2011 Forum

April 2011

Organizing for Empowerment

The forum, held at California State University Channel Islands, was a thought- and action-provoking day around the topics of human rights, immigration, labor, media, and consumer awareness, all with a gender equity lens, featuring the film, film- makers, and activists from Made in L.A., as well as Ventura County activists in these areas of concern.  Made in L.A. is an Emmy award-winning feature documentary that follows the remarkable story of three Latina immigrants working in Los Angeles garment sweatshops as they embark on a three-year odyssey to win basic labor protections from a trendy clothing retailer. Emmy award-winning filmmakers, Almudena Carracedo & Robert Bahar, were our keynote speakers.

Viewing of the film was followed by a Panel Discussion of issues raised in Made in L.A.: Human Rights, Immigration, Labor, Media & Consumer Awareness. Panelists: Eileen Boris, UCSB Department of Feminist Studies; Almudena Carracedo & Robert Bahar, Made in L.A.; Juana Tapia, Ventura County Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice; Marian Gonzalez del Castillo (Gamboa), Mexican National Human Rights Commission; Lupe Hernandez, Garment Worker Center in Made in L.A.; and Joann Lo, Food Chain Workers Alliance & Garment Worker Center in Made in L.A. Afternoon breakout session included Issues in Ventura County: Human Rights, Immigration, Labor, Media & Consumer Awareness.

2011 Steering Committee:
Co-Chairs Socorro Lopez Hanson, Community Action of Ventura County, and Kim Marra Stephenson, AAUW - Camarillo Branch; Carina Armenta, Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo Counties; Ventura County Reproductive Rights Network; Victoria Bortolussi, Learning In Communities; Helen Conly, Community Member; Marie Francois, California State University Channel Islands; Beatriz Garcia, Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy; Terry Gibson, National Women's Political Caucus of Ventura County; Diana Goodrow, California Women's Agenda - Women's Intercultural Network; Sharon Hillbrant, California Congress of Seniors; Raye Keene, Concerned Black Women of Conejo Valley; Lee Riggan, Business and Professional Women of Conejo Valley; Betina San Martin, Community Member; Juana San Martin, Student Member, California Scholarship Federation; Catherine Smith, National Women's Political Caucus of Ventura County; Celeste Weingardt, National Women's Political Caucus of Ventura County

Forum Sponsors:
($1,000) McCune Foundation; *California State University Channel Islands; *Ventura County Star ($500) *SAGE Publications; California Faculty Association – Channel Islands Chapter; Ventura County Community Foundation; CSUCI School of Education; ($250) California Lutheran University Center for Equality and Justice; *Maverick Media Productions; National Women’s Political Caucus – Ventura County; Central Coast Alliance (CAUSE); Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo Counties, Inc.; United Union Professionals; ($100) Senator Fran Pavley; Assemblywoman Julia Brownley; www.SomisRealEstate.com; David Stephenson; *CSUCI Center for Community Engagement; Little City Designs; CAWA-WIN; Bill Gallaher & Eileen McCarthy; Terry Gibson; Lee Riggan; Hank Lacayo Institute for Workforce & Community Studies; Learning In Communities, Inc.; Somis Nut House; Dr. Mark Lisagor, Ventura County Board of Education; Dr. Suzanne Fussell; SendOutCards; Celeste Weingardt (*denotes in-kind donation)