by Kori Washington
Every club starts somewhere, and for the InterACT Club, it all started with two women being approached.
What started as a conversation at Homecoming eventually led to the return of the InterACT Club.
“It was at Homecoming, actually, when we got approached by some community members to see if we had any interest in starting this club. This club had previously been at JHS about five years ago,” said InterACT Club co-sponsor Chloe Merkle.
Although the club was absent from JHS for years, community members wanted to bring it back and create new experiences for students.
“The main purpose of the InterACT Club is to help strengthen the bonds that build a community, and to get students invested and involved in the world around them,” said InterACT Club co-sponsor Francesca Hernandez.
Along with the goal of getting the students to be more involved with the community, the club also hopes to make a name for itself.
“We hope to be well-known in the community as helpful hands willing to assist anywhere we’re needed,” said Hernandez. “We have already made some strong connections with the local Parks Department, animal shelters, nursing homes, food banks, and GCCS schools in our first active month.”
Both the sponsors and the student members have goals in mind for the club moving forward.
“I hope the InterACT Club will give me skills such as leadership, problem-solving, and time management,” said senior Tyrone Whitten.
Other members have similar goals and hope to use the club to better themselves.
“I hope to gain a sense of community within my new environment,” said senior Evelyn Harwood.
“I hope to develop leadership and community working skills from this club,” added freshman LaRon Robinson.
Although the students look forward to what they can gain from joining the club, they also look forward to what the club will do for the community.
“I hope the club will make a difference in my community by always having someone out there helping in some shape or form. I think uplifting others makes the community stronger and ten times better,” said Whitten.
Beyond the club goals, community service plays an important role in teaching people not only to think about themselves but also to think about others.
“Students will learn important lessons in responsibility, empathy, problem-solving, and teamwork. It not only helps them grow as people, but helps the community grow in a way that fosters a wide sense of belonging,” said Harwood.
Beside teaching students the importance of helping others, the sponsors encourage students to develop more skills that help them in the future.
“We hope students foster the skills of just being kind to others, less phone time, being on time, being present, and, like, following through with what you said you were going to do,” said Merkle.
While the sponsors hope to help students develop skills that will benefit them in the future, their reasons for wanting to sponsor the club go beyond teaching.
“I want to help bridge the gaps that might prevent students from going out and interacting with their community. There are so many fantastic local organizations and opportunities that need assistance, and service is so significantly helpful no matter how small. Impact makes ripples that can be seen throughout the whole community,” said Hernandez.
As the club continues to grow, its sponsors hope that the students’ efforts will help make more people want to get involved in helping out the Jeffersonville community.
“Walls separating students by gender, grade level, social status, or even academic performance are dissolved in InterACT. If you want to make Jeffersonville a better place, you are welcome here,” said Hernandez.
