Ellis School celebrates activism, advocacy with 20th annual Culture Jam Conference

The excitement was palpable at the Ellis School, an all-girls private school in Shadyside, as students led the 20th annual Cultural Jam.

The Student Diversity League and Culture Jam Committee planned and organized the conference, which brought out 122 students from The Ellis School’s Upper School. They were joined by 115 additional students from eight regional schools and school districts — The Neighborhood Academy, Winchester Thurston School, Central Catholic High School, The Kiski School, Gateway High School, Sewickley Academy, South Fayette School District and Seneca Valley School District.

Culture Jam included workshops, breakout sessions and a panel discussion, which gave inspiring messages that encouraged the students toward activism. The panel discussion included Susan Baida, executive director at the Collaboratory Against Hate, who faced domestic violence and abuse throughout her life as a young girl; Leon Ford, an author, activist and co-founder of The Hear Foundation who was shot five times by Pittsburgh Police during a traffic stop that left him paralyzed; and Hanifa Nakiryowa, who survived an acid attack in Uganda and advocates for human rights as well as women and children. She founded CERESAV in Uganda and works with the Jewish Healthcare Foundation in Pittsburgh.

“Having small discussions helps every one of us feel stronger and more supported by every conversation and discussion that we have,” said junior Zoi Sledge, 17.

Sledge is also a Culture Jam committee leader. She said that while she doesn’t necessarily consider herself an activist, “If I need to speak out or speak up, I would.”

Bringing members from their community who are involved in diversity, equity and inclusion work to speak to “young student leaders shows us that it is possible to … advocate for those who may not be able to advocate for themselves,” said senior and Student Diversity League president Nadia Commodore, 17. “We wanted people who would embody creating peace from peril, and kind of created peace from adversity.”

During Commodore’s sophomore year, she said she was still navigating her own identity and trying to understand how she fit into the space of a “predominantly white, all-girls school,” she said. “I didn’t see the space for myself that I needed and I felt that I needed to create that space and for any others that may feel that way.”

With Martin Luther King Jr. Day only a few days away, the conference set the tone of empowerment and education for the students.

“It gets people thinking about how they can make a change,” Commodore said.

During the panel discussions, sophomore and Culture Jam committee leader Khyla Herbert, 15, and junior and Student Diversity League vice president Zaitun Kirabo, 17, moderated with questions about sustainable activism and how to measure impact.

Nakiryowa spoke about the inputs of measuring success when doing the work of activism and advocacy.

She said when thinking about success, she starts out considering what she is seeking, and that advocacy is all about improving the quality of life and it begins at an individual level.

“What did I do today to make an impact on the goals I have for the future, for the people I wish to help?” Nakiryowa said. “That self-accountability is important.”