2013
The Summit Organizing Committee
of the
University of Northern Colorado
Proudly Presents
The 10th Annual
Summit
on
Social Justice and Diversity
Featuring Special Guest
Ms. Jessica Pettit
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
8:30am to 5:30pm
Panorama Room
University Center
University of Northern Colorado
Notes
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Mission Statement
The Summit on Social Justice and Diversity at the University of
Northern Colorado is an annual gathering of scholars, activists,
students, and community members who share a belief in the need for
a more just and egalitarian global society in which social justice takes
its place as a fundamental value. The purpose of this gathering is to
promote cultural and scholastic exploration into the subject matter of
social justice and diversity. The ultimate goal of the Summit is to
advance and disseminate the theory and practice of social justice and
to make diversity a guiding principle based on genuine equality.
Definition of Social Justice
There are many varying and insightful definitions of social justice.
However, the Summit Organizing Committee (SOC) understands
social justice to be based upon uninhibited access to opportunities
within a hierarchical system of advantages and disadvantages. Social
justice is not only defined by embracing equality, but also working to
ensure that no individual or group is disadvantaged because of their
differences from those who maintain the global power structure.
Thus, the SOC believes that only perpetual vigilance and resistance
can attain greater degrees of social justice.
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Definition of Diversity
The members of the Summit Organizing Committee do not define
diversity as a hollow display of commercial images rooted in
superficiality and ever more subtle stereotypes. SOC believes that
diversity can only be defined by acknowledging and respecting the
differences that exist within and among sexes, genders, races,
ethnicities, sexual preferences, physical abilities, mental abilities, ages,
religions, spiritual beliefs, physical appearances, cultures, and all other
aspects of otherness within an equitable social order.
Call to Action
We must have the courage to engage in the political, cultural,
practical, and ethical battles necessary to secure social justice. We
invite those who agree with the above statements to join us. Each
generation finds its destiny and either fulfills or betrays it. Taking up
this challenge, let us march on together.
The struggle continues.
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Schedule of Events
8:30 – 9:30
Registration
9:30 – 9:55
Welcome
Tramaine Duncan, SOC President
9:55 – 10:00
Break
10:00 – 10:55 Panel I – Identity, Diversity, and Sexuality: A
Sampling of Views
Moderator – Fatimah Kitwanna
“Fostering Cultural Diversity and Awareness
through K-12 Education: Implementing
Curriculum at the Boys & Girls Club”
Mariah Brothe, Department of Anthropology,
UNC
“Already on the Outside: Feminist Identity
Development Among Women on a College
Campus”
Lauren Koppel
“Love Not Hate: The Religious Debate About
Homosexuality”
Michael Lengel
11:00 – 12:30 Workshop
“If Not Us, Then Who? Let’s Rise”
Jessica Pettit
12:30 – 12:50 2012-2013 Report Card
Dr. Hermon George, Jr., SOC Faculty
Advisor
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12:50 – 2:00
Lunch
2:00 – 3:00
Keynote Presentation
“Be the Change You Want to Be”
Jessica Pettit
3:00 – 3:05
Break
3:05 – 4:00
Panel II A – Class, Black Politics, and
Language
Moderator – Tramaine Duncan
“Changing Perceptions of the “N” Word”
Tramaine Duncan, SOC President
“Critiques of President Obama, Right and Left:
How Race/Racism Shapes the Dicourse”
Hermon George, Jr., Ph.D., Professor,
Africana Studies, UNC
“Targeting the ‘Missing Piece’ Within the Social
Justice Agenda: Exploring Experiences of
Classism and Perceptions of Counseling Services
in Undergraduate Students”
Meag-gan Walters
Panel II B – A Slice of Chicana Culture: Social
Justice through Poetry
Moderator – Genie Canales
“Slam Poetry Reading: The Women of Juarez”
Maria Basquez, Genie Canales, Veronica
Lucero
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4:05 – 5:00
Panel III A – Social Justice in the Criminal
Justice System
Moderator – Brian Smith
“Fairness Redefined: Reforming the Reform of
Federal Cocaine Sentencing Policies”
Kamille McKinney, B.A., M.A. in progress
“Local Social Change: An Issue from Beginning
to End”
Carla Gonzalez Garcia
“Children of Incarcerated Fathers”
Mary West-Smith, PhD., Department of
Criminal Justice, UNC
Panel III B – Community Service, Higher
Education, and the Study of Urban America:
A Survey of Scholarly Views
Moderator – Hermon George, Jr.
“Geographic Issue Analysis”
Shanice Clarke
“A Sisterhood Called to Serve: Transforming
Lives, Impacting Communities”
Jasmine Houston (Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority)
“Effective Strategies for the Recruitment and
Retention of Native Students in Higher
Education”
Solomon Little Owl
5:00 – 5:15
Closing Remarks
Hermon George, Jr., SOC Faculty Advisor
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Jessica Pettit Biography
Jessica Pettitt is the "diversity
educator" your family warned you
about. She is easy to work with,
accessible, and brings VERY
simple concepts that are really hard
to incorporate into our
lives. Nominated for two years by
Campus Activities Magazine for
Best Diversity Artist, Jessica’s
programs are direct, customized,
and highly interactive. Her
workshops, seminars, and keynotes
take participants on a journey
weaving together politics, theory,
current events, and story telling
with large doses of humor
reminiscent of Bob Newhart, George Carlin, and Paula Poundstone.
This is by no means your average diversity program! Though
participants will be laughing, she promises no drum circles, guilty
tears, or finger pointing. This will be a HIGHLY interactive program
that will leave participants with actual action steps to make REAL
change in their lives. Jessica takes 10+ years in Student Affairs, 5+
years of national consulting work, and 2+ years of stand up comedy
stage to stage as part of her mission to inspire change, dismantle
oppression, and recognize our privilege. Through teaching, writing,
and facilitating tough conversations, Jessica has figured out how to
BE the change she wants to BE. Now it is your turn!
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Information on Joining SOC
The Summit Organizing Committee (SOC) is a student-led
organization, founded in 2004, on the campus of the University of
Northern Colorado. SOC is dedicated to promoting diversity and
providing awareness around the issues concerning the many forms of
injustices and discrimination, such as stereotypes, racism and sexism,
to name a few. These injustices exist on our own campus and in our
communities, as well as nationally. Annually, the organization
organizes the Summit on Social Justice and Diversity, which is a
gathering of scholars, activists, students, faculty, and community
members who share a belief in the need for a more just, diverse, and
egalitarian society.
We encourage anyone to join the SOC because of the many
intrinsic rewards the organization may offer. Upon joining the SOC:
one will gain awareness surrounding issues and concerns within social
justice, one will become an integral part in the fight toward social
justice and diversity, one will explore and seek to understand her/his
own identity and journey in the fight for social justice and diversity;
and one will gain great leadership skills in planning for the Annual
Summit on Social Justice and Diversity and beyond.
It is easy to join!
For more information, contact us:
Email: uncosummit@yahoo.com
Facebook: SummitOrganizingCommittee (SOC)
Phone: (970) 351-1743
“You must be the change you wish to see in this world.”
--Mahatma Gandhi
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Summit Organizing Committee:
Tramaine Duncan (President), Michael Lengel (Vice
President), Fatimah Kitwanna (Secretary), Hermon George
Jr. (Faculty Advisor), Brian Smith (Faculty Advisory)
Special Thanks To:
University Program Council
Office of Enrollment Management and Student Access
Director of Diverse Relations, Student Senate
Summit Organizing Committee
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