“Sustainability and Social Justice” is the topic to be addressed on March 7 when CSU Monterey Bay’s annual Focus the Region teach-in and Social Justice Colloquium jointly present a program of speakers, films and panel discussions.

A complete schedule is available here

"We think of sustainability in terms of environmental issues, economic issues and social justice issues," said Dr. Dan Fernandez, chair of CSUMB's Division of Science and Environmental Policy. "The most neglected of these three pillars is social justice.

"Social justice needs to go hand-in-hand with environmental and economic issues," Dr. Fernandez said.

All events will take place in the University Center on Sixth Avenue. CSUMB President Dianne Harrison will open the program will brief remarks at 1 p.m. The day’s highlights include:

At 1:20 p.m.: Graciela Tiscareno-Sato, a graduate of the School of Environmental Design at UC Berkeley and a former military aviator, will talk on Latinnovating: How Creative Latino Culture is Sparking the Green Economy.

At 3:30: Frank Bardacke will speak on farm work and justice. His most recent book is the award-winning Trampling Out the Vintage: Cesar Chavez and the Two Souls of the United Farm Workers.

At 5:45: Showing of the Emmy-nominated film, A Village Called Versailles, about a Vietnamese American community near New Orleans and their efforts to rebuild their neighborhood after Katrina, and then their fight to overturn a government decision to put a toxic landfill near their homes.

At 6:45: For International Women’s Day, panels will examine women’s rights around land, work, health, culture and education. The day’s activities, including a vegetarian lunch (available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.), are free. Lunch guests are asked to RSVP. Exhibitors, including AMBAG, Applied Solar Energy, Hartnell College Sustainable Construction, Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency, MST and the U.S. Green Building Council will have displays set up starting at 11 a.m. Attendees are encouraged to bike, take public transportation (route information) or carpool to the event. There is a $2 campus parking fee. For more information, please contact Dr. Daniel Fernandez at (831) 582-3786 or sustainability@csumb.eduPhotos: Above left: Graciela Tiscareno-Sato Above right: Frank Bardacke