UA College of Public Health holds 5th Annual Social Justice Forum

Gabriel Thompson (Photo Credit: UA College of Public Health)

Gabriel Thompson, investigative journalist, community organizer, and author of Working in the Shadows, There’s No José Here, and Calling All Radicals will be the keynote speaker at the University of Arizona College of Public Health’s 5th Annual Social Justice Symposium on Friday, April 1, 2011.

Lisa Hopper, founder of World Care, a Tucson-based organization dedicated to recycling and redistributing education, health, and emergency relief supplies locally and globally, will be the closing speaker.

The event also will include Social Justice in Everyday Life, Women Advocating for Change, Giving Voice to Vulnerable Populations, and Systems Approaches to Harvesting Change

The Social Justice Symposium is designed to engage students, faculty, health professionals, and community members in dialogue to cultivate awareness and encourage action in the pursuit of equal justice for all people in every aspect of our society.

The symposium will be 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health Drachman Building at the Arizona Health Sciences Center. It is FREE and open to the public! Lunch will be provided. Registration is required. Register here.

Pre-event Free Movie Screening

A free screening of the documentary film 389 Miles: “Living the Border” will kick-off the Social Justice Symposium on Thursday, March 31st in Drachman Hall, Room A114 at 7:30 pm (doors open at 7 p.m.). Free pizza will be served.

389 Miles “Living the Border” is a documentary film that addresses the current immigration debate taking place on the Arizona-Mexico border. This film is a human journey, a story documented by director/producer Luis Carlos Davis who grew up in the shadow of the Arizona-Mexico border. It presents the raw, daily life of human beings who come from different backgrounds and ideologies when it comes to immigration

Davis, a UA alumnus, and Gail Emerick, Executive Director of the South East Arizona Area Health Education Center (SEAHEC), will conduct a discussion after the film.

The screening was organized by the Global Health Alliance and the Social Justice Symposium Planning Committee.

For more information on Social Justice Symposium, contact 2011socialjustice@gmail.com.

5 comments on “UA College of Public Health holds 5th Annual Social Justice Forum”

Carolyn Classen
March 8, 2011

Thanks for this info Pam. “3 Sonorans” blogged about this 389 Miles movie back in the Fall, and he, Arnie (“Bermudez Shorts”) and I attended that showing at the Gallagher Theater. It’s a fascinating documentary about the Mexican/US border, and even has an interview of a actual “coyote”. See the 3/4/11 KUAT interview of the directors/producers:
http://www.azpm.org/arts-and-life/story/2011/3/4/1830-389-miles-living-the-border/

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- Pamela Powers
  March 8, 2011
  
  Cool. I think it sounds like a very good event– hosted by my alma mater. 🙂
  
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Jim Hannley
March 8, 2011

…and my alma mater too! I hope I got my registration in on time. It seems like a very informative and timely event. Thank you for bringing it to my attention.

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- Ernie McCray
  March 8, 2011
  
  And my alma mater too, an institution that has come a mighty long way since my early experiences on its grounds in the 40’s when I was a child. Social Justice: what a concept, huh?
  I would love to see 389 Miles.
  
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Carolyn Classen
April 1, 2011

Attended this Social Justice symposium today and heard the keynote speaker Gabriel Thompson speak of his upcoming book about Fred Ross who was a community organizer behind Cesar Chavez (called “Manza” back then). He also said to “take risks, be yourself, be diligent & yet have fun” in trying to achieve social change. Enjoyed the workshops on the media (by Pan Left Productions, which said they have “no journalist objectivity” as they take sides on issues), a “Girls Going Global” talk by the Sahuaro Girl Scout Council reps and 3 high school girl scouts, and a talk by Elliot Karten (Social Justice League, Videh.com) who talked about “Conscious Capitalism – how your wallet affects the world.” Lastly Lisa Hopper inspired the audience about how she started her World Care dream in her garage in 1994, which has now 8 employees, 500 volunteers and has collected/directed $50 million to aid humanitarian efforts in 75 countries. Thanks for informing us about this symposium Pam– it was quite a good half day, mostly attended by college students, seeking to improve the world.

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