TORRANCE, CA—On March 12, activists and organizers throughout the Los Angeles area gathered to participate in El Camino College’s 1st Annual Social Justice Fair. The fair was organized by students Robert DeWitz and Brenda Diaz, with the invaluable help of their advisor, Breanna von Stein. The fair was sponsored by The El Camino College Feminist Alliance and the Student Development Office, whose purpose was to expose students and the community to a variety of social justice issues and some of the organizations which addressed them. Students were also encouraged to participate in such issues and/or organizations.
The organizers outreached to hundreds of organizations and used careful selection to cover a broad spectrum of issues. The event saw nearly seventy participating organizations. The event was so well-received and successful that it provided the foundation for the establishment of a social justice program.
The program’s purpose is to serve as an extension of the fair, designed to educate students about a variety of issues through, but not limited to, monthly educational events. The program has organized two of these educational events, with the latest being a presentation titled, “Sexual Assault and Prevention,” with student participation numbering over a hundred.
We are continuing to build a network of supportive educators to incorporate the program into their courses to maximize student participation and ensure its developmental longevity. In the fall, we hope to cover issues such as the post-9/11 assault on civil rights, U.S. imperialism, and the systematic dismantling of public education by corporate interest groups. For up-to-date information on the program please visit: facebook.com/Social.Justice.Fair.ECC
