Ellis Students Reach Across the Globe
For their Capstone Project, Reflections on Global Issues, Ellis 8th graders took on the environmental and sociopolitical issues affecting families in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Peru, and Sierra Leone. After researching a wide range of topics including access to basic education; human rights; family planning; how clean, affordable water (or the lack thereof) can impact infectious diseases; basic health and wellness; and the environment, the students presented their findings to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Not the Foreign Relations Committee, but rather one comprised of local community, government, and educational leaders including Lauren BYRNE Connelly ’02, executive director of Lawrenceville United; Betty Cruz, manager of special initiatives for the City of Pittsburgh’s Mayor’s Office; Yasmin Purohit, Ph.D., chief diversity and inclusion officer at Robert Morris University; and Erika Strassburger, chief of staff for Pittsburgh City Councilman Dan Gilman.
“I was incredibly impressed and inspired,” Betty says. “This experience awakened me to a corner of Pittsburgh where empowered young women are encouraged to work together—using their individual, distinct, powerful voices—to present thoughtful, results-oriented solutions.”
Equally impressed was Ellis alumna Lauren. “I’m optimistic about the future, knowing it will be shaped by these community leaders in the making.”
This article originally appeared in the Fall 2015 issue of Ellis Magazine.
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“I was incredibly impressed and inspired,” Betty says. “This experience awakened me to a corner of Pittsburgh where empowered young women are encouraged to work together—using their individual, distinct, powerful voices—to present thoughtful, results-oriented solutions.”
Equally impressed was Ellis alumna Lauren. “I’m optimistic about the future, knowing it will be shaped by these community leaders in the making.”
This article originally appeared in the Fall 2015 issue of Ellis Magazine.
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