
With this, the students and the help of middle school leadership wanted to promote this awareness by creating pins that supported human rights and its day. “It’s not just decoration, but it’s a statement that we should stand by. My student voice matters-especially here at MACES,” Ana Mendez, an eighth grader, explained.
The board emphasizes solidarity and collected action, the belief that every student has the power to make a change and inspire others to speak out of the different social injustice that there is. “It is better to stand together than to stand alone, ” Christian Macias, a ninth grader, said. “Everyone’s voice matters,” Bautista and Mendez commented as they share the same sentiment. The board is together with no president or roles, giving all members equal power. They hope their efforts will inspire more students to join and continue the fight for social justice.
