Leading for Equity
Leader — Gender Equity Organization (GEO)
The Beginning
I joined GEO because I wanted a space where students could talk openly about gender, equity, and the experiences that shape people differently. Over time, I moved from participating in those conversations to helping lead them.
Creating Conversation
As a leader, I help organize discussion-based meetings around topics including empowerment, intersectionality, reproductive rights, and sexual harassment. I have also helped bring speakers into the school community and contributed to the school’s women’s conference.
Taking It Beyond Our School
One of the parts of GEO I value most has been helping expand empowerment programming beyond our own campus. Through the Empowerment Committee, we developed opportunities to speak with younger students about gender equality and confidence.
What Leadership Looks Like to Me
GEO has taught me that advocacy is not simply about speaking strongly about what you believe. It also means creating space for questions, listening to perspectives that differ from your own, and helping conversations remain thoughtful even when the subject is complicated.
“Leadership can begin by creating a space where people feel comfortable speaking.”
Why It Matters
Conversations about equity can feel abstract until they are connected to the experiences people have every day. GEO has helped me see how education and discussion can make those issues more personal—and how younger students can begin developing the confidence to question assumptions for themselves.