Organizers of the annual social justice conference at California State University, Stanislaus have called this year’s event an all-hands-on-deck scenario in light of perceived injustices unfolding across the country.
On Wednesday, the university kicked off the first of four days of free sessions dedicated to social justice issues affecting Central Valley residents as policies enacted by the Trump administration begin to create fear among many residents in the region.
Conference coordinator James Tuedio, dean of the Stanislaus State College of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, said the programming acknowledges the effects of sweeping federal policy changes.
“This year, we knew we had to recognize that the Central Valley is vulnerable to efforts to disturb an equilibrium that (the university has) been building out over the last few years around respect for our diversity and for our immigrant populations, and … ways of telling the story of where we are and who we are, who’s valuable and who’s not valuable,” said Tuedio, who teaches philosophy at the university.
Recent efforts by the Trump administration include dismantling the Department of Education, emphasizing “patriotic curriculum,” and reallocating funds for minority-serving institutions and programs, which will affect all the public colleges across the Valley, including Stan State.
Many people, Tuedio said, are responding to these tactics by leaning away from groups and policies the administration has targeted – including diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and immigrant populations – in order to keep themselves safe.
“It’s insidious in a way, and what we’re trying to do is a little counterbalance through the insidious (times),” Tuedio said.
The overarching theme of this year’s conference mirrors Modesto’s motto “Water Wealth Contentment Health,” sans “Contentment.”
Sessions are designed to help attendees navigate the “Political Economies in California’s Central Valley,” and learn about the intersections of policy, identity and community action.
Since its inception in 2016, the conference has focused on human rights. But programming has adapted, sometimes minutes before, to meet the needs of the current political climate, Tuedio said.
University of Arizona professor Nolan Cabrera said he changed his approach to his workshop on ways to dismantle white supremacy and create racially inclusive institutions after hearing Stan State students speak before his session.
Cabrera said instead of offering conceptual ideas for ways to fight for DEI initiatives, he gave more real-world examples to empower students, including legal efforts in the courts. Many were pulled from his book “Banned: The Fight for Mexican American Studies in the Streets and in the Courts.”
Students are already working to unravel biased policies and engage in difficult conversations with their neighbors, Cabrera said. He said that energy can help those fighting against the Trump administration’s policies not fall into despair despite the national tension.
“One of the things that I love about this (moment), and I say this all the time, there’s a certain sort of defiant joy that people have been expressing,” Cabrera said. “I really appreciate that, because if they take our joy, they’ve won.”
Olivia Shipp, a 27-year-old Stan State alumni, said she will attend the rest of the conference sessions in Turlock and hopes other community members and family make the time this weekend as well.
“I’m just looking for ways that I can extend (my privilege) towards members of my community who don’t have the same privilege,” Shipp said. “I just want to learn how to be a good ally. I’m concerned about what’s happening and want to know what I can do about it potentially.”
As a white woman, she said she will likely never experience the kind of racial profiling she has seen by ICE agents on social media. The conference has reaffirmed her dedication to stay involved and find ways to amplify information about available resources – even though she might not need them herself.
That includes free access to immigration lawyers offered by the university.
After sitting in on several sessions, Lissett De La Cruz, a staff member of the university’s Office of Inclusive Excellence, said she hopes more of her colleagues attend. Topics, like the rights of immigrants and how to deal with ICE raids, are major concerns for their students, she said.
Most conference events are scheduled after 5 p.m. to encourage the community to participate and some programs will be livestreamed.
Each day of this year’s conference has its own theme. The first was “Understanding One Another and Advocating for Issues That Matter.” Thursday’s program aims to answer the question “How Can Development Be Sustainable and For All?” and Friday’ theme is “Culture in Crisis: What’s Urgent.”
The conference’s final day Saturday will be on the Stan State Stockton Campus. Sessions will focus on advocacy and teach participants how to engage with elected officials and leverage the power of their constituency beyond voting.
A full list of workshops, panels and performances, and their locations can be found online at www.csustan.edu/social-justice-conference.
Vivienne Aguilar is a reporter for The Modesto Focus, a project of the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative. Contact her at vivienne@cvlocaljournalism.org.