Our Voices Project is committed to embracing identity, celebrating resiliency, and promoting visibility through uplifting the voices and sharing the lived experiences of Black, Brown, and Indigenous Peoples through producing films, podcasts, and live panel discussions. They will share their “origin story” and how they honor the diversity in their team which helps them to create safe, welcome, and inclusive spaces to educate and inspire social change. They will show clips from their projects and highlight lessons learned as creatives, entrepreneurs, and activists.
 

Presenters:

Jackie McGriff (she/her/hers) is the owner of Jackie Photography and Co-founder, Director, and Producer of Our Voices Project. She's a full-time portrait, editorial, and event photographer as well as a documentary filmmaker whose mission is to provide a safe space and platform for teens, women, and people of color to recognize and embrace their bodies, live unapologetically, and share their stories.

Deborah Alvarez (she/her/hers) is the Co-Founder, Cinematographer, and Editor of Our Voices Project, Video Production Assistant at the University of Rochester, and Freelance Videographer. Her mission is to encourage others to not be afraid to express their true selves and show people multiple perspectives through film and music.

Courtney Shouse (she/her/hers) is the Outreach Facilitator for Our Voices Project. She is committed to interrupting the cycle of racism and dismantling systemic oppression and is focused on working towards achieving a more equitable society through education. Courtney is a Steering Committee Member and Educator for Showing up For Racial Justice, Rochester, NY (SURJ ROC), a member of the Indigenous People’s Day Planning Committee, and an active member of Irondequoit High School’s Equity & Diversity Coalition and Eastridge High School’s Diversity & Equity Team.

If you need ASL (American Sign Language) Interpreting, please check the box on our registration form. Given 48 hours notice, we are able to provide ASL interpreting services for our programs. Please contact Sarah Dennison (sarah.dennison@libraryweb.org) for further information.

Registration is required. Please sign-up here: https://hpl.libcal.com/event/10151960