California State University, (Stan State) will be hosting a Social Justice Conference this month on campus. The conference will present several different keynote speakers who will discuss many different social justice issues that impact the community and the country.
The speakers for the program hold a magnitude of creative talent and individualism. The style and knowledge they contain are expressed through multiple platforms including spoken word, hip hop, installation art, narrative documentation, ethical voice, theater and creative media.  Their expertise focuses on global human rights, immigration, race and ethnic exposure and community activism.  
Dr. James Tuedio (Dean, College of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) is apart of making this event happen for Stan State’s community and believes this is an opportunity for everyone to get face-to-face with complex social justice issues.
“Students should get involved with social justice issues because their future will be impacted by these issues, and their own communities deserve their assistance in bringing attention to social inequities, humanitarian concerns and fruitful approaches to improving the health and welfare of underrepresented populations living under difficult and often divisive circumstances,” Dr. Tuedio said. 
Tuedio added that students should “expand their sense of what’s possible” by viewing the examples of the keynote speaker’s achievements of serving the community thus far. 
The keynote speakers are to present many topics for thought and discussion.  The impact of these speakers is thought to be heavy as Dr. Tuedio explained what their conversations would entail.
“Our keynote speakers will discuss humanitarian issues impacting immigrant populations who face the prospect of deportation to unfamiliar places or struggle to retain connections with indigenous populations who remain in difficult circumstances in their former homelands,” Tuedio said.
“Issues involving social inequities that impact populations differentially on the basis of race and socio-economic privilege” will be discussed as well, Tuedio added.
He stated that students will also have the opportunity to understand “the importance of narrative-based social movement documentary projects” to better promote social change themselves in an effort to begin “advocacy to address public policy challenges facing underrepresented populations, and effective ways to challenge disturbing factors structuring contentious race relations around the country.”
According to Tuedio, the conference is seen as important for all to experience as the campus tends to be isolated for activism and advocacy of tough social issues. The hope for the conference is to spark change and encourage those to believe in the power of their voice.
“Innovative minds are building coalitions across diverse populations to address social justice issues in creative and effective ways that can serve as models for local engagement with these issues. The variety and power of the voices speaking to these issues is likely to surprise more than a few of our listeners,” Tuedio stated.
Students are encouraged to come to the event with a listening ear and open heart to the free event that will be held on Nov. 7, 8 and 9. 
Free parking will be provided in Lot 3 on Tuesday, in Lot 2 on Wednesday, and in Lots 2 & 3 on Thursday.  
The Tuesday evening keynote program will be held in Snider Hall. The discussion will focus on human rights from a local and global standpoint. The speakers present for Tuesday evening will be Cathi Tactaquin, John DeCure, Mona Malik and Andrew Conteh. Around 3:30 p.m., before the evening program, Yosimar Reyes will present his autobiographical, spoken-word solo performance “Prieto.”
The Wednesday evening program will be held in the Main Stage Theatre.  The program will consist of issues addressing immigrant rights and community equity concerns. Discussions of division and the imbalance of underrepresented populations will be addressed as well. Speakers for the night include Dayvon Love, Gautam Jagannath and Mi’Jan Celie Tho-Baiz.
The program on Thursday evening will be split among the Art Gallery, Snider Hall and the Main Stage Theatre. The night will consist of spoken word poetry by Ariana Brown and a discussion of the play Roosters by the writer Milcha Sanchez Scott. Around 4 p.m. the Art Gallery will hold a performance by the Phantom Street Artist, whose work is currently on view in the gallery.
Links to the speaker’s biographies are active within the website for you to learn more informative background information on the speakers. 
This article was updated on Nov. 6 to fit the changes associated with the event. The updated information includes where free parking will be held and the location/speakers associated with each evening.  The link to the website was also updated. All information was provided by Dean Tuedio.