The 350 students of Trinity High School were invited to take part in the March 18 launch of the Women’s Walk of Honor, sponsored by Trinity’s Women Supporting Women Club, which hasapproximately 30 student members.
The walk for Women’s History Month took place on a 41-degree Friday morning during an extended homeroom period.
There were brief snow flurries as the walk began at the school’s entrance on Lathrop Avenue amidst pumped-up loudspeaker music.
Along the outdoors walkways,110 yard signs had been installed. Many featured original artwork with descriptions about women who were being honored by the student makers.
Some students honored women relatives; others honored women from history, heritage or popular culture.
“I’m really proud of the girls. This is completely student driven,” said Amy Gallie, Trinity High School principal.
“I saw some beautiful tributes to mothers, sisters, teachers at the school and obviously women of national and international significance…some religious leaders,” Gallie said.
“It’s really beautiful.”
Keila Green, school counselor and moderator of the Women Supporting Women Club, said, “I think that the most important takeaway is that we are women, we are strong and we can empower one another.
“That’s the most important thing, as long as we stick together, anything is possible,” Green said.
The event, which began as an idea about two months ago, will be expanded as a program, confirmed Susan Bedell, vice president of student life, who was asked if the Women’s Walk of Honor will become annual.
“If you have the goosebumps, the answer is yes,” Bedell said with a smile.
Anahi Rios, 18, a senior from Chicago’s Galewood neighborhood, Brianna Washington, 18, a senior from Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, Anastacia Kelly, 17, a junior from Chicago’s Belmont-Cragin and Isabella Galloza, 18, a senior from Chicago’s Dunning neighborhood were the student event spokespersons.
“I think it’s awesome to honor the women who have helped lead,” Galloza said.
“We’re young women ourselves and we also wanted to honor the women who came before us and have given us the opportunity to have an education like this and grow,” Galloza said.
Washington said, “Everyone put their hearts and souls into this. None of this would be possible without Trinity, without everyone here who has put their time and effort into making this possible.
“To be able to start something like this and to be able to see it flourish into something more beautiful than what you expect, it went beyond my expectations.”
Kelly said, “I actually come from a family where I’m the only girl who has six brothers…it’s just me and my mom.
“So coming here, I was really looking forward to, like, creating sisters and that’s what I got here.
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“When we were holding the doors, I got really emotional because it was seeing all of us together, it was seeing all of us walk out, it was seeing everyone cheering, everyone with a smile on their face, I think it was not only a big moment for us, like, hosting and creating it, it was a big moment for them to be a part of it,” Kelly said.
As women, “We tend to be pushed out of society,” Rios said. “We get our seat taken away from the table. So we’re bringing that seat back to the table.
“We really want to show our (Trinity) Blazers that it’s really important to own what you have and your talents and everything you have to offer,” Rios said.
“And the world needs to learn to embrace it.”
Bedell said she thought Rios’ analogy was powerful.
“And that is exactly our mission here at Trinity, to empower you to take up space and to have a seat at that table,” Bedell said.
“And not only for yourself, but then once you’ve got that seat, advocate for others.
“It’s about pulling in other voices, particularly those who have been, you know, marginalized, forgotten, undertold, you know, written out of history, and bringing them into the forefront,” Bedell said.
“And that’s what this place (Trinity) stands for and has done for years.”
