The first ever Social Justice Learning Institute (SJLI) conference took place on Thursday (Sept. 30) at the Los Angeles Trade Technical College (LATTC). The 2021 Summer of Equity Conference kicked off at the LATTC Culinary Arts Facility with a continental breakfast as attendees were welcomed by the Motherland Music Group and West African Drum Circle and Dance Troupe.
The theme of the conference focused on educational empowerment, community sustainability, and system transformation. Dr. Omai Garner, executive board director of SJLI, Derek Steele, executive director of SJLI, and Dr. Katrina VanderWoude, LATTC president, made opening remarks regarding the impact of 2020 on the social climate and the urgency of moving forward with causes regarding equity and equality.
The morning plenary keynote speaker of the event was D’Artagnan Scorza, Ph.D., who is the newly appointed executive director of racial equity of Los Angeles County. He spoke on utilizing education as a means to socially and civically empower historically disadvantaged and overlooked communities. Scorza emphasized that the powers that be and the communities they serve must recognize the difference between equality and equity in order to make efficacious progress and systemic changes.
Scorza’s presentation was followed by a series of workshops, such as “Empowering Through Education,” “The World Is Yours: Using Equity To Transform Built Environments And Expand Access,” and “System Changes: Employing Equity In Institutions,” among others.
Following a three-course luncheon served by the culinary program, Isaac Bryan of the California State Assembly member of the 54th District conducted the afternoon plenary keynote and awards ceremony. Erika J. Glazer was awarded the Champion Award and Hanks Mini Market received the Community Small Business Award. Volunteers, Devon Williams and Abel Ibarra, were also recognized at the event. The conference ended with a reception and art exhibit at the garden terrace.
Sponsors of the full-day event consisted of the LA Dodgers Foundation, Weingart Foundation, The California Endowment, All Ways Up Foundation, California Community Foundation, Reissa Foundation, and the Covid/State Community Health Project.
“SJLI empowers individuals to make informed decisions to improve their lives and that of their neighbors,” a statement from SJLI reads. “Using education as a tool for civic and social empowerment, we teach young people to thrive as scholars, organizers, and community leaders in the Urban Scholars program. Similarly, through the work of our Health Equity team, we empower residents of all ages to be community health advocates with knowledge in nutrition, gardening, physical activity, and advocacy centered on social determinants of health.”
The statement continues, “Equipped with this information, they have the capacity to transform neighborhood conditions by improving school infrastructure, planting community gardens for access to healthy food, and training their fellow community members to be health ambassadors.”
