3rd Annual Social Justice Conference
Information and Background

Cabrillo College’s 3rd Annual Social Justice Conference will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2009 from 9:00 to 3:30 and will include a key-note speaker, break-out sessions, and a community fair. This year we will also have an opening reception on Friday, May 1, 2009 at the Watsonville Center from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.

As the drive toward social justice rests in the hearts of Cabrillo College students, administrators, faculty, staff and the greater Santa Cruz community, the conference has been a success for the past two years, and we are excited to continue onto a third conference! We ask all to consider our conference theme: Imagining Change/Shaping the Future III.

Over 350 people attended both the 2007 and 2008 conferences, and over 30 panels, papers, and creative works were presented at each conference by Cabrillo College students, faculty, staff and administrators. The Honorable John Laird gave the keynote address for the 2007 conference, while Ms. Banafsheh Akhlaghi, Attorney at Law and founder of the National Legal Sanctuary for Community Advancement gave the keynote address for the 2008 conference. Brian Copeland will present the keynote address for this year's conference.

As a new addition for the 2008 Conference, the Children's Faire was a huge success. During both break out sessions, children attended the Faire accompanied by an adult and read books, played with dolls, and completed arts and crafts projects centered on social justice themes. We look forward to this year's Children's Faire.

Integral to the conference, for both years, we had approximately fifteen community groups including the NAACP, Santa Cruz Cuba Caravans, and People Power!, participate in our community fair where each organization hosted a table and shared their mission and work toward social justice in the greater Santa Cruz community with conference attendees.

We plan to follow a similar format for the 2009 conference, and expand to the Watsonville Center with our opening reception.

Key-Note Speaker: Brian Copeland

Brian Copeland is a multitalented comedian, writer, television host, talk radio host and commentator who has basked in the glow of both public and critical acclaim for nearly a decade.

In 2004, Brian premiered his first one man show, NOT A GENUINE BLACK MAN, at the Marsh Theater in San Francisco. The show deals with the lingering effects of Copeland's childhood spent as an African American in the then 99.99% white Bay Area suburb of San Leandro, considered in the 1960's and 70's to be one of America's most racist enclaves. The show's themes of isolation, racial identity and redemption struck a central nerve in audiences.

The San Francisco Chronicle called it, "...a beautiful mix of wry humor and heartbreak, indignation and inspiration, a singular story of extreme isolation that speaks to anyone who's ever felt out of place."

GENUINE went on to run for over two years, becoming the longest running solo show in San Francisco theatrical history. The show went on to acclaimed runs in Los Angeles and Off Broadway.

A best selling memoir based on the show and the attention of Hollywood soon followed. NOT A GENUINE BLACK MAN is currently being developed as a feature film and a television series.

In 2007, director Rob Reiner cast Copeland as Lee Chambers, the son of Morgan Freeman's character, in the feature film, THE BUCKET LIST starring Freeman and Jack Nicholson.

Brian Copeland lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife Susie and their children Adam, Carolyn and Casey.

Break-out Panels

In order to foster student professionalization, academic success, and community involvement, we invite Cabrillo College administrators, students, faculty, and staff to present original academic work, research projects and artistic productions and projects.

Community Fair

We also invite community-based organizations to participate in our community fair and host an information table.

How to Participate

Attend the conference on Saturday, May 2, 2009 at the Aptos Campus and the opening reception on Friday, May 1, 2009 at the Watsonville Center.
(All invited!) Click Here

Host an information table at the community fair.
(Any organization in Santa Cruz County with social justice as part of their mission statement.) Click Here

Present at the conference. Click Here
(Cabrillo College students, administrators, faculty and staff.)