T
his winter, Woodland Hills Junior Senior High School’s Genders-
Sexualities Alliance (GSA) worked together with local artists to make
tie-dyed tee shirts that draw attention to bullying and discrimination
against students in the LGBTQA+ community. The GSA includes students
from grades 8-12 and is sponsored by English teacher Lisa Silverman.
Woodland Hills partnered with Dreams of Hope, a non-profit
organization that provides the region’s queer and allied youth a
welcoming environment to grow in confidence, express themselves,
develop as leaders, and learn to create positive change in their
communities. Dreams of Hope provided local artists Latika Sewell (WHHS
class of 2010) and Ginger Brooks with grant money to work with the
students on an art project that would call attention to the marginalization
of students in the LGBTQA+ community at the junior senior high school.
Latika and Ginger first showed the students models of LGBTQA+
activism in art, then assisted the students in brainstorming ways they could
become activists through art at our high school. Students decided to do tee
shirts for the shirts’ visibility and the students’ personal pride in wearing
them. Students collaborated on the slogan, font style, and design of the
shirts. First, they tie-dyed shirts in multiple colors to signify diversity.
They then screen printed the shirts with the slogan “Love Has No Label”
on the front and #GSA with a variety of relationship symbols on the back.
Students wear their shirts in the school not only to show their pride and
solidarity with one another, but also to show their support for these
marginalized group s.
The tee shirts will also be making an appearance at the Allegheny
County Court House for the 2nd annual Diversity Awards Program on May
10. The club entered the tee shirt project into a diversity contest sponsored
by the Allegheny County Human Relations Commission (ACHRC) and
Woodland Hills was chosen as one of the recipients of the ACHRC Diversity
Award this year.
Artist Latika Sewell works in the print shop at the Braddock Carnegie Library
and is available to any student interested in learning how to screen print and join
the WHJHS GSA tee shirt campaign.
While students were busy learning about Mo Willems, the Kindergarten teachers
got to learn from Mo Willems. The Kindergarten teacher team attended special events
wherein Mo Willems read some of his books and explained how he executes his craft.
Most exciting, all of the kindergarten teachers got to meet Mo Willems, the author
who inspires them daily.
Finally, in May, students got to participate in a day to celebrate all of their hard work
throughout the school year. All Kindergarten students performed an Elephant and
Piggie book for their families in their classroom. After the students performed, they
were in for a surprise: Elephant and Piggie visited the Academy!! Afterward, students
and families were invited to attend a reception to celebrate literacy. Students shared
their love of the Elephant and Piggie characters with their families as they engaged in
activities such as drawing Mo Willems’ characters, an Elephant and Piggie photo booth,
reading Mo Willems’ books on the Pigeon’s bus, and writing thank-you cards.
This event was made possible by the generous donations of The Woodland Hills
Foundation, WHSD and WH Academy Families. If you would like to support this event or
others like it, please check out the DREAM BOOK at www.woodlandhillsfoundation.com .
(left to right) Damon Ash, Emma McLaughlin,
Marissa Mehalik, Darion Neal, Jenise Brown, Makinly
Hope, Niaja’ Oakes, Daquan Moss (seated), and
Latika Sewell with screens
Damon Ash with Latika Sewell
Students from Mrs. Kunkle’s class at the
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
Students from Mrs. Morse’s class at the
Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
WOODLAND HILLS
❘
SUMMER 2018
35
Genders-Sexualities Alliance (GSA) Tee Shirt Campaign
Woodland Hills Junior Senior High School Diversity Project