Some may be put on acronym overload when they first learn about WAND and STAND.
WAND, Women’s Action for New Directions, is a national organization of women who seek peace. WAND calls attention to the government’s big military budget and suggests redirecting the money to peaceful endeavors such as education. It also promotes women’s empowerment. Jean Gordon leads Arkansas’s WAND chapter.
STAND, Students Take Action for New Directions, is WAND’s daughter organization a girls-only group. STAND informs students about global issues and challenges them to think outside the box when solving conflicts.
“STAND is awesome,” junior Molly Roberts said. “It’s completely open to everyone and accepting and loving.”
Junior Bianca Craig, one of STAND’s treasurers agrees.
“STAND is great,” she said. “We have a good time. We ‘STAND’ for something.”
Central’s chapter, re-established by journalism teacher Laura Hardy and social studies teacher Celeste Archer, recently had the opportunity to take part in Israeli peace activist Gila Svirsky’s visit. The students worked at a reception for her, attended at lecture at the Clinton School of Public Service and gave her a tour of Central after she spoke in the library.
