Various Northwest clubs such as the Gay-Straight Alliance, National Art Honors Society, and Coalition set up tables in the mall to raise awareness and donations for their causes. Amnesty International had multiple displays talking about the work they help with, ranging from women’s rights, to raising money for those in Haiti, to stopping the death penalty.

“We have about 15 different tables…there are just a lot of organizations that we [Amnesty International] try to support,” president of Amnesty International and senior Becky Alexander said.

“I think with every year we just try to invite more creative [activities] into the mall area.”

Activities included face-painting and tie-dying shirts with the NAHS, playing Rockband, making worry dolls to send to the U.S. Senate to petition for an upcoming bill about women’s rights, and listening to the bands that played.

“I went last year and I was more of a partaker,” junior Hope Wooten said. “This year I’m on the other side [running a table], and it’s interesting to see people enjoying themselves.”

Some participants came to learn how they can become involved with current world issues, while others just came to enjoy the music. Talent from around the area, including sophomore Isabel Zacharias (who sang and read poetry), Briana Swift (singer), and bands Reverent Gusto, Menlo Park, Madrid, and The Cavalry all performed. A “Battle of the Bands” contest (where the band that received the most donations decided what charity all the money went to) determined that Madrid, senior Nick Michalski’s band, was the winner.

“I’m not really used to performing in front of a lot of people, but I had a lot of fun because it was more of an intimate setting than if I were on the big stage,” Zacharias said.

A few volunteers were concerned about the smaller crowds than last year.
“We didn’t have the turnout we were hoping for,” sponsor of Amnesty International David Hunt said. “The problem was we were competing with the basketball game.”

“Jamnesty is our biggest event,” Alexander said. “This is how we can raise money so we can actually give money to Amnesty International.”

The book drive, which will end today, has been running since Oct. 12. So far, about 200 books have been collected, and all of the donations will be shipped directly to the Ugandan school.

The Invisible Children foundation also sponsored the One for One Challenge on Thurday. They asked  students in the over 1,500 schools involved in the Schools for Schools program to bring in $1 each on Dec. 10. They were hoping to raise at least $500,000, and the money would go to help build eleven schools in Africa.

Northwest was also involved in a competition with SM West to see who brought in the most money on that day. The NW students involved in Coalition managed to bring in $156 and beat West, which raised only $33.  For the prize, NW’s Coalition also received the West’s money to donate.

“It’s all just friendly competition because all the money helps build, furnish, and buy supplies for the schools and dorms at our partner schools, ” sophomore Caleb Amundson said.

Coalition is also planning a movie night for Dec. 12. They’re watching “God Grew Tired of Us,” a movie about the Lost Boys of Sudan. Admission is $7, and proceeds go to Schools for Schools. For more information, contact Isabel Zacharias.

Other future events planned are a dance party and a 5K walk/run.

“[Being in Coalition] makes me feel like I’m actually standing up and voice what needs to be done, ” Amundson said. “I’m actually helping other people instead of sitting there and being part of the problem.”

Walkers wore black shirts with a red duct tape “X” taped on, symbolizing displacement.

“The red X symbolizes that we displaced ourselves this morning and the extra hour of sleep we lost,” Adam Chase, leader of Coalition, said.

Chase started the walk by kneeling on a dusty blue Equinox and gave a short address on why Coalition put on the walk.

“This is a quote by John Lennon,” Chase said. “‘A dream you dream alone may be a dream, but a dream you dream together is reality.’ The purpose of this walk is to get everyone on the same page, to dream the same dream. We’re here because we’re the dreamers, the lovers, who are not afraid to care.”

Alex Linderer and Janelle Taylor started “The Walk” three years ago, with about 150 participants.

“Alex and Janelle approached me about starting a Coalition,” sponsor Lindsay Kincaid said. “They were just two kids who started this movement in our school.”

Originally, “The Walk” was started to raise awarness about children in Uganda who walk miles every night to find a safe place to sleep. Children don’t walk anymore, but there are still people who are displaced, which is why “The Walk” continues.

“This is one event that’s not to raise funds, but to raise awareness,” Kincaid said.

Each Shawnee Mission high school has a Coalition club, and every club participated in the walk this morning.

“It’s not just our school,” Chase said during his address. “It’s not just us.”

-Lauren Komer