Written by Ali Wang and Selene Luong(Class of 2027)
Photos by Mr. Stan Shoptaugh(DRBU Photographer) and Gabby Nguyen(Class of 2026)

Interact is a youth service club sponsored by Rotary that encourages high school students to give back to their communities and develop leadership skills. Sponsored by Rotary International, Interact Clubs can be found in over 145 countries, and our club is one of nearly 15,000 worldwide working to create positive change in their local communities, guided by the motto, “Service Above Self.”

On Saturday, February 21st, the Girl School Interact Club brought together 50 Interactors from five different schools to share their accomplishments, exchange ideas, and set future service goals, showing how young people can collaborate to make a real impact. Interact members came from local schools such as Ukiah High School and from as far away as Healdsburg and Humboldt County.

We shared tea and snacks with the guests as they arrived and had the opportunity to talk and socialize before the event officially began. Once everyone was seated, an important member of the Ukiah Rotary, George Phelan, began the meet-up by welcoming all the students and advisors. As hosts, we gave a short history of CTTB and our school and introduced the schedule for the day.

Gathering in a circle, all of the Interactors and advisors introduced themselves and played a game of two truths and a lie to get to know each other better. After breaking the ice, we all walked to our local vegetarian restaurant, Jyun Kang, and enjoyed a delicious meal prepared by the restaurant volunteer staff. The dishes came out one by one, including spring rolls, dumplings, fried rice, chow mien, and sweet and sour gluten balls with pineapple and bell peppers. Everyone enjoyed their meals, and some people even packed food for the ride back home.

After a wonderful lunch at Jyun Kang, the Interactors began sharing their most successful projects, offering valuable insights to other clubs. For IGDVS’s Interact Club, members shared that their most meaningful and impactful project was volunteering at the United Disaster Relief (UDR) Center in Ukiah. They found the nonprofit’s mission deeply inspiring, as it focuses on providing essential necessities to individuals who have lost their homes due to natural disasters. The IGDVS members assisted UDR in relocating to a new facility, where they hope to develop a space that will serve as temporary shelter for those in need.

Members of the IGDVS Interact Club then took the Interactors on a tour of the beautiful CTTB campus. First, they visited the DRBU campus, where they admired an art exhibition featuring calligraphy and photography. Next, the group walked to the Buddha Hall, where they were introduced to simple Buddhist etiquette. Interactors who were interested also joined the circumambulation during an afternoon ceremony. The tour concluded with a group photo at the CTTB gate.

Thank you to all the participants of this event and to everyone who made it possible! Special thanks to Rotary for sponsoring all the Interact Clubs and to the Jyun Kang employees for preparing such delicious food.