The Ellis School

List of 3 items.

• Susan Baida

  
  Susan Baida is the Executive Director of the Collaboratory Against Hate (CAH), an academic center whose mission is to help understand and mitigate targeted violence stemming from group hate. A partnership between Carnegie Mellon University and the University Pittsburgh, it was formed as part of the community response to the Pittsburgh synagogue tragedy in October 2018. She works closely with academics and community partners on research and interventions to help reduce targeted violence and foster less division and more collaboration. Prior to this role, she served as Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at UPMC where she developed a system-wide strategy that helped increase workforce diversity, minimize health inequities for underserved communities, and deepen community partnerships. During the first half of her career, she was a global marketing executive for Fortune 500 companies in the cosmetics and hotel industry and then left corporate life to co-found a healthcare technology venture addressing the needs of family caregivers of aging parents. Parallel to her career, she volunteered in her community serving as an appointee to Manhattan Community Board, an advisory board to the NYC Mayor's office where she chaired the Human Services committee and passed resolutions to address affordable housing, same sex marriage, class size reduction, homelessness, etc. She currently serves on the board of directors for Women's Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, La Promesa Foundation, and the Pine Richland Anti-Racist Parent Coalition. She graduated from Emory University with a B.A. in Liberal Studies. She received executive leadership training from Vassar College and DEI leadership certification from Inclusant, LLC. She is the mother of Avery Mills (Ellis Class of 2026), her twin sons, Cameron and Julian, and their beagle, Sophie.

• Leon Ford

  

  
  Pittsburgh native Leon Ford is a celebrated author, social entrepreneur, impact investor, international speaker, and changemaker dedicated to driving positive change in his community and beyond. As a respected activist and mental health ambassador, Ford passionately addresses disparities by focusing on holistic wellness. His inspiring approach emphasizes the importance of resilience, transforming personal challenges into purpose, and creating a lasting societal impact.
  
  In 2012, Ford was tragically shot five times by a police officer during a racially charged traffic stop, leaving him physically paralyzed. Nevertheless, he has continued to positively impact his community, working with police officers on cultural competency and legislators on drafting policies to modify the use of force laws.
  
  In 2022, Leon joined forces with former Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Chief Scott Schubert to co-found The Hear Foundation. This trailblazing nonprofit seeks to bridge the gap between residents, community leaders, and law enforcement, cultivating a safe and thriving community for all. In recognition of its innovative approach, the foundation received the prestigious McNulty Catalyst Prize in 2023. Ford has also joined 150+ other leaders as a Founding Partner of Starts With Us—a movement to end the culture wars by fostering curiosity, compassion, and courage as daily habits.
  
  As an influential figure in social justice and mental health, Ford inspires others through speaking engagements, mentorship, and fostering open dialogue. Through his work, he cultivates leaders, organizers, and social entrepreneurs, ensuring his vision for a compassionate and just society endures for future generations.
  
  Ford's accomplishments include: executive producing the Cannes Film Festival award-winning documentary Leon (2019) and Breaking Bread: A Conversation on Race in America (2021), which won a Shorty Award; President Obama's Volunteer Service Award (2017); The Root 100 (2018); Pittsburgh's 40 Under 40 (2019); Forbes 30 Under 30 (2023);  and the National Urban League Community Service Award (2023).
  
  As a member of The Aspen Institute's Inaugural Civil Society Fellowship, Ford is devoted to nurturing the next generation of leaders and activists. He serves as an entrepreneur in residence for Bronze Investments, is co-founder of the Leon Ford Legacy Fund, and holds board positions with multiple organizations.
  
  In addition to his activism, Ford has authored valuable resources for overcoming adversity and promoting well-being, such as the memoir An Unspeakable Hope (May 2023), Untold: Testimony and Guide to Overcoming Adversity (2017), and The Leon Self Care Handbook: From Surviving to Thriving, offering practical tools for healing and personal growth.

• Hanifa Nakiryowa

  
  
  Hanifa Nakiryowa is originally from Uganda and is an active member of the Pittsburgh community. She is a very passionate advocate for women's and children’s rights and represents women’s voices on different platforms both locally and internationally. She is a TEDx speaker and uses her experience surviving a brutal acid attack in Uganda to raise awareness of the systemic human rights violations that disproportionately affect women and children.

  
  

  Hanifa is a passionate human rights activist who founded a nonprofit CERESAV in Uganda to raise voices against human rights violations and abuses and to mobilize resources to support the medical care and rehabilitation of acid attack survivors, support the education of their children, and promote their economic livelihoods. Through this work, Hanifa spearheaded an online petition that led to the passing of the Toxic Chemicals Prohibition and Control Bill into law by the Government of Uganda in 2016.

  
  

  Hanifa is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs with a master's degree in International Development and Human Security Studies and continues her advocacy work at the Jewish Healthcare Foundation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.