Social Justice Committee (SJAC) Updates
October 3, 2023
By: Eliana Rodriguez
The Social Justice and Action Committee (SJAC), formerly known as the Social Justice Advisory Board (SJAB), aims to expand CEIS’ community- based work at Cal Poly Pomona and increase visibility across departments.
Dr. Hyeryung Hwang and Dr. Shayda Kafai are the new SJAC co-chairs who are dedicated to the cultivation of dialogue across perspectives and positionalities, critical intersectional anti-racist pedagogies, equity-minded practices, and community engagement.
SJAC initially formed in 2019 as a CEIS Task Force and have been responsible for leading studies, faculty/staff/student workshops, lecture-demonstrations with guest speakers, and developing a new mission, vision, and values statements for the college.
The committee also developed a 62- page report that lists action items and recommendations to further grow and strengthen CEIS.
The goals for the all- college committee of students, faculty, and staff are to plan events and activities centered around scholarship and community actions, as well as provide educational opportunities about issues in social justice.
By the committee’s inclusion of student- centered pedagogies, it also provides professional hands- on training of students. Its emphasis in social justice orientation also gives teacher candidates in CEIS opportunities to recognize their power to make positive change in the classroom with a commitment of equity.
To encourage future partnerships, among the committee’s many goals, its commitment to community outreach and community-based work has helped develop a subcommittee to increase engagement.
Recently, alongside the Department of Ethnic and Women’s Studies, the committee launched a series of lectures and workshops to provide further insight of the effects of institutional racism on marginalized groups.
To build on CEIS’ existing strengths, SJAC places an emphasis on the Learn- By- Doing strategy by continuing the dialogue across different perspectives and positionalities, critical intersectional anti-racist pedagogies, equity-minded practices, and community engagement.
The committee hopes to engage in collaboration with partnering school districts to further advance their goals in social justice- centered pedagogies. As well as, promoting the conversation that surround issues of local and global social and eco justice.
In continuing the conversation of social justice in the classroom, it is important to create a community of conscience. This helps ensure that students’ ideas and voices are encouraged.
To ensure the topic of social justice extends beyond the classroom, SJAC supports CEIS and its community members by making positive differences in faculty, students, and staff’s lives through service- learning.
SJAC formed as an official committee last year but plans to expand their reach and advancement in equity, accessibility, and social justice opportunities across the greater CPP community.
Dr. Hyeryung Hwang and Dr. Shayda Kafai are the new SJAC co-chairs who are dedicated to the cultivation of dialogue across perspectives and positionalities, critical intersectional anti-racist pedagogies, equity-minded practices, and community engagement.
SJAC initially formed in 2019 as a CEIS Task Force and have been responsible for leading studies, faculty/staff/student workshops, lecture-demonstrations with guest speakers, and developing a new mission, vision, and values statements for the college.
The committee also developed a 62- page report that lists action items and recommendations to further grow and strengthen CEIS.
The goals for the all- college committee of students, faculty, and staff are to plan events and activities centered around scholarship and community actions, as well as provide educational opportunities about issues in social justice.
By the committee’s inclusion of student- centered pedagogies, it also provides professional hands- on training of students. Its emphasis in social justice orientation also gives teacher candidates in CEIS opportunities to recognize their power to make positive change in the classroom with a commitment of equity.
To encourage future partnerships, among the committee’s many goals, its commitment to community outreach and community-based work has helped develop a subcommittee to increase engagement.
Recently, alongside the Department of Ethnic and Women’s Studies, the committee launched a series of lectures and workshops to provide further insight of the effects of institutional racism on marginalized groups.
To build on CEIS’ existing strengths, SJAC places an emphasis on the Learn- By- Doing strategy by continuing the dialogue across different perspectives and positionalities, critical intersectional anti-racist pedagogies, equity-minded practices, and community engagement.
The committee hopes to engage in collaboration with partnering school districts to further advance their goals in social justice- centered pedagogies. As well as, promoting the conversation that surround issues of local and global social and eco justice.
In continuing the conversation of social justice in the classroom, it is important to create a community of conscience. This helps ensure that students’ ideas and voices are encouraged.
To ensure the topic of social justice extends beyond the classroom, SJAC supports CEIS and its community members by making positive differences in faculty, students, and staff’s lives through service- learning.
SJAC formed as an official committee last year but plans to expand their reach and advancement in equity, accessibility, and social justice opportunities across the greater CPP community.