The story behind Just People

Several decades ago the faculty of a public (read: state) school in Upstate New York was polarized about how to best serve the students in their care in the wake of new curriculum policies and budget cuts. Gossip flew and tempers flared. People lost perspective that people were just people, not villains, and otherness abounded.

One teacher, in an act of creative generosity, spent a weekend making badges that read “Just…people”, which she gave to her colleagues the following week. It was an inspired act that began to turn the tide and help people realise their shared intent to serve the young people of their community, to help them thrive. That teacher was the beloved Auntie of one of our founders. Aunt Sig is no longer with us, yet that story of her creative superpower to offer perspective and bridge peace, reached Heather for the first time, quite unexpectedly, in a business meeting last year.

Together Culture's Just People collection is a collab between Ellie, Heather, Auntie Sig and each person who joins our community. It’s not just swag, it’s our mission.
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All proceeds from this collection of tees and totes go towards building our permanent creative space.⁠
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Making affordable, permanent space to create and to be more creative starts here!

Auntie Sig and Heather