Gallery • 5 Photos

Compiled photos of the 2026 ‘Rooted in Love, United in Legacy’ program credit of Jennifer Rowe and LION Photographer Brooke Stack. Images above include photos of Steppers, Kendall Hyde, and the Chicago Loves Jazz performance.

LT shares stories, traditions, cultural performances in honor of Black History

by Bell Velez

As LT honored Black History Month, students and staff came together for a celebration that blended performance, reflection, and culture, creating a meaningful experience for the school community. Through stepping, poetry, and student involvement, the event highlighted Black joy and excellence while encouraging connection across LT on Friday, Feb. 27, at both NC and SC.
“My role focused on identifying and empowering student leaders to take ownership of the program while also managing the coordination of the day’s events,” Bilingual Coordinator Julie Jacobo said. “I spent a lot of my time bridging the connection between our visiting artists and the student body to ensure the performances felt seamless and impactful for everyone involved.”
Jacobo said the celebration was designed not only as a performance-based event, but also as an opportunity for students to take leadership and help shape the overall experience. In helping organize the program, she worked closely with both students and visiting artists to make sure the event felt unified and intentional from start to finish.
“The inspiration came from wanting to show the full spectrum of Black joy and excellence,” Jacobo said. “We chose steppers because of the deep historical roots in culture and the incredible energy they bring to a room. Spotlighting poetry was equally important because it allows for a more intimate and personal expression. We wanted a balance of high energy and thoughtful reflection.”
That balance became a defining part of the celebration. The Steppers’ performances brought energy and excitement to the room, while poetry created quieter moments that invited the audience to reflect more deeply. Together, the performances offered students multiple ways to connect with the event’s themes and experience Black culture in a way that felt alive and personal.
“Schools are places where we learn who we are and how we fit into the world,” Jacobo said. “When LT hosts celebrations such as these, it creates windows and mirrors that give the entire LT community an immersive experience that goes beyond a book read. When we bring these performances to life, it allows students to really feel and connect with the culture in a personal way.”
For the LT community, events like the Black History Month celebration serve a larger purpose than recognition alone. They create space for representation, education, and shared experience, especially in a school environment where students benefit from seeing their identities and those of others honored in visible and meaningful ways.
“Performing in front of the LT community was both exciting and meaningful,” said Participant in celebration, Elyza Weatherspoon ‘27. “There was a strong sense of support in the room, which made it easier to be confident and expressive. It felt powerful to contribute to something that celebrates culture and history in such an uplifting way.”
For organizers, some of the most memorable parts of the event happened behind the scenes. Jacobo said watching students move from nerves to confidence captured the heart of the celebration, showing how performance can become a source of empowerment and pride.
“The response was overwhelmingly positive,” Jacobo said. “I saw a lot of students engaged, cheering, and recording the performances. The intended impact is a sense of unity and a realization that our differences are things to be celebrated.”
The reaction reflected the event’s broader goal of bringing students together through shared appreciation and understanding. More than just a school celebration, the program was meant to leave students with a stronger sense of unity and a reminder that cultural differences are something to value, not overlook.
“I would love to see this expand into a series of events,” Jacobo said. “Adding more interactive elements, like workshops or community connections. We are currently working on that. I also hope to see even more students getting involved in the planning process so the tradition stays strong.”

‘Rooted in love, United in Legacy’ tradition continues through the years

by Abby Stahulak

In the past, LT has celebrated Black History Month in many different ways at both NC and SC. However, for the past five years, since the hiring of Director of Equity and Belonging Jennifer Rowe, the celebration has evolved into an all-day production, “Rooted in Love, United in Legacy.”
“I love being a part of the LT community and how we are all in for fostering a restorative culture of belonging,” Rowe said. “All celebrations are cultural, and having opportunities to come together to celebrate, connect, learn, and bond only helps to make our school a true community. LT is special in that we are working to include students, staff, and community in creating so many celebrations that are allowing us to grow closer together and continue to learn about others and ourselves.”
When LT began celebrating Black History Month, it began as simple classroom-based recognitions. These recognitions were completely erased after the COVID-19 pandemic and after Rowe began her position, evolving the celebration into a student-led, community-involved cultural representation.
“An immersive celebration helps students see Black history as an essential part of American history and of our shared school community,” Superintendent Brian Waterman said. “It creates meaningful opportunities for learning, fosters a stronger sense of belonging for our Black students, and encourages all students to engage with perspectives and experiences that may differ from their own.”
‘Rooted in love, United in Legacy’ came from a vision, Rowe said. She wanted to design a celebration to represent the community and demonstrate the connection between everyone in a shared Black American History story.
“Incorporating cultural celebrations into the LT curriculum is important because it helps us celebrate who we are as a community and affirm the diverse identities within it,” Principal Jennifer Tyrrell said. “When students see their cultures, histories, and lived experiences reflected in what they learn, it strengthens their sense of belonging and communicates that they matter here. Cultural celebrations also expand learning for all students by elevating multiple perspectives, deepening understanding, and building empathy. When students see themselves in the curriculum and see and learn about others as well, we create a more inclusive, connected, and respectful school community.”
When ‘Rooted in Love, United in Legacy’ began, the goal was to broaden cultural representation and increase intentional opportunities for learning, reflection, and celebration for all students in the LT community.
“I make it a priority to attend celebrations at both campuses whenever possible,” Waterman said. “One of my favorite events of the last few years was when LT Alum Samuel Dewese ‘07 presented and performed for our students, while sharing his experience as a member of the Chicago Lyric Opera and as an LT student.”
As years pass, while there has been no drastic change to the ‘Rooted in love, United in Legacy’ celebration, it has evolved and expanded. Recently, the biggest change was extending the program to all but lunch periods and including a luncheon for all the performers. Performers are found throughout the community and always include one alumnus, such as Dewese in 2025 and Kendall Hyde ‘14 for this year’s celebration.
“For students whose cultures are being highlighted, it communicates that their identities are valued and belong at the center of our shared experience—not just acknowledged in passing,” Tyrrell said. “For others, it provides an authentic opportunity to learn, appreciate, and engage with traditions, perspectives, and stories different from their own. Together, this kind of experience strengthens relationships, builds understanding, and reinforces that LT is a place where every student can feel seen, respected, and part of something larger than themselves.”
LT values the importance of continuity espeically in culural celebrations. Every year, something is added or modified into the presentation; whether that be incorporating new clubs or student run groups, Rowe intends to showcase clubs that honor culture or that have the ability to.
“My favorite part of the day is when I get to see our students on the stage leading the show as MC’s and also as performers,” Rowe said.