![Many hands holding each others' hands]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1750870491/fvlhsorg/jp1sfus50bkskxjyzurp/Perspective.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1750870491/fvlhsorg/jp1sfus50bkskxjyzurp/Perspective.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1750870491/fvlhsorg/jp1sfus50bkskxjyzurp/Perspective.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1750870491/fvlhsorg/jp1sfus50bkskxjyzurp/Perspective.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1750870491/fvlhsorg/jp1sfus50bkskxjyzurp/Perspective.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1750870491/fvlhsorg/jp1sfus50bkskxjyzurp/Perspective.jpg","width":1700}])
Building Community Through Perspective
While our nation is often divided on issues of race, our school wanted to create a space for students to talk about what is going on in our world. We know conversations are had outside of our classrooms, so Perspective was created to allow those conversations to take place in a Christian setting with God’s word as the guide. As FVL has grown, it has become more ethnically diverse. That has been a wonderful blessing and gives us a glimpse of what the apostle John saw in Revelation 7: people of every tribe, nation and language. Perspective encourages empathy, Christian love, and understanding by increasing awareness of the challenges and strengths of being a minority on campus. Through proactive leadership, scholarship, community outreach, and student empowerment, Perspective seeks to create a more inclusive and supportive school environment.
“We’re working to incorporate four core values in our group—Christian love, respect for diversity, student empowerment, and community outreach,” shared advisor Jackie Gawel. “I’m passionate about giving a voice to the voiceless, and our students in this group share that passion. They’re excited to learn and share their knowledge with others on campus.”
Throughout the year, Perspective holds meetings focused on education and dialogue. Recent activities included reading and discussing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail and hosting an Appleton Police Department school resource officer to discuss topics such as racial profiling and immigration.
Members of Perspective gain a deeper understanding of the diverse experiences of their classmates and learn how to empower others to lead and serve those who may feel overlooked. As one student put it: "I wanted to be more involved at FVL, and I wanted to learn how I could be a better student and make a more positive environment."
Perspective continues to grow and invites students from every grade to apply through a short essay. Together, they are making a meaningful difference on campus—one conversation at a time.
