Cabrillo Social Justice Conference 2013

An Interview with organizer Yaming Shenconference panel

The Social Justice Conference is on Saturday, April 20th from 9 AM to 4 PM

FV: What is the general schedule and where is the opening event?

Yaming: Registration and a light breakfast will start at 9am. Breakfast will be served near the Faculty/Staff Lounge. The registration has traditionally been held at the Quad, but we may move the registration station to somewhere near 450 Forum, where the ceremonies will be held. We encourage people to pre-register online but show up early anyways to enjoy breakfast and networking!

The main conference program consists of six big blocks: (1) Opening Ceremony, (2 and 3) two back-to-back Breakout Sessions, (4) Community Fair during lunch time (and yes, we serve a light lunch), (5) Closing Ceremony, and (6) Social Justice Journal reception or "Meet the Authors and Editors," which is a new addition this year. All current and prospective authors, editors, and readers are welcome. Also, some whispering has been circling around since the flex week that we may even have a post-conference activity called "Share the Movement: Dance for Social Justice." Unfortunately, I am way too nerdy to plan the dance, and cannot tell you anything more about it now. However, if it happens, I will loosen up and dance. Why not? Please join! I spread the rumor to Student Senate today, and they like it! Oh, I recall that in fall 2011, my then co-coordinator Janus and I had also thought about having a dance, but the idea was killed by old man Sesario. (Sesario, if you read our newsletter, I’d like to tell you that Janus and I appreciated your smart advice!)

FV: Who are the keynote speakers?

Yaming: The morning ceremony starts with an opening blessing by Ann-Marie Sayers, the Chairperson of Indian Canyon Nation. This tradition started from the last year’s conference. Skye Gentile suggested it at the 2012 spring flex week. (Skye, here is a big “thank you” to you!) If you would like to know more about Ann-Marie, I am proudly referring you to read a recent interview with her by Stan Rushworth, "Since Contact," published in our Social Justice Journal 2012. The keynote speaker is Professor Bettina Aptheker, a reknowned activist who teaches at UCSC and co-holds a UC Presidential Chair in Feminist Critical Race & Ethnic Studies. Many of you know much more about her than I. Then, our own Dr. Ekua Omosupe will read a poem!

At the afternoon ceremony, we have songs and music by Janus Bloom and David Winters, a poetry reading in Spanish by Francisco Iñiguez, and maybe another surprising talent show. The Finale is UCSC Rainbow Theater’s “Community Breaking all Barriers.” Last year, Rainbow’s powerful performance received a standing ovation, and per the Student Senate’s request, we have invited Rainbow again. You will regret it if you miss their showcase. Please come!

The closing ceremony will consist of the presenting of Peace and Activism Award and the Jeff Tanami Scholarship Award (the second one is pending, I hope the committee gets in touch with us early), a student representative’s speech, and finally, a raffle. We reserved a slot for staff representatives to speak if they wish. I already asked CCEU, but do not want to be “pushy.” Anyone have better persuasive skills?

Also, since the conference is in late April, we expect to see our long-term friends the swallows joyfully flying around the campus. That was the very first scene I saw when I came to SJC a few years ago, and it has been vividly in my memory since then, reminding me that environmental/social justice is everywhere.

applesFV: What else would you like people to know? (for example, about childcare and food)

Yaming: Food? Yes! Sesario, also known as “the food guy,” will lead student volunteers to serve light breakfast and lunch. The coordinator of the Social Justice Journal Reception has said that she will bring a cake to celebrate the occasion. Yummy!

Childcare? We really hope that someone will step forward to lead a Children’s Fair. One option is to have several colleagues who need childcare to form a co-op. Perhaps faculty/staff members could rotate leadership, each for an hour or two? An ECE instructor once said that ECE students might be able to help. Genefa has successfully led several children’s fairs in the past. I believe she will be happy to share her experience, and I have some ideas to suggest, too.

 

Anything else? Lots of things! To mention a few:

  1. We’d like to ask our dear colleagues to encourage their students to attend the conference. It is a unique learning experience for our students. We have uploaded a “SJC Participation and Volunteer Verification” form on our website already, and we will stamp the form for your students to earn extra/make-up credit if you allow them to.
  2. We will pass out an Information Card with the registration packet. People who attend 4 out of 5 activities listed on the card can claim a small gift at the end of the conference. Lucky ones may also win a “bigger” raffle prize.
  3. Do you want me to leak some session planning information? You will be happy to hear that the breakout sessions are mostly by student panels this year. At this point, I only have groups’ names, and have not counted how many individual student presenters we will have. Estimate? Several dozen!
  4. Of course, I am excited to promote our Social Justice Journal, which provides an opportunity for our students (and others) to get their work published along with faculty and other established professionals. Most student presenters indicated in their proposals interest in contributing to the journal. We hope faculty can provide some guidance for our students. Also, we will accept non-conference presenters’ submissions, too. Contact me for more information, and join the Journal Reception at the conference.

Finally, I would like to thank many the colleagues and students who support and help SJC. Our Community Fair and volunteer coordinator Jackie plays a vital role for the conference. Please see the coordinators’ names on the program page at our website www.SocialJusticeCabrillo.org. Moreover, many behind-the-scenes heroes humbly asked me not to list their names. The Student Senate and CCFT have been sponsoring SJC every year. The Faculty Senate and CCEU joined the sponsorship since last year. We also appreciate all donations to the journal, and have listed donors on the acknowledgement page at our website. Thank you and thank you! (… if you have not heard too much yet -- I learned this phrase from Adela recently.)