The Social Justice Institute presents meaningful events where students, scholars and community members gather together to tap into our individual and collective psyches and souls, hearts and minds, knowledge and networks of support, and dare to draw forth the words, analyses, strategies and actions that respect and uplift human dignity and life. We are honored to provide distinctive educational opportunities – and we invite you to join us and become partners in our work.
Yes! I'm coming to an SJI event!
Getting Involved with Social Justice on Campus
- Date and Time: Tuesday, September 10, 12-1 pm
- Location: Crawford Hall, Room A13, 10900 Euclid Avenue
Join CWRU Social Justice Institute Co-Director Tim Black and representatives from student justice groups to learn more about the issues facing our campus and community, the roots causes of inequality, and how you can make a difference during your time in Cleveland. Bring your lunch; drinks and dessert provided. RSVP to socialjustice@case.edu.
Reparations, or Another Attempt at Reconstruction
Co-sponsored by the American Constitution Society CWRU Student Chapter
- Date and Time: Tuesday, September 17, 1-2 pm
- Location: Room 100, Mather House, 11201 Euclid Avenue
The U.S. Congress held hearings on reparations for Black Americans on account of slavery last June 19th, or Juneteenth. This September 17th, Constitution Day, Taru Taylor (LAW '18) will discuss how reparations could validate, for Black American descendants of slaves, the social contract that was “ordained and established” by We the People. The Constitution denoted slave codes until the Civil War. Reconstruction failed, partly due to the government’s breach of its promised “40 acres and a mule.” And so, despite the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments, the Constitution denotes Black Codes to this day. Taylor's talk will emphasize reparations as a means of “restitution,” of making Black people whole and thus completing Reconstruction. Bring your lunch; drinks and dessert provided. RSVP to socialjustice@case.edu.
Advocacy Education for Health Justice - Workshop Series
- Date and Time: September 18, October 23, November 20, December 11, 6-9 pm
- Location: Thwing Hall
Graduate and undergraduate students, staff, faculty and community members interested in developing advocacy skills for health justice are invited to participate in this new workshop series. Each session will focus on a current campaign for a critical issue facing Ohio:
- Medicaid expansion (September)
- Reproductive justice and abortion access (October)
- Public health, addiction and Tobacco 21 (November)
- Gun violence as a public health crisis (December)
Experts from the campus and community will present information about local coalitions, communication strategies and negotiation techniques utilized by activists and advocates. Workshop participants then will work together to develop novel campaign proposals to address the issues. A light dinner will be provided. Participants are welcome to attend one or more workshops. RSVP to socialjustice@case.edu.
The Take: A Panel Discussion on Alternative Economics
Co-sponsored by the Ellipsis Institute for Women of Color in the Academy
- Date and Time: Friday, September 20, 6:30-8:30 pm
- Location: Senior Classroom, Tinkham Veale University Center, 11038 Bellflower Road
Join SJI Co-Director John Flores for a screening of The Take, a compelling documentary film about workers in Buenos Aires, Argentina, who reclaim control of a closed Forja auto plant and create a worker-owned cooperative. Miami University professor Nishani Frazier will respond to the film and share her research about examples of alternative economic models in place closer to home. Free and open to the community. RSVP to socialjustice@case.edu.
Teatime for Peace - Muslims in America
Co-sponsored by the Office for Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity, Office for Multicultural Affairs, InterReligious Council, CWRU Muslim Student Association and CAIR Ohio
- Date and Time: Monday, September 23, 6:15 pm
- Location: Thwing Ballroom, 11111 Euclid Avenue
Come, have a cup of tea with your Muslim neighbor and learn through human connection. In light of the political rhetoric of divisiveness and fear of American Muslims, an organization called Code Pink encouraged community groups to organize "pop-ups" for peace to counter the dangerous current climate, which led to the first Teatime for Peace event in Cleveland. Each event is held in a different local space, open to all who are interested in open dialogue. Free and open to the community. RSVP to socialjustice@case.edu.
U.S. Intervention in Venezuela and Colombia
An event of Hispanic Heritage Month
- Date and Time: Thursday, October 3, 6-8:30 pm
- Location: Room 108, Clapp Hall, 2080 Adelbert Road
SJI Co-Director John Flores will moderate this event, a discussion with Gloria La Riva and Gabriel Murcia (CWR '18), Field Organizer for the Pennsylvania State Education Association. La Riva will share video footage of her time in Venezuela. Free and open to the community. RSVP to socialjustice@case.edu.
How the Personal Becomes the Political: A Conversation with a Dreamer and Advocate
An event of Hispanic Heritage Month - Co-sponsored by the CWRU LGBT Center and Cleveland Hillel
- Date and Time: Friday, October 4, 12:45-2 pm
- Location: Flora Stone Mather Center for Women, Tinkham Veale University Center, 11038 Bellflower Road
Brandeis University student Elias Rosenfeld is a student, Dreamer, and a tireless advocate for immigration reform. Within a few days of his mother’s death in 2009, 11-year-old Elias was informed by the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) that he was now considered undocumented, and would lose many of the rights he had enjoyed since coming to the United States from Venezuela as a child. Rosenfeld will discuss how his multiple identities - as a Dreamer, a member of the Jewish community, and a member of the LGBT community - intersect and inform his activist work. Free and open to the community. RSVP to socialjustice@case.edu.
Banned: Immigration Enforcement in the Time of Trump
Co-sponsored by the CWRU School of Law
- Date and Time: Thursday, October 10, 4:30 pm
- Location: Moot Courtroom, School of Law, 11075 East Blvd.
Penn State Law Professor Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia will deliver remarks tied to her new book Banned: Immigration Enforcement in the Time of Trump, which examines the tool of discretion, or the choice a government has to protect, detain, or deport immigrants, and describes how the Trump administration has wielded this tool in creating and executing its immigration policy. Wadhia combines personal interviews, immigration law, policy analysis, and case studies with a robust analysis of immigration enforcement and discretion during the first eighteen months of the Trump administration and offers recommendations for moving forward. Free and open to the community; no reservations required.
Columbus Day Legacy - Indigenous Peoples' Day
- Date and Time: Monday, October 14, 6:30-8 pm
- Location: Crawford Hall, Room A13, 10900 Euclid Avenue
Columbus Day Legacy explores tensions and contradictions between Native and Italian‐American participants in the ongoing Columbus Day parade controversy in Denver, Colorado. This very personal yet public conflict is the source of hard questions about freedom of speech, interpreting history and what it means to be an "American."
The short documentary film will be preceded by an introduction to the ongoing call by many Native communities to change October 14 to Indigenous Peoples' Day. Afterwards, there will be a robust conversation about the issue. Free and open to the community. RSVP to socialjustice@case.edu.
Native Cleveland Talking Circle
- Date and Time: Tuesday, October 29, 6:30-8:30 pm
- Location: Guildford House Parlor, 11112 Bellflower Road
In the spirit of a traditional Native American Talking Circle, we bring together multi-generational members of Northeast Ohio's Indigenous community. From the lens of Native people living in our city and our campus community, the circle participants will speak in turn about an issue they feel is important to share. After the circle members have spoken, Dr. Susan Dominguez (SJI Indigenous Community Coordinator) will moderate a questions and answer session. Light refreshments will be served. Free and open to the community. RSVP to socialjustice@case.edu.
About Our Events
The majority of our events are free of charge and open to the community. We cannot do this important work without you – we hope that you will consider supporting us in these endeavors. Gifts of any size will impact our work and support our signature programs. Donations may be made online or sent to Social Justice Institute, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106-7243.
To RSVP or volunteer for any upcoming event, please call 216.368.7568 or email socialjustice@case.edu.