Social Justice Symposium Schedule

Symposium Agenda

Tuesday, February 27, 2024 *In-Person USU Ballroom*

• 10:00 AM - 10:25 AM: Welcome
  • Land Acknowledgement and Labor Acknowledgement
  • Welcome and housekeeping
  • Acknowledgements from Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Aswad Allen
    
• 10:30 AM - 11:20 AM: Concurrent Sessions #1
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  • Reclaiming Culture: Hula as Resistance- Ilima Martinez

    USU Ballroom C

    Hula, the traditional dance of Native Hawaiian people, serves as a form of resistance against stereotypes, exoticism, and cultural appropriation. By reclaiming and revitalizing hula, Native Hawaiians assert their cultural identity and challenge external narratives that have often misrepresented or commodified their heritage. In this presentation, participants will learn how to understand cultural resistance, historical context, cultural appreciation vs cultural appropriation, ethical cultural engagement, and more.

    First portion of the presentation will include a traditional hula kahiko (ancient hula) performance!

  • Women, Life, Freedom: Art As Defense For The Defenseless- Sheida Amin

    USU 2310

    An exposition of the injustices towards the women and citizens of Iran since 1979. During the last 40 years after the ousting of the Shah, the Iranian people have been subjugated by an oppressive theocracy called the “Islamic Republic." This presentation highlights the different forms of art used by women and men in Iran as a form of self expression, keeping traditions that have now been banned alive, and defying a corrupt and severely oppressive government.

  • Bureaucracy Brunch: Crafting Resistance Through Collective Care- Danielle Bárcena, Project Rebound Lawrence Morris

    USU Ballroom A

    This panel aims to shed light on the underestimated emotional and psychological toll of administrative burdens and unveil innovative, community-based strategies for navigating these challenges. This discussion will confront the oppressive nature of bureaucracy and its detrimental effects on creativity, individual well-being, and collective progress.

  
  

   

• 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Lunch

  Kamayan Lunch

  • Book raffle
• 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM: Keynote: DEAR KASAMA: ON THE POETICS OF SOLIDARITY - Dr. Jason Magabo Perez
  

  Jason Magabo Perez serves as San Diego Poet Laureate 2023-24. Perez is the author of Phenomenology of Superhero (Red Bird Chapbooks, 2016), This is for the mostless (WordTech Editions, 2017), and I ask about what falls away (Kaya Press, 2024). Perez’s work has appeared in publications such as Interim, Witness, The Feminist Wire, Marías at Sampaguitas, and NPR's Here & Now. Recipient of a Challenge America Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, previous Artist-in-Residence at the Center for Art and Thought, and current Poet Laureate Fellow with Academy of American Poets, Perez has performed at notable venues such as the National Asian American Theater Festival, International Conference of the Philippines, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, La Jolla Playhouse, and Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions. Perez is a core organizer with The Digital Sala and serves as Associate Editor at Ethnic Studies Review. Perez is an Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies at California State University San Marcos.

• 12:45 PM - 1:50 PM: Concurrent Sessions #2
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  • "All Our Relatives" Artist Panel- Monica Zavala

    USU Ballroom C

    Hear about 'Wee 'Eyoohiinkem (Tonga), "All Our Relatives," an evocative collection of paintings that intimately captures the hands of the American Indian people engaged in the cultural richness that expresses their kinship. Each painting serves as a reflection of the authentic lives of individuals involved in everyday activities, who have contributed to Monica's journey, generously sharing their talents, traditions, and history.
    Monica, although Tonga, was raised on the homelands of the Luiseño territories and works closely with surrounding tribes such as the Kumeyaay, Cahuilla, Serrano, and many more throughout California.
    

  • The Art of Resistance Through Education- Alejandro Arellano and Dawn Lee

    USU 2310

    This presentation will highlight the Each One Teach One mentorship program's innovative approach to self-expression and education rooted in community engagement in the arts. In providing a historical narrative of past art movements and community activism, the Each One Teach One mentorship program aims to empower youth in creating their own form of activism through art that depicts systemic inequalities. 

    A discussion on how art can be used as an effective vessel to teach curriculum, facilitate the micro/macro experience of marginalized communities, and represent forms of resistance tied to cultural modalities of expression.

  • Manny Cepeda music presentation

    USU Ballroom A

    Manny attributes his knowlege to his Uncle "Rafael Cepeda Atiles" the patriarch of Bomba y Plena of Puerto Rico.By drawing from his world-class background in musical study (as well as from years of international touring experience) Manny Cepeda writes, arranges, and performs his genre-bending brand of Latin instrumentation.Besides his decades-long dedication to percussion and the experimental harmonies of Latin jazz, Manny Cepeda is also expertly-versed in a wide variety of styles. 

    Manny has continued creating music and in 2017 was Latin Grammy Nominated for his "Padre Querido" CD, a Salsa/Fusion CD full of rich rhythms from all his travels around the world. 

    A musical experience of culture and resistance.

  
  
• 1:50 PM - 2:00 PM: Closing
  • Closing remarks
  • Boook raffle

Wednesday, February 28, 2024 *In-Person - USU Ballroom*

• 10:00 AM - 10:25 AM: Welcome
  • Land and labor acknowledgement 
  • Welcome and Housekeeping
  • Acknowledgements from Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Aswad Allen
• 10:30 AM - 11:20 AM: Concurrent Sessions #3
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  • The Black Women Dream Project- Cherie Hill

    USU Ballroom A

    The Black Women Dream project examines belonging and equity through dance, somatic, and community-building practices. Over five months, a group of Black-identifying women gathered to participate in dance, visioning, and wellness activities. As an artist-scholar, Cherie Hill is interested in tracking how these practices could assist the participants’ overall well-being and connection to liberation theory & practices. Research questions include: How do we create belonging in a place where we are a minority? How does a connection to nature and dance move us toward liberation? This poster and digital presentation will share project strategies, images, findings, and resources that help seek these answers.

  • Zines for Change: Creative Narratives for Social Justice- April Ibarra Siqueiros, Dominique Harrison,Rosa Y. Rodriguez, James Guerrero

    USU 2310

    Zines are handmade publications in booklet form about ANY topic that are alternatives to mainstream media. They can be made with just plain paper and a marker, with fancy paper and design software, and anything in between!

    In social movements, zines are a medium that combine narrative and art to educate, share messages and calls to action, and even contribute reflections, that are easily distributed and inspire others to make an impact. This workshop will focus on learning about zines and give attendees an opportunity to create a zine to envision and shape approaches to social justice. 

  • La Cultura Cura: Xicanx and Latinx Culture, Healing, and Resistance- Maggie Rodriguez, Citlali Adame, Yuneises Manzo, Delma Reyes Anaya

    Cross-Cultural Center (USU 3400)

    Dr. Garzo Montalvo and 4 students from ETST420, an Ethnic Studies special topics course offered last Fall on Xicanx and Latinx cultural resistance will present their own creative works and presentations on Raza artists, organizers and cultural workers. They will focus on spirituality and art practice as ways of healing and (re)connecting with our families, communities, and ancestors.

    Participants will learn examples of cultural resistance and artistic expression directly from other students and artists. We will focus on Xicanx and Latinx examples, but this session is open to all. You can learn how these practices help sustain our communities' cultural memory and connection with ancestors.

  
  
• 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Lunch
  Catered/Boxed Lunch
• 12:00 PM - 12:45 PM: Keynote: Visual Land Acknowledgements and Activism Through Art- Dr. Eric Tippeconnic
  

  Ballroom B

  Comanche artist Eric Tippeconnic is an enrolled member of the Comanche Nation on his father’s side and his mother hails from Copenhagen, Denmark. Eric’s interest in painting and art was heavily influenced while growing up on numerous reservations and Indigenous communities as well as from traveling to Denmark each summer to visit his mother’s side. Eric’s cultural diversity and love of history and art from an early age helped develop his interest and passion for creating art from the moment he could hold a pencil. Using bright, rich and vibrant color combinations, Eric utilizes his artwork to capture movement that serves as a metaphor for the viewer which boldly states that Indigenous American cultures while intimately connected to their history are in fact contemporary, alive, and constantly evolving.

   

• 12:45 PM - 1:50 PM: Concurrent Sessions #4
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  • Flores Para Nuestros Muertos: Honoring Day of the Dead with Art and Community- Flower Alvarez-Lopez, Angelica Santiago, Nathalie Martinez, Alex Aguas

    USU 2310

    This workshop explores the ways in which Universidad Popular and Restoration Abbey are documenting and preserving arts and cultural traditions of Mexican and Latinx families to nurture community cohesion and belonging in the north region of San Diego County. Specifically, they will share how they are bringing a diverse community together to uplift and learn about the history of Dia de Muertos, offering arts and cultural workshops, building a community “ofrenda” and culminating the program with a neighborhood community dinner honoring our ancestors. 

  • MindFull Movement: Cultivating Wellness Through Creativity and Community- MANA Miracosta, CSUSM Black Student Union

    USU Ballroom A

    The "Cultivating Wellness Through Creativity and Community Engagement" workshop, hosted by the MindFull Movement, explores how NHPI and BIPOC individuals use their talents and cultural heritage to promote personal wellness and social justice. Through panel discussions, attendees learn how creativity, community building, and cultural empowerment intersect to address systemic inequalities. The workshop empowers participants to take action within their communities, inspiring positive change through collective strength and individual expression.

  • Breaking Barriers: Building a Just Society Together - Angel Arteaga, Melissa Brito, Daniel Pepe, Janil Arrabal

    Cross Cultural Center (USU 3400)

    An interactive discussion about how systemic inequity and privilege from our social location impact our lives.

  • Artistic Expression and Social Justice: A Fusion Workshop with The Get Off- The Get Off Creators: Luckie Carrasco & Charlie Lopez

    USU Ballroom C

    Participants will gain insight into how art forms such as dance, music, poetry, and visual arts can be powerful tools for addressing social justice issues. This presentation will help develop an appreciation for various art forms, including krump dance, painting, poetry, spoken word, and music, and understand how each can contribute to social change. Participants will also deepen their understanding of the significance of Black culture and its contributions to artistic expression and social justice movements. Through interactive activities and discussions, participants will reflect on their own identities and the ways in which they intersect with broader social justice issues.

    
    Come get inspired by The Get Off's journey and mission to use dance and art as tools for community upliftment, leading to a greater motivation to take action in their own communities.
    
    

  
  
• 1:50 PM - 2:00 PM: Closing
  •  Book raffle
    
  • Closing remarks