Culture Jam
About Culture Jam
Culture Jam is an annual student-led and produced conference focused on diversity. It is designed to empower students to have courageous conversations alongside their peers. Culture Jam offers a safe, inclusive space for high school students to discuss equity-related issues that are present in schools, the Pittsburgh region, and the global community.
On November 15, 2019, hundreds of students from Pittsburgh and beyond will meet in Pittsburgh for Ellis’ 16th annual Culture Jam. Culture Jam is a student-led opportunity for high schoolers to learn and teach about social justice issues and their core cultural identifiers: race, gender, religion, sexuality, socio-economic status, family structure, and more.
This year’s Culture Jam theme, Beyond the Buzzword, explores common terms found in social justice spaces and dives deeper into their meaning. As institutions and individuals strive to finally achieve the ideals of “diversity” and “inclusion” in their workplaces and lifestyles, we have to ask ourselves: What are these goals they are working towards and how do we get there? Seeing Beyond the Buzzword means moving past discussion and past performative activism to take decisive and meaningful action. Culture Jam gives you the experience of listening and learning from teenagers and adults working on social justice issues about what moving Beyond the Buzzword means to them.
This year’s Culture Jam theme, Beyond the Buzzword, explores common terms found in social justice spaces and dives deeper into their meaning. As institutions and individuals strive to finally achieve the ideals of “diversity” and “inclusion” in their workplaces and lifestyles, we have to ask ourselves: What are these goals they are working towards and how do we get there? Seeing Beyond the Buzzword means moving past discussion and past performative activism to take decisive and meaningful action. Culture Jam gives you the experience of listening and learning from teenagers and adults working on social justice issues about what moving Beyond the Buzzword means to them.
2019 Culture Jam Schedule
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
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8:45–8:55 a.m.
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Opening and Introduction
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8:55–9:05 a.m.
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Circle Activity
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9:05–9:15 a.m.
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Chaz Kellem Speaks |
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9:15–9:55 a.m.
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Family Group Activity
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9:55–10:05 a.m.
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Snack Break
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10:10–11:00 a.m.
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Workshop 1
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11:05–11:45 a.m.
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Workshop 2
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11:50 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
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Workshop 3
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12:35–1:15 p.m.
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Keynote
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1:15–1:55 p.m.
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Lunch, Student Performance
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2:00–2:35 p.m.
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Affinity Groups
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2:40–3:00 p.m.
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Closing
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About the Student Diversity League
List of 2 items.
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What is the mission of the Student Diversity League?
Members of the Student Diversity League (SDL) are committed to raising awareness about current diversity-related topics in an effort to emphasize the value and beauty of diversity. They encourage open and honest discussion where disagreement is allowed but acceptance is the final destination. -
What does the Student Diversity League do?
The Ellis School's Student Diversity League is responsible for coordinating events including the student-led diversity conference Culture Jam, Stand Against Racism initiatives, and other diversity-related activities throughout the year.
Questions? Please Contact:
List of 1 members.
Register
Culture Jam Attendee Pledge
To help make Culture Jam a safe and productive experience for everyone here, I pledge to:
To help make Culture Jam a safe and productive experience for everyone here, I pledge to:
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Listen, and keep an open mind to learning from someone new.
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Speak, and help educate others about my personal experiences with diversity and judgment.
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Care, by being sensitive, respectful, and understanding of others.
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Try, by being courageous and patient, and engaging with difficult topics maturely.
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Act, by finding a way, great or small, to work against the culture of judgment in my school and community.
