In an effort to raise money for the Michigan Immigrants Rights Center, Feminist Club co-president Kaylee Gadepalli and secretary Eva Millwood stand behind a table in the hallway of the third floor at CHS selling candy grams. For the past couple of days, Gadepalli, Millwood and other members of Feminist Club had been selling candy grams in order to raise the most money possible.

“Based on all the stuff going on this week, people have really been stepping up and being a lot more active,” Gadepalli said. “We thought the best way that feminist club could contribute was by bringing back our annual candy gram fundraiser, but instead of keeping it to ourselves, donating it to a good cause.”

Feminism or fundraiser-related discussions are common on Fridays during lunch in room 213: Feminist Club’s current meeting location. The club focuses on discussion, activism and engagement centered around Feminism. Co-presidents Autumn Klus-Salisbury and Kaylee Gadepalli, along with vice-president Clara Bailey and other board members often lead discussions and encourage members of the club to step up and advocate for the rights of women, equality and equity.

At a typical meeting, a board member will give a small presentation on a concept that has to do with feminism, and then open it up to discussion. Previous topics include the different waves of feminism, women in horror and women in literature.

“I love running feminist club because it’s a really great space for us to meet up, and I feel like we’re a very actionable club,” Klus-Salisbury said.
”It’s been great seeing this club grow from where it was when I was a freshman versus where it is now.”

In addition to what Klus-Salisbury said, having spaces to talk about feminism is important to vice-president Clara Bailey.

“It’s something that we talk about in history a little bit, but I think it’s very important to have a specific space where everyone is welcome to learn and talk about feminist topics,” Bailey said.

Next year, Klus-Salisbury hopes that the next generation of Feminist Club will continue the legacy that she and the board members will leave, as they are all currently seniors. She was little worried about the continuation of the club at the beginning of the year, however she now feels as though the club holds a good number of underclassmen who will continue to be strong leaders.

“I’m really confident in the next generation that has joined Feminist Club and is taking it and going further than we did.”

If CHS students want to discuss or learn about Feminism, Bailey and Salisbury both believe that Feminist Club is a great place to start.