Schaumburg High School is making a difference through donations to the WINGS Program, an advocacy group that offers support, education, and housing to victims in efforts to end domestic violence. WINGS operates two safe houses — one in the northwest suburbs and one on the southwest side of Chicago — accommodating up to 85 people each night.
The Black Leaders Achievers Club at Schaumburg High School (BLA), sponsored by Mrs. Allen, raised hair care donations for the WINGS Program. Oftentimes, African-American women lack access to hair products when living in a safe house.
BLA chose the products on Amazon, and the staff were able to go to the store and select the items. The products were then shipped to the school.The donations raised by the BLA were transported to Palatine.
Black History Month is an annual celebration in February that recognizes the contributions and achievements of Black Americans to U.S. history and culture. The WINGS program donations help students and staff mark Black History Month while helping those in need. But this wasn’t the only way that BLA marked the occasion.
Beginning on February 3, there was also an Art Contest that BLA hosted in honor of Black History Month. The winner of the contest, Kotone Nagaya, had her artwork displayed in one of the Door 1 showcases. Her artwork was featured on all BLA event materials, and she won a $40.00 gift card.
The theme of the contest was Honoring Our Roots. Individual and group submissions were allowed, and each artwork needed a description explaining the connection to the theme. Judges also needed to understand the relevance to the theme. The categories of the contest included:
- Visual Arts: Paintings, drawings, digital art, etc.
- Sculpture and 3D Art: Clay, found objects, mixed media.
- Photography: Photojournalism, portraits, street photography.
- Poetry & Literature
- Performance Art: Dance, spoken word, or drama performances.
Kotone Nagaya, an international student at Schaumburg High School, has a strong interest in learning about different cultures. She saw this contest as a great opportunity to deepen her understanding of American culture.
“While researching Black history, I was especially drawn to the uniqueness of Black culture, and this is where I got my idea for my artwork. In the bottom half of my piece, you can see the Black Power symbol gripping onto shattered chains that wrap around items representing Black American culture. This symbolizes their strength, breaking free from prejudice and discrimination by themselves. These details tie into the theme ‘Honoring Our Roots’ by expressing how the roots of Black culture are deeply connected to struggle, but also to powerful determination and identity,” said Kotone.
Additionally, April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, 45.1% of Black women have experienced domestic violence, and an estimated 51.3% of Black female homicides are related to intimate partner violence.
The goal of SAAM is to increase awareness and prevention of sexual assault, harassment, and abuse. In honor of this month, Saxons LEAD is partnering with WINGS to host a clothing donation drive.
Oftentimes, survivors arriving at WINGS come with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. Every donation makes a meaningful difference, helping survivors on their path toward self-sufficiency.
“The annual clothing donation empowers students to make a real impact close to home, turning compassion into action. Items that one family no longer needs can become a source of comfort and dignity for another,” said Ms. Lakin, an EL teacher at Schaumburg High School.
“I think that donating to the WINGS program is a meaningful way for our school to give back and support people who are victims of domestic violence. It shows that as Saxons, we care about making a real difference in our community!” remarked Taline Abousamra, the President of Saxons LEAD and a senior at Schaumburg High School.