Our Voices Project

Jackie McGriff

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 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. Whether on photowalks through nature, watching films, listening to podcasts and film scores, spending time with loved ones or working on her next project, she remains focused on building a world where the beauty, complexity, and truth of Black, Brown, and Indigenous stories both here on Turtle Island and abroad are honored and amplified.

Courtney Shouse

Born and raised in the city ofRochester, Courtney Shouse (she/ her/ hers) is committed tointerrupting the cycle of racism and is focused on achieving a more equitablesociety through education. Courtney has worked at Excellus BlueCrossBlueShield since 2012, most currently as Manager of Client Success- Nationaland Strategic. In addition to volunteering as co-lead for the LifetimePride Employee Resource Group, co-facilitating for the company's DEI Book Club,and being a Corporate Mentor, Courtney is a dedicated participant in manylocal community committees/ coalitions all of which are focused on influencingpositive, sustaining change to create a more equitable, inclusive, andanti-racist society. Of note, Courtney is a member of the Indigenous PeoplesDay Committee, Rochester, NY and is the Education Outreach Facilitator andCo-Producer with Our Voices Project- a production company committed to providinga safe space and platform for Black, Brown, and Indigenous Peoples to shareexperiences while dismantling destructive stereotypes perpetuated in the mediathrough visual storytelling and truthtelling. Courtney served as a former memberof the Board of Education for the West Irondequoit School District and a formerSteering 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 recentlyearned a Certification in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). Courtneystrongly believes in creating opportunities for cross-racial dialogue and thesharing of real lived experiences to build empathy and connectedness amongdifferent groups with an emphasis on uplifting historically marginalizedvoices. Inher spare time, Courtney enjoys whitewater rafting, live music, reading, andquality time with friends.