A diverse group celebrating with certificates and flowers indoors.

Empowering Young Voices for Change

The Zonta Club of Milwaukee Announces A New Z Club

Z clubs are formed on secondary school campuses or in communities and are designed to provide opportunities for young adults to develop communication and leadership skills, explore career alternatives, and increase their international awareness and understanding through service.

On Tuesday, January 28, 2025 Zonta District 6, and the Zonta Club of Milwaukee welcomed the University School of Milwaukee Z Club during their chartering ceremony for over 20 students. Z Club is open to all Upper School students at USM. The club’s faculty advisor is Monica Liberatore, Upper School Science teacher.

“Having a Z Club at University School of Milwaukee is a very important milestone for our organization and our district,” said Isabel Vidal, District 6 Governor. “You identified unique opportunities early on for service projects, and I can't tell you how wonderful and exciting those are. We want to help your club make a difference in your community, which will help us make a difference as well.”

They have already done some amazing advocacy projects that includes exchanging video messages with girls at Journey House Actions Rwanda about leadership and stigma around menstruation.

Another project is to establish a relationship and communication on topics with the young women and teenage girls from Gashora "Voices of Hope", at Journey House Actions in Rwanda and the Z Club is making videos for them:

  • Breaking Stereotypes about Girls –Challenging beliefs that limit girls’ potential, such as the idea that girls can’t excel in leadership or STEM fields.
  • Menstrual Health – Addressing the stigma around menstruation and discussing access to menstrual products, which remains a challenge for many girls here.
  • Girls' Education & Career Dreams – Sharing stories of girls who have pursued unique careers to inspire one another and challenge the idea that certain roles are “for boys only.”
  • Menstruation Cycle: learning how to count safety days.

The students coordinated two fundraisers to benefit the Pennies for Pigs program which allows the organization to sustain itself and provides jobs to women and elderly in this rural township. They raised a total of $832, with some generous support from MKE Zontians!

The Z-Club Student Co-Founders met with the Milwaukee Club in September to make plans for coordinated leadership, education, and service projects for the 2025-26 academic year.