Keynote speakers Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales (front) and DJ Gabriel de la Cruz present their "Ethnic Studies Mixtape." Photo courtesy of Central Coast Coalition for Undocumented Student Success (CCC-USS)
The School of Education (SOE) and its collaborators hosted the second annual Social Justice Education Conference at Santa Maria High School in May, with presentations and discussions centering on the theme Doing What We Know Is Right: Ethnic & Gender Studies for Every Student!
The event was attended by 150 guests who enjoyed presentations, workshops and a curriculum and resource fair to advance social justice in PreK-12 schools. Keynote speakers this year included Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales, a renowned ethnic studies scholar and activist from San Francisco State University, and Ricardo Valencia, an educator and community activist working at Santa Maria High School.
Eric Blanco and Patricia Villalobos from Santa Maria Joint
Union High School District present on their ethnic and
gender studies efforts. Photo courtesy of Central Coast
Coalition for Undocumented Student Success (CCC-USS)
The conference also featured presentations by Cal Poly’s education candidates from the Multiple Subject and Single Subject Teacher Preparation programs and the Spanish Authorization for Bilingual Education Program (SABE).
Candidates in the SABE program presented archival research, historical information and in-depth bilingual interviews they have been gathering from local Latinx residents and families. The candidates used these ethnographies and oral histories to build a vibrant and dynamic understanding of community members’ immigration histories and life experiences. Candidates also participated in walking tours to highlight historical sites, resources and organizations that feature the contributions that Latinx communities made to the Central Coast.
This year’s event was built on the success of last year’s Social Justice Curriculum and Resource Fair, which included more than 100 attendees across PreK-higher education fields and more than 20 presentations and sessions led by faculty, in-service teachers and future educator candidates from SOE. Reflective of SOE’s commitment to community-based teacher preparation, the Social Justice Education Conference is a collaboration of community leaders and educators, including the Cal Poly Office of University Diversity and Inclusion, the Central Coast Coalition for Undocumented Student Success, and the Santa Maria Joint Unified High School District.
