Despite their numerous groundbreaking contributions to music, women and nonbinary people have historically been ignored and excluded from musical spaces on the basis of gender. To help combat this injustice, the Lawrence University Jazz Gender, Equity and Inclusion (JGEI) Initiative has created a space dedicated to the inclusion of all genders in jazz, especially uplifting those that have typically been overlooked.
Created by co-presidents fifth-year Reese Pike and junior Vivian Shanley in 2023, the group aims to promote equity within the jazz community, which has typically been a male-dominated space. Members, such as JGEI board member sophomore Yvie Pacatang, are dedicated to the mission of uplifting all voices in jazz.
“The goal [of JGEI] is to give more awareness and to put names that should be equally as important as the greats that we know now, to put those people on the radar,” Pacatang said. “There’s a lot of great music made by women that just isn’t featured, and a lot of great composers that aren’t put into the canon as a lot of the men [are]. So, it’s a lot about giving women and nonbinary people a space to do jazz in a way to feel welcome.”
Every Tuesday on the second floor of Warch from 8:30–9:30 p.m., the group holds weekly jazz jam sessions open to anyone interested. Board member sophomore Jozelle Filippi enjoys the musical environment these sessions have given them.
“I love the jazz jams,” Filippi said. “Our house band consists of only women/nonbinary people. I love seeing both returning and new faces. The jazz jams are extremely low-pressure and a great way to practice performing in front of people. Being able to play in a women/nonbinary–only band is such a pleasure and is so uplifting, especially after the previously mentioned experiences about being treated differently than men. The encouragement is felt by everyone and makes for not only good sounding–music, but good memories.”
Additionally, JGEI holds meetings every other Friday in Andrew Commons from 12:30–1:30 p.m. Oftentimes, these meetings include guest speakers, such as Helen Boyd Kramer, Lawrence’s I.D.E.A.S. Division Affinity Group Coordinator, and, most recently, Instructor of Music Theory Bianca Pratte. These meetings offer a space for Lawrence students to hear women faculty members speak about their experiences and hold discussions. According to Pacatang, the work JGEI does is “a form of outreach. I think it’s more putting names on people’s radars and making sure that women composers and nonbinary composers feel just as equal as the majority counterpart.”
According to Filippi, JGEI’s impact has transcended beyond the Lawrence community.
“I love seeing the impact that JGEI has on people outside of Lawrence,” Filippi said. “[Shanley] has shared with the rest of the board that a middle school student found out about JGEI and formed her own version at her school. It is so heartwarming to see the difference that we are making, even at a small scale.”
Pacatang is also grateful for the space that JGEI has offered her.
“[JGEI] gives me a space to do my music,” Pacatang said. “I’m very grateful to JGEI for showing me the space to play harp and sing with them, making that space for myself. I’m grateful that JGEI is willing to help me.”