Sonoma State University will host the first annual Labor and Social Action Summer School on June 12-14. Participants include youth, labor, and community activists who are members of student/youth organizations in Marin, Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, and Solano counties. The general public is also invited to attend the entire program or the Friday and Saturday evening events.
The purpose of the summer school is ëeducation for action,í which will enhance the organizing skills of participants, inform them about the history of labor and other movements for social justice, and provide an opportunity for young people, community activists, and labor organizers to interact and establish collaborative relationships.
The North Bay Central Labor Council is the main sponsor of the summer school. The conference begins on Friday, June 12 at 7:30 p.m. in SSUís Stevenson Hall, room1002 with the opening address by Robert Pollin, professor of economics at University of California, Riverside, titled ìThe Economic and Political Promise of the Living Wage Movement.î The keynote address is free and open to the public.
On Saturday, June 13, nine different workshops focus on issues such as internal organizing, new strategies for labor, building community-labor coalitions, understanding the right-wing agenda, and analyzing the North Coast power structure.
Saturday evening, Shelley Kessler, executive secretary/treasurer of San Mateo Central Labor Council and Salvador Mendoza, of United Farm Workers of Sonoma County, will deliver keynote addresses titled ìThe Right to Organize.î The Saturday evening program is open to individuals who do not register for the conference for a fee of $5. A dance will follow at 8:00 p.m. in the Zinfandel Dining Hall featuring the Michael Barclay Blues Band.
On Sunday, June 14 from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. a plenary session focuses on ìBuilding a Network for Labor and Social Action.î Francisco Vasquez, provost for the Hutchins School of Liberal Studies at SSU speaks on ìCalifornia Labor and Legacy of Cesar Chavezî at 1:30 p.m.. A reception for the artist chosen for the Cesar Chavez Memorial Mural at Sonoma State University follows.
Participants may stay in residence hall rooms at Sonoma State University or commute to the school. Registration for commuters is $40 prior to May 22 and $50 after May 22. Registration fees include meals on Saturday and Sunday and admission to the Saturday evening dance. Simultaneous Spanish translation is provided for Friday and Saturday keynote addresses, selected Saturday workshops and the Sunday morning plenary session. Child care is available for children ages 3-7 on Saturday.
Participants may also earn continuing credit and non-credit units for attendance through the Sonoma State University School of Extended Education. One unit of independent study credit in sociology may be earned. For credit information, call Peter Phillips, 707 664-2588.
For registration information and a complete schedule of workshops and events call 707-545-7349 extension 18.
