Real, concrete change is necessary in order to improve our communities. But how can young people push past performative activism and make a genuine difference? Culture Jam gives high school students a unique opportunity to connect with one another and learn how to ignite the sparks of authentic change.
Culture Jam is a student-led diversity conference centered on social justice issues and core cultural identifiers such as race, gender, religion, sexuality, socio-economic status, family structure, and more. Organized and helmed by The Ellis School’s Student Diversity League, Culture Jam 2022 will take place on January 14, 2022.
This year, the conference will feature keynote speaker Calvin Murphy, an advocate for family and community support with a background in education and youth services. He focuses on building networks for at-risk youth and their families as well as improving sustainable access to life skills, education, and violence interruption.
This year the theme is Apathy to Action and it will focus on taking accountability for our roles in systems of oppression and moving past performative action. This requires deep self-reflection on what actions we can take that move beyond palatable action. "Apathy to Action" means being willing to step outside of the comfortable bubble we live in to take action that results in meaningful change. Culture Jam 2022 will give students an opportunity to hear from their peers and explore these ideas through thoughtfully planned activities.