The Legacy of Pride

Jackie McGriff is a photographer, podcaster, and the Founder, Director, and Co-Producer for Our Voices Project from Rochester, NY, dedicated to telling nuanced stories about Black, Brown, and Indigenous Peoples. Raised with a love for films, Jackie first saw filmmaking as a means of escape but later realized its power in motivating people towards creating change. Her turning point came after hearing countless stories of injustice from her Black colleagues, which propelled her to confront the realities of systemic racism and begin a journey toward fighting for Black liberation. Inspired by films like 13th and hearing about the tragic murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Daniel Prude, she launched her production company to tell multifaceted stories of Black people that push back against destructive stereotypes.

With every film, Jackie empowers the storytellers in front of the camera to share their experiences in their own way, while encouraging audiences to move from listening to meaningful action. Her projects challenge the status quo, demanding that viewers engage in tangible steps for social change.

In addition to filmmaking, Jackie helps lead the Rochester chapter of Black Women Photographers, a network elevating Black women and non-binary photographers worldwide. Her photography work, such as the Silent Screams project—which captures teens’ feelings of being unheard in the face of reproductive rights being stripped away, gun control, islamophobia, antisemitism, and racism—and her contributions to In This Moment, a chapbook series amplifying and preserving the stories of Rochester’s Black leaders, highlight the struggles and strengths of marginalized voices.

With a deep commitment to Black, Indigenous and Palestinian rights, Jackie believes that liberation for one is tied to liberation for all marginalized and oppressed communities.

Balancing entrepreneurship, art, and activism, Jackie champions the importance of rest as resistance.

Courtney Shouse (she/ her/ hers) is committed to interrupting the cycle of racism and is focused on achieving a more equitable society through education. Courtney has worked at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield since 2012, most currently as Manager of Client Success- National and Strategic. In addition to volunteering as co-lead for the Lifetime Pride Employee Resource Group, co-facilitating for the company's DEI Book Club, and being a Corporate Mentor, Courtney is a dedicated participant in many local community committees/ coalitions all of which are focused on influencing positive, sustaining change to create a more equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist society. Of note, Courtney is a member of the Indigenous Peoples Day Committee, Rochester, NY and is the Education Outreach Facilitator and Co-Producer with Our Voices Project- a production company committed to providing a safe space and platform for Black, Brown, and Indigenous Peoples to share experiences while dismantling destructive stereotypes perpetuated in the media through visual storytelling and truthtelling.

Courtney served as a former member of the Board of Education for the West Irondequoit School District and a former Steering Committee Member and Educator for Showing Up For Racial Justice (SURJ)Rochester, NY Chapter. She holds a M.S. in Human Service Administration; a B.S.in Sociology, Women’s Studies and English; and most recently earned a Certification in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Courtney strongly believes in creating opportunities for cross-racial dialogue and the sharing of real lived experiences to build empathy and connectedness among different groups with an emphasis on uplifting historically marginalized voices.