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The second Symposium on Life
in the San Joaquin Valley on April 4 will bring together scholars from
numerous disciplines at California State University, Fresno and members
of the community for a daylong dialogue on many of the region’s
most-critical quality of life challenges.
The symposium is composed of presentations on recent research findings
by scholars, question-and-answer sessions and time for general
discussion among the participants on economics, health and social
concerns, environmental issues and the impact of technology.
“It is an opportunity to demonstrate to the community how scholarship
and social research expertise can be a resource in powering the New
California,” said symposium coordinator Dr.
Robert S. Palacio, chair of Fresno State’s Department of Sociology and
director of the university-based Center for the Study of Social Life in
the San Joaquin Valley.
Fresno Bee columnist Bill McEwen and Fresno State and community
benefactor Coke Hallowell also will address the symposium.
At 9 a.m., McEwen will begin the event talking about “Choosing Our
Future, Preserving Our Beauty.” His columns frequently challenge the
community on environmental issues, the shape of development and
leadership on preservation of resources.
Hallowell will speak at 12:20 p.m., about “A Bundle of Wishes for OUR
SPACE.” She has long been actively involved in community projects from
education to environment and was appointed by Gov. Schwarzenegger to the
California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley.
The symposium begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 2:30 p.m. in the Alice
Peters Auditorium (Room 191) at the University Business Center. Parking
will be relaxed in the UBC lot on the east side of campus. There is no
admission charge; morning refreshments and lunch are included. Because
of limited seating, reservations are required by March 28.
The event is sponsored by the Center for Economic Research and Education
for Central California, Center for the Study of Social Life in the San
Joaquin Valley, Central California Social Welfare, Research, Training
and Evaluation Center, Institute for Public Anthropology, Social Science
Research Laboratory and Urban Planning and Environmental Research
Laboratories. The College of Social Sciences also supports the
symposium.
The times, topics and presenters (all from Fresno State unless noted)
are:
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9:30 a.m. –
“Quality of Life in the Central San Joaquin Valley: 2001 through
2007,” Dr. Edward Nelson, Department of Sociology and director,
Social Research Laboratory.
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9:55 – “Observing
Quality of Life in the Great Valley: Initial Findings of the
Partnership for Assessment of Communities,” Dr. Robin Maria DeLugan,
Department of Anthropology, and Dr. Simon Weffer-Elizondo,
Department of Sociology, both University of California, Merced.
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10:20 – “Air
Quality Measurements in Fresno,” Dr. Segun Ogunjemiyo, Dr. Sam
Omolayo, Dr. Stuart McFeeters, Erika Antonio and Michelle Himden,
all Department of Geography, San Joaquin Valley Environmental
Research Laboratory and Urban Planning /GIS Lab.
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11 – “Responding
to the Needs of Mothers and Children Affected by Methamphetamine
Abuse in the San Joaquin Valley,” Dr. Virginia Rondero Hernandez,
Department of Social Work Education.
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1 p.m. – “The
Determinants of Income among Hispanics in California’s Central
Valley: A Survey,” Dr. Antonio Avalos, Department of Economics and
research director, Center for Economic Research and Education for
Central California.
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1:25 – “Housing in
the Central San Joaquin Valley and Community Organizing,” Dr.
Matthew Jendian, Department of Sociology and director, American
Humanics Program.
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1:50 – “Poverty,
Technology, and the Prospect of a Future: Crossing the Rural Digital
Divide in the San Joaquin Valley,” Dr. James Mullooly, Department of
Anthropology and co-director, Institute of Public Anthropology, and
Jason Scroggins, Master of Arts candidate.
For reservations and
additional information, e-mail
bobp@csufresno.edu or call 559.278.2234.
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