The Solidarity Club, a service group on Campus, has been gaining notice for the positive influences they are making on young girls lives in the Dayton area.
Bringing awareness to female related topics and concerns, the Solidarity Club focuses on empowering elementary and middle school aged girls from fourth to eighth grade.
The group is composed of all female students from the University of Dayton and tackles issues and topics these young girls may face throughout their adolescence such as bullying, self-confidence, professionalism and
healthy relationships.
Every other Friday, they travel to Cleveland Elementary School to host an after school club called
“Girl’s Club.”
The Solidarity club’s aim through this after school program is to serve as role models to young girls from the inner-city of Dayton and to provide them with tools to help them become confident young women.
The Club’s goal is “to bring awareness to female related topics and support women of the Dayton community,” said co-president Lauren Evans, a junior psychology major.
Through their mentoring, the Solidarity club provides these young girls with a positive influence and someone they can look up to.
“It seems like many of them need and want a female role model,” said the club’s co-president, Jessalyn Crossman. The women of the Solidarity Club are there for these girls to provide them with strong female examples they can look up to.
Not only do they act as role models but the “program provides support and structure. It allows the girls to meet new friends in different grades and classes. It provides a healthy outlet,” said Evans.
Helping young girls improve their levels of confidence, build healthier relationships, and make new and lasting friendships is not only beneficial for the young girls they mentor, but also makes the Solidarity club ladies “feel so blessed and connected to the community of Dayton,” said Crossman.
Getting involved with these young girls in the Dayton community also makes other members like Devin Swisher “thankful for the opportunities I have had.”
Though the club attracts many education and psychology majors, it is open to all female University of Dayton students and is helpful in “brainstorming new idea to benefit the women in the Dayton Community” according to member Rachel Gamble. The Solidarity Club is dedicated to bringing awareness to female issues and topics and helping the young women in the Dayton community.
