This year’s theme, Building Bridges, was chosen by members of Ellis’ Student Diversity League to inspire young people from different backgrounds to share their experiences outside the borders of their own community. Co-presidents of Student Diversity League, Pei Pei Barth-Wu, Class of 2018, and Ashley Priore, Class of 2018, worked alongside a student steering committee, 53 student workshop leaders, and local community organizations: 1Hood Media, Dreams of Hope, and the Homeless Children’s Education Fund to organize the powerful, productive and positive event.

Students from three states, local youth groups, charter,  parochial, public, and independent schools attended this year’s conference, including: Barack Obama Academy of International Studies, Brashear High School, CAPA, City Charter High School, Holy Family Academy, The Kiski School, The Laurel School, The Neighborhood Academy, North Allegheny High School, Oakland Catholic, Penn Hills High School, Pittsburgh Milliones University Preparatory School, Propel, Sewickley Academy, Shady Side Academy, Shaler High School, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, Taylor Allderdice High School, Westinghouse Academy, Winchester Thurston School, and Woodland Hills Junior Senior High School.

Local activist and entrepreneur Liana Maneese, co-founder and CEO of The Good Peoples Group, delivered a keynote speech on the importance of building emotional resilience and how to recognize and handle unhealthy conversations in today’s world. To a packed auditorium, she described how coded language influences power dynamics and discussions, and offered tips to students on how to state their opinions, set boundaries, and exit conversations safely and maturely.

Over the past fourteen years, Culture Jam’s workshops are a highlight of the event. This year students from Ellis, as well as students invited from other schools, led workshops addressing topics that include racism, gender and sexual orientation, body image, and social justice issues. Culture Jam 2017 included the following workshops:

Reflecting on this year’s Culture Jam, Pei Pei says, “Culture Jam gives students a platform to share their perspectives and ideas, and pushes us to think differently while keeping an open mind. We will be active citizens exercising our right to vote very soon, and it's important to understand the way institutions and systems of oppression impact the world around us, especially beyond our own experiences.”

We are proud of our student leaders for planning this year’s Culture Jam and demonstrating a commitment to equity and social justice in the larger community. At The Ellis School, our community is made stronger and student learning experiences are made richer by having a diverse and inclusive school community. With the goal of preparing every girl for the complex world in which we live, The Ellis School’s belief is that through shared and meaningful experiences, we recognize the collective strength derived from our individual differences.