A group of girls meet in the guidance office each Monday afternoon with counselor Ashley Saferight with one purpose: to inspire.

Inspire club aims to promote feminism and help girls throughout their high school experience. It was founded three years ago by 2014 graduates Samantha Tall and Abby Ordillas.

“We try to help girls and young women in our school feel empowered, and we help them with the issues they’re dealing with in school,” Co-President Devan Peavy said.

The club addresses social and global issues, but also focuses on individual students’ experience.

The Oct. 26 meeting was relaxed, but they had a lot on the agenda. They discussed practical issues such as how to coordinate the students’ schedules for club projects.

Every girl at the meeting has the opportunity to speak up about her unique experience. Participants are active and enthusiastic.

“[We want to] create a safe zone to raise self esteem and to provide education on how to improve ourselves and the [community of women] in general,” Co-President Jessica Tall said.

Inspire club is for girls who need it, Peavy explained.

“…even if they come to [just] one meeting because they’re dying to say something,” she added.

Peavy said she would have gladly joined the club had it existed her freshman year, because a support group would have been helpful for her.

“If it was already established, I would have loved to come,” she said. “I would have felt like I had a big support group of girls who are like me helping me get through this.”

They believe that stories from upperclassmen can give younger students more confidence.

Not everyone who is self conscious shows it, so they know there are girls out there who are not necessarily looking for the club, but would find it helpful.

Club members have placed small posters around the school reading “Women need to be perceived as…” ending with adjectives such as “Intelligent,” “Brave,” “Strong,” “Caring,” and “Bold.” The co-presidents ask for comments on the empowerment campaign, and they are happy to report people are reading their posters.

This year they started their biggest project yet: teacher of the month. This starts with creating a poster to decorate the teacher’s door and includes a gift of food the teacher likes.

“Any teacher that is a big advocate for  women’s rights, tolerance and human rights [is eligible],” Tall said. “It’s not just females.”

So far they have honored English teacher Casey Matthews and social studies teacher Pam Ogilvy.

The club is planning an additional campaign called “operation beautiful,” an initiative to post sticky notes around the school with kind messages promoting positive school culture. This idea started in late October, but hasn’t been fully launched.

One issue affecting the club is the lack of a budget.

“We haven’t petitioned the Board of Education, the adviser position is not paid and we don’t have an official bank account,” adviser Ashley Saferight said. “We’re an unofficial but recognized club.”

The club plans to apply for official club status in the near future.

“We hope that as the legacy lives on, it becomes one of those things you can list when applying to NHS,” Peavy said.

This year, the club aims to expand its reach.

“Last year it was ‘bring who you can,’ [and] we had really deep discussions,” Peavy said. “[This year] we want to help more people instead of just the people who come.”

They want to focus on groups of girls underrepresented in the club, especially underclassmen.

“A lot of the same faces from last year are still part of the club,” Saferight added. “It was very junior-heavy last year.”

There are few qualifications to join the club, as the members are looking for more students to take an interest in issues of women’s empowerment.

“[Good candidates are] open to the discussion… have good input… and have tolerance,” Peavy said.

They are, however, looking for more diversity, so the conversation can include a greater range of experiences.

“Not just the black girls and the Indian girls.. I’d like to see the girls who are considered the cheerleaders… the ones that are considered the bookworms.. I would like to see girls from all those academic and social backgrounds too,” Tall said.

Typically their meetings are closed to girls only, but if there is a consensus in the group, they may open up certain meetings to guys as well.

“You don’t have to be a girl,” Tall said. “It’s geared for girls, and I know some guys don’t like to have that discomfort. We are open to having guys in the club, but there are girl-sensitive topics.”

The club is flexible with their discussions because their ultimate goal is helping the members.

“There’s always options if you don’t feel comfortable, if you are unwilling to talk or just don’t want to be there… you’re not obliged to come,” Tall said.

Club members want to speak out against negative attitudes that some students may have towards feminism.

Club members agree on their platform; the next step is figuring out the best way to promote it.

Saferight hopes to bring in guest speakers.

Club leaders want the meetings to be open forums where conversation can flow freely and comfortably.

“We want everyone to come out [and participate] because we know it can be helpful…It’s been proven to be helpful,” Peavy said. “Last year the girls felt like they got to really open up.”

“Some girls shared some really personal stuff and they felt really good about it afterwards,” Tall said. “ [Club members would say,] ‘I didn’t really tell anyone this, but I’m glad I said it.’”