Making cards for loved ones is common around holidays, but those who don’t have any living family or live in retirement homes often do not receive these small tokens of care. The Global Minds Club works to change this by crafting holiday cards for Baldwin’s local seniors.
“We’ve worked with the senior living facility at Holiday Bethel Park to give every person there greeting cards on certain holidays so that everyone receives something,” the club’s sponsor, Rebecca Mackin, said.
Working in the community and making a difference in Baldwin is one of many goals of this club.
Another is to welcome all students of different backgrounds to share their cultures and experiences. The club teaches students about diversity outside of the traditional classroom environment, using fun activities such as making bracelets that represent varying cultures.
“I feel like it is a really good space for people to get together,” senior Co-President Karauna Neupaney said. “It’s a very rewarding thing to be a part of.”
The club tries to build empathy and communication among all its members.
“We talk about every topic under the sun. We talk about education systems across the world, poverty-related issues, politics, gender issues, LGBTQ issues,” Mackin said.
These subjects give students a space to speak about their backgrounds since students often feel awkward when discussing their lives.
Mackin has found that the club has opened up opportunities for kids.
“We have been able to provide so many extra resources for students that I think they otherwise wouldn’t have or be aware of,” Mackin said.
Through the Pittsburgh World Affairs Institute, members have been able to get opportunities for field trips and scholarships. One of their most recent field trips took the members to Carnegie Mellon University to hear a panel of organizations discuss world issues.
“I learned about the Pittsburgh Project,” co-president Mia Beardsley said, referring to the nonprofit organization that supports kids through after-school programs and summer camps.
Mackin has been the sponsor for the past three years and she has seen how it has benefited members.
“One of its largest components is just to empower students to go through those experiences and have those leadership roles,” Mackin said
The two co-presidents, Neapaney and Beardsley, have been a part of the club since their freshman year. Beardsley remembers going to her first meeting and immediately being interested.
“It was a lot different than any of the clubs I have ever been to, “Beardsley said.
Both Beardsley and Neupaney believe that as the club grows, it becomes better because members gain more insight into their peers’ cultures.
“As the years progress more and more people join, you get more perspectives on how other people live their life, either in America or back at home,” Neupaney said.
Another benefit, Neupaney said, is that students learn vital life skills.
“It’s helped me with my communication skills meeting all of these different types of people,” Neupaney said.
