We the Future Social Justice Conference 

Presented By Santa Rosa Junior College And North Bay Organizing Project  

Friday, April 16, 2021 

 

9:00am-9:30am 

Welcome and Orientation 

Zoom link: https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/j/92400242766 

OR https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_N2tQ5mgbSHCW6m71Y98FsA   

 

9:30am-10:45am 

SESSION 1 WORKSHOPS 

Sessions indicated below will be running simultaneously 

 

Title: Organize! 

Presenter(s): Karym Sanchez, North Bay Organizing Project (NBOP) 

Zoom link: https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/j/93842287758 

North Bay Organizing Project (NBOP) is a grassroots multiracial and multi-issue organization comprised of over twenty-two faith, environmental, labor, student and community-based organizations in Sonoma County. NBOP seeks to build a regional power organization rooted in working class and minority communities in the North Bay: Uniting people to build leadership and grassroots power for social, economic, racial and environmental justice. Participants will hear about North Bay Organizing Project's methodology for building and yielding community power. 

 

Title: LGBTQIA+ Cultural Competency 

Presenter(s): Joy Anderson, Positive Images 

Zoom link: https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIocO-tqDkiGNXkzv6MleR0CWYtZZnFPD0l 

This presentation covers sexuality, the difference between sex and gender, nonbinary identities, pronouns, the discrimination LGBTQIA+ students face, tools for allyship, and local/national resources. 

 

Title: Cannabis, Crimes, and Immigration: What you Need to Know 

Presenter(s): Heather Wise, Attorney at Law 

Zoom link: https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/j/98264084095 

The intersection of criminal and immigration law is complex. Simple criminal convictions, even misdemeanors, can have devastating life-long immigration consequences. You need to know how to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. This workshop will cover common crimes and their immigration consequences, teach how to avoid law enforcement contact, and give you guidance in case you do have law enforcement contact.  

 

Title: Anti-Asian and Pacific Islander Violence 

Presenter(s): Frank Chong, Lauren Servais, Devanshi Unadkat and Lori Kuwabara, SRJC Asian and Pacific Islander Staff Association 

Zoom link: https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEtf-ChqD8pHtW5SLNqhBHyTkgRcYGUj5hS 

In the past year we have witnessed an increase in violence against Asian and Pacific Islander Americans. Nearly 4000 racially motivated instances of discrimination have been reported against Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in 12 months.  Join us for conversation about this violence and what it teaches us about race in the United States as we unpack the factors and ideologies that fuel vitriolic acts of violence.  

 

Title: In the Eyes of the Disabled: A Look at How Disability and Ableism Live in this World 

Presenter(s): Athena Weathers, SRJC Student Government Assembly 

Zoom link: https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEqde2oqjIsHtYGheiw9dF3aHkpISAkgGOl 

Come with me as we take a look at how disability and ableism have evolved over the years, how we can see it and what we can do to change our outlook.  

 

Title: How to get a Job and Make it Actually A Good Job by Organizing the Union 

Presenter(s): Tatiana Lam (UNITE HERE Local 2850), Jessica Cry (UFCW Local 5), Tom Woods (Teamsters Local 665) 

Zoom link: https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAvdeqtrzojHNz52LhEuML3oHMR-N3b2EMx 

Come hear from worker leaders who were able to successfully organize in their workplaces to win respect, healthcare, raises, and a voice! 

 

Title: Intergenerational Organizing in Point Reyes National Seashore 

Presenter(s): Miyoko Schinner (Miyoko’s Creamery), Diana Oppenheim (For Elk), Kenneth Brower, Joe Sweeney 

Zoom link: https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/j/93799178074 

Point Reyes National Seashore is ranked in one of the most e. coli and feces polluted locations in the entire country. 91% of public opinion wants to change that. Come to this session to hear about the challenges and advantages of a grassroots intergenerational approach to conservation advocacy, touching on subjects like environmental justice, ecocide, and sustainable agriculture. Additionally, there will be time at the end for a Q&A with the panelists, epicurean activist Miyoko Schinner, environmental journalist Kenneth Brower, and environmental activist Diana Oppenheim.  

 

Title: Infectious Diseases and Vulnerable Populations: From Smallpox to COVID-19 

Presenter(s): Steven Kessler, SRJC Biology Department 

Zoom link: https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/j/95116388009?pwd=ZzNqemdFMVN0ZnFkSDFRRlpobUJwQT09 

Infectious disease is the number one cause of death in low-income countries and among some other vulnerable populations in higher-income countries.  In this workshop, we will look at how these vulnerable populations have been treated during outbreaks of a number of infectious diseases.  We will then consider any useful lessons from this history to consider the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations (in the U.S.). 

 

Title: Student Interest-Driven Learning and Culture-Based Education: Supporting American Indian, Alaska Native, and First Nations Student Self-Determination 

Presenter(s): Rose Hammock and Holly Maeder Sheehan, Big Picture Learning Native American Initiative (BPLNAI) 

Zoom link: https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/j/97616331448 

Indian Education scholars and Native communities agree that Culture-Based Education (CBE), a pedagogy that centers culture and language learning, is current best practices for improving success outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native students. Discover how embedding CBE into student-interest driven learning plans allow AIAN students to authentically engage in culturally relevant learning.  

 

Title: Let's Build the Santa Rosa We All Want to be a Part Of! 

Presenter(s): Kevin Anderson (Daily Acts) and David Sul, Sul & Associates International 

Zoom link: https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUtc-6tqDooHt0jDPBAS_d1qvElkINUtN1S  

With Santa Rosa's General Plan open for public engagement and city council meetings more accessible to all, the time is now to both reimagine our built-environment and push for the policy changes that will get us there! This workshop will provide a short primer on our urban environment, why we need youth voices in all urban planning decisions, and provide a space for a collaborative vision of what we would like the future of our city to look like. Learn how to use data activism to support communities in doing this work. 

 

10:45am-11:00am 

BREAK 

 

11:00am-12:15pm 

SESSION 2 WORKSHOPS (TENTATIVE) 

Sessions indicated below will be running simultaneously 

 

Title: Farmworker Safety and Justice during Wildfires 

Presenter(s): Omar Paz and Max Bell Alper, North Bay Jobs with Justice  

Zoom link: https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/j/96870277717 

In recent years, farmworkers have had to work in evacuation zones during wildfires. Come learn how you can support farmworkers standing up for safety and justice. 

 

Title: Power in Numbers - The Latinx Education Pipeline 

Presenter(s): Samantha Montellanos Diaz, Margarita Gonzalez Jordan, SRJC Counseling 

Zoom link: https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/j/94054834128?pwd=L3lGMHVGN3l5a0grQjU0bW0yNnZoUT09 

This workshop will cover the Education Pipeline with a focus on students of color, first-generation, and low-income students. We will explore completion rates, provide advice for navigating college successfully and utilizing student support services. This will include an overview of Lanzamiento, SRJC’s new HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution) grant-funded initiative.  

 

Title: Poets, Native and in Diaspora 

Presenter(s): Tongo Eisen-Martin, Julian Talamantez Brolaski, Angel Dominguez 

Zoom link: https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYtf-2hpjMtH9ckXBPEozrzSsPgII3QiECw 

SRJC Libraries presents three native and diasporic poets whose cultural work pressures the boundaries of poetry, community and activism. San Francisco Poet Laureate Tongo Eisen-Martin, Julian Talamantez Brolaski and Angel Dominguez will each read from their work. The reading will be followed by a short discussion and Q&A. 

 

Title: Afrocentric Hair Discussion 

Presenter(s): Abrea Tillman, SRJC Black Student Union (BSU) and Student Government Assembly 

Zoom link: https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/j/93302401967 

We will explore the history of black hair from ancient to modern times and tell the story of two influential Black female leaders, Madame C.J. Walker and Angela Davis. We will discuss the psychology of Black hair within the community and allow an open forum for attendees to voice their own experiences.   

 

Title: Winning the Green New Deal: How We Can, Why We Must  

Presenter(s): Celeste Chavez and Christine Byrne of Sunrise Movement Sonoma County and Barbara Moulton and Tom Helm of Citizens’ Climate Lobby 

Zoom link: https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwode6uqjgrGtGOgdp99jZMeOZL-00y6P34  

Learn how the Sunrise Movement is building people power and political power locally to nurture our collective liberation and help launch the decade of the Green New Deal. You’ll also engage in a hands-on En-ROADS climate simulator activity, an interactive exploration of climate solutions and their potential effects on global warming and equity. 

 

Title: Housing Is A Human Right: Organizing Your Community to Resist the Violence and Trauma of Evictions 

Presenter(s): Jeremy Hill, Sonoma County Tenants’ Union and Chad Bolla, North Bay Organizing Project (NBOP) 

Zoom link: https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/j/95150853890 

This interactive workshop will provide historical context, explore the trauma of evictions, and propose concrete actions you can take to keep yourself and your neighbors in your homes 

 

Title: COVID Stories: Stories of Trauma, Strength, and Unity 

Presenter(s): SRJC ESL students with Luz Navarrette Garcia, SRJC ESL Instructor 

Zoom link: https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMqcOqqqD8qE9H-8bC-H35MJo2deHlJH3Ct  

This session will include discussion among panelists (SRJC students) who will share personal stories of resiliency and strength over the past year. Participants will be invited to share their stories and will be guided to create a group artifact together: a time capsule of our collective COVID experience.  

 

Title: Medicare for All: Separating Fact from Fiction 

Presenter(s): Maria Behan, Terry Winter, Rich Ingram, Healthcare for All Working Group 

Zoom link: https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0lduyurT8rG9Xn-fhYe89jNUdDhcCpSUaI 

Despite its popularity, there is strong opposition to a single-payer healthcare system in the U.S. This interactive session will discuss why it's the best way to achieve universal healthcare and how to overcome attempts to stop it. 

 

12:15pm-1:00pm BREAK 

Lunchtime Activities Hosted by SRJC Black Student Union (BSU) 

Zoom link: https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/j/97562533773  

 

1:00pm-2:30pm 

Keynote Address by Boots Riley with Q&A 

Zoom link: https://santarosa-edu.zoom.us/j/93319134835