California State University, Stanislaus’ (Stan State) Conference for Social Justice in the Central Valley took place on Nov. 17 and Nov. 18 and was an inspiring, informational event urging students, faculty, and community members to talk about uncomfortable but important topics.

There were speakers and panels on both days of the conference and the topics ranged from race, homelessness, the national election, and social equity. One of the main goals of the conference was to open people’s eyes about social justice issues that relate directly to social equity and inequity.

Several of the panels in the conference involved discussing feelings and fears that were affecting people after the election. Students, community members, and faculty members were able to come together to talk about their concerns and plans for the future. On Friday afternoon the conference hosted a faculty panel titled “Social justice & the new political climate: Aftermath of an election”.  The faculty members were comprised of Stan State’s professors, Aletha Harven, Kilolo Brodie, Vickie Harvey, John Kincaid, and Alfred Perez.

During this panel Harven facilitated the discussion and had questions for the faculty panel and for the students. Some examples were “What does social justice mean to you?” or “What should faculty be doing to make sure students know they are safe?”  

Though this conference was a great resource for people who were feeling afraid or uncomfortable after this election it was also helpful to people who didn’t have those fearful or uncomfortable feelings.

“I think it’s also very important for people who are who aren’t because you are getting first hand accounts from people that are scared and getting those opinions first hand. It kind of is making it more personal for those who aren’t affected as much and realizing that their fears are something that should be acknowledged. This was a good resource to learn all different points of view on issues  and learn to respect those issues and kind of just come together to create positive outcomes from those conversations, ” ASI representative Tiffany Spaulding (senior, Biology and Anthropology) said. 

“Educate yourself” was the advice that Kaila Matter (junior, Liberal Studies) gave. It is very important to know about what’s going on not just in the central valley but in the world. Things may not directly influence people here in the central valley but we still need to care about it. Matter also stressed the importance of getting involved beyond your own sphere. In one of the panels the speaker was talking about homelessness and what the individuals in the room and on campus could do to help. This conference gave students a way to get connected with organizations who are trying to make changes to society.

Students were not the only ones in attendance and community members came to the event as well.

Andrew Mendoza, former student at Stan State and teacher at Atwater High School, attended the conference. He thought that attending would be important so he could gain insight on how to talk to his students, many of whom were Hispanic or from immigrant families.

“The main reason why I came is so I can take what’s going on in our community and apply that to my classroom,” Mendoza said.

He wanted to know how to talk to his students who were feeling hurt by their country after Donald Trump was elected. Mendoza also urged the community to be a part of events like this conference because like the students, the community can benefit from the topics discussed at the conference.
Every panel and speaker had something different to say but it is easy to argue that they were all important topics that deserve attention from students, faculty and community members alike. To keep up to date on future social justice events go to their csustan webpage.