WeGo Global comes back with International Women’s Day events

Executive+board+member+senior+Zuri+Rodriguez+discusses+gun+violence+awareness+ideas+at+the+WeGo+Global+executive+board+meeting+on+Tuesday.

Photo by Mayeli Vivaldo

Executive board member senior Zuri Rodriguez discusses gun violence awareness ideas at the WeGo Global executive board meeting on Tuesday.

By Mayeli Vivaldo, Editor in Chief

In its first effort since resuming after-school suspensions, WeGo Global will honor International Women’s day with a gap bake sale.

WeGo Global was one of the many volunteer clubs suspended by the West Chicago Teachers’ Association during the recent contract dispute. The clubs were resumed Feb. 15, when a tentative contract agreement was reached.   

A gap bake sale is a bake sale where girls will only have to pay 75 cents for one good while boys will have to pay $1.

“On average, globally, men are paid more than women are. We figured that having that gap for guys, it will highlight that discrepancy,” adviser of WeGo Global Maggie Haas said when asked about the price difference. “It highlights the difference that exists.”

This is the second year the club will hold the gap bake sale.

“It was very powerful last year. It got a lot of discussion going which was important. It was nice last year to see,” Haas said.

The bake sale will be held on International Women’s Day, March 8.

At the bake sale, a variety of goods from cookies to brownies, some donated by staff, will be offered.

“We have about 10 or so staff members so far that are going to donate stuff and as a club, we’re bringing stuff in,” Haas said. “Edie (Freund) is making some of her toffee and I’m making chocolate covered pretzels.”

Haas hopes the bake sale will create significant takeaways for students.

“I’m hoping that they take away some of the local, American issues that exist when it comes to gender issues and stereotypes. In order to bring parity to everyone, I think it’s important that we see where some countries still have some changes to make in order to have women be seen as true equals,” Haas said.

Aside from the bake sale, WeGo Global will also sell t-shirts to support International Women’s Day.

Students and staff can order t-shirts from Monday to March 13.

“We’re doing something a little different this year. The executive board (members) and myself, we are going to have our t-shirts, hopefully, so that when we sell t-shirts in commons, they (buyers) can see what they look like,” Haas said.

Last year, the bake sale raised around $350 and the t-shirts raised $500.

“(Part) of it went to Let Girls Learn which was an initiative started by Michelle Obama (and) focused on education for girls in developing countries,” Haas said. “The other half went to Women for Women (International). It looked more at bigger gender issues in terms of healthcare and work opportunities.”

WeGo Global hopes to raise around the same amount of money this year. The club has not decided where the money will be donated this year.

The club also plans on creating gun violence awareness-related events for March 14. Details are not yet confirmed.