Human beings have an innate desire to belong, and students from Glenn and Cedar Park high schools are looking for new ways to help each and every student feel included. 

Student clubs, including CPHS African American Heritage Club and GHS Black Student Union, create a space where kids who share something in common can come together and be part of a larger support system. They enjoy learning about one another’s unique personalities, cultural pioneers who paved the way and current voices in the broader community and entertainment industry. 

“We are so much more than what you read in the textbooks,” said CPHS senior, Tatianna Raymond. “It’s important to learn about historical figures like Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but there is so much more to us.” 

“I would like to see students of a variety of ethnicities join us in our club,” said GHS junior, Shylah Crawford. “We like to take time to talk with people who are different from us because it allows us all to learn from each other.” 

These clubs seem to address an issue that is echoed by their classmates, who spoke about feeling left out when they walk into a classroom, during a lunch period or other social situations. With this support in one another, these two student clubs are teaming up to share the importance of understanding and accepting the heritage and history of the black community. The public is encouraged to attend a pair of events:

  • 7–8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13: Black History Assembly at Glenn HS Auditorium, featuring musical performances, historical lessons, a martial arts performance and the announcement of the winner of the Black History Art Contest. 
  • 7–10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15: 90’s-themed dance party at Glenn HS Union. Tickets are $6 presale and $10 at the door. Please contact advisor Randy Bryant at [email protected].

This month, as we celebrate Black History Month, LISD encourages everyone to make an effort to reach out to others in meaningful ways. As these CPHS and GHS students are demonstrating, we truly can “be the change” by being open, welcoming and understanding of our growing and diverse community.  

*Update – changed attribution for CPHS quote to senior, Tatianna Raymond. This was inadvertently attributed to the wrong student in the original post.

*Additional update – original post had incorrect days of the week for the assembly and dance. The correct days are annotated — Thursday, Feb. 13 for the assembly and Saturday, Feb. 15 for the dance.