In a world that is constantly evolving, understanding civic duty has never been more important. The Athens Drive Chapter of Rhizome is a nonpartisan civic engagement club that allows students to learn more about their responsibilities and roles within the community. 

“The Athens chapter of Rhizome is so important because it teaches many students about their civic duties and how much action they can take in their community, no matter how big or small. It’s especially important because at this age people have yet to experience the ups and downs of the real world, and Rhizome allows them to have an understanding of what role they play in society,” said Farah Al-Rbehat, Rhizome co-president. 

At the club meeting that took place Feb 4, 2025, students attending the meeting were encouraged to write how they felt about the recent current events in the United States and were able to discuss the events in an unbiased environment. Rhizome keeps meetings relevant and centered on student education while also providing a place to ease concerns. 

“We typically meet every other week and in our meetings, we cover relevant topics and allow students to voice their opinions on them. Every meeting we try to make it relevant to the time frame and connect the topics to whatever is going on in the news,” said Al-Rbehat.

Keeping up with current events and discussing civic responsibilities isn’t the only thing the Athens Drive Chapter of Rhizome is known for. 

“Rhizome has been accepting donations of period products in Mrs. Hornick’s room, specifically in room 2420, for the past few years to help restock supplies for those who need them. Each product donated counts as a service hour. Additionally, helping us restock the bathroom bins also counts as an hour, which is a great way to contribute while also earning yourself hours. It’s such a simple and impactful way to support the community,” said Leya Arikat, Rhizome club president.