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 2021 will be hosted and broadcast
virtually on January 15, 2021.
The conference will feature a keynote address from activist and non-profit executive
Gisele Fetterman, Pennsylvania's Second Lady and co-founder of For Good PGH. The address will be virtual and is free and open to the public;
advance registration is required. Members of the
#notwhite collective, a group of 13 women artists whose mission is to use non-individualistic, multi-disciplinary art to make their stories visible, will also participate in a panel discussion on storytelling and identity, as well as lead an interactive workshop.
This year’s theme is
Cultivating Changemakers and will focus on how comprehensive, systemic change is essential to improving communities. Such change goes far beyond performative activism that often does not address societal injustices and inequalities, and it requires people of all ages to do their part. “Cultivating Changemakers” refers to young people coming together and actively seeking to acquire the skills necessary to take action within their communities right now. Culture Jam 2021 will give students in the Pittsburgh area and beyond the opportunity to listen to their peers and learn how to take bold, brave steps toward being the change.