SSC’s Committee for Social Justice will be promoting inclusion, justice, social change, and human rights with Social Justice Week 2016. This college-wide event will feature a variety of workshops and programs from Oct. 24-28 in order to involve the SSC community in the cause for social justice.
Throughout the week, over 300 students are expected to take part in events such as lectures, film screenings, panel discussions, volunteering, experiential learning workshops, and motivational programs. This year’s theme for Social Justice Week is Civil Rights, and participants will be exploring the subject in both local and global areas.
Seminole State’s Sanford/Lake Mary campus will start off the week with an event called “Bringing Your Whole Self to Campus: Seminole State’s Welcome for All Dimensions of Diversity.” It will take place on Oct. 25 from 10:00 to 11:30 am in UP 3102. Dr. Kizzy Dominguez of KParks Consulting will be present, and will discuss how SSC supports diversity in various forms. Religious practices, college practices relating to LGBT students, requests from survivors of sexual violence for “trigger warnings” in curriculum descriptions, challenges for homeless students, and other current issues will be approached, in relation to academic and financial success. The event will be held as an open workshop, and while Dominguez will be guiding the discussion, participants will be encouraged to contribute their own questions and ideas.
Hosting this first Sanford/Lake Mary event is Equity and Diversity/Title IX, a group that aims to ensure that SSC complies with federal and state laws relating to civil rights. Each event of the week is hosted by a different group, as each took part in Social Justice Week. Across campuses, Civic Scholars, Oviedo Student Government Association, SLM Student Government Association, Alt Student Government Association, Unity! Gay-Straight Alliance, and the Gender Equity and Violence Awareness Committee will be taking part toward this common cause of promoting civil rights.
The week will end in the Sanford Automotive Showroom with “BACK TO SCHOOL SUMMIT: Youth Empowerment for Peace (Understanding the Roots of Stereotyping and Hate).” This event will feature the importance of diversity acceptance and the issue of violence and animosity in schools and the larger society.
This will be the second annual Social Justice Week at Seminole State College. Although the term “Social Justice” is still relatively new within higher education, explained Director of Student Life Gerald Jones, the work is not. SSC launched the initiative to provide students with a platform for being involved in the issues of social justice.
Following is the schedule of events:
Monday, October 24:
Film Viewing: Documented: A Film by an Undocumented American – 12:00 pm-2:00 pm (Sanford/Lake Mary – C110)
Panel Discussion on the effect of the upcoming elections on Civil Rights: Immigration… Are We Being Imported or Exported – 5:30 pm-7:30 pm (Altamonte Springs – A120)
Tuesday, October 25:
Interactive Workshop: Bringing Your Whole Self to Campus: SSC’s Welcome for All Dimensions of Diversity – 10:00 am-11:30 am (Sanford/Lake Mary-UP 3102) *sponsored by Equity and Diversity/Title IX Office
Wednesday, October 26:
Activity: Civil Justice Walk – 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm (Sanford/Lake Mary-Meet at Automotive Show Room)
Documentary and Discussion: TRAPPED: Sex Trafficking in Central Florida – 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm (Sanford/Lake Mary-UP 1205)
Thursday, October 27:
Workshop: Pride in the Media – 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm (Oviedo – The College Center)
Friday, October 28:
Service Learning: Environmental Injustice Awareness Project – 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (Apopka – Transportation Provided)
Saturday, October 29:
Social Justice Peace Summit: Understanding the Roots of Stereotyping and Hate – 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (Sanford/Lake Mary – Automotive Showroom)