Speaker Series

The USC Volunteer Center hosts speaker events/series to highlight social justice issues in the areas of education, immigration, public health, and environmental justice. These speaker events are tied to our Alternative Break themes.

Join the conversation and see important social justice issues through an intersectional lens. Develop your own service projects with access to our Social Justice and Service Innovation grants and help make an impact!

Upcoming Events

No Events for 2022, returning in Spring 2023

There are currently no events planned for 2022. Please check back closer to the 2023 spring semester.

The Beyond 2020 Virtual Speaker Series highlighted social justice issues traditionally explored in our ASB trips in the areas of education, equality, public health, and environmental justice. See important social justice issues through an intersectional lens through the recordings kept of these events:

2/06 Wellbeing as a Social Justice Issue [Zoom Recording]
2/06 Fighting Fire with Fire: Indigenous Approaches to Environmental Conservation [Zoom Recording]
2/20 Charity vs. Solidarity in Educational Activism [Zoom Recording]
2/20 COVID-19, Health and Human Rights: A Global Perspective [Zoom Recording]
3/06 The Nature of Public Education [Zoom Recording]
3/06 SJSI Grant Information Session [Zoom Recording]
3/20 People of Color in Predominantly White Institutions Panel [Zoom Recording]
3/20 Pollution and Public Health: Need for Policy as a Solution [Zoom Recording]
3/27, 12:00pm PT Service Fair: Where Do We Go From Here? (Series Closing Event)

Past Events

Welcome to Beyond 2020: Wellbeing as a Social Justice Issue

Saturday, February 6, 2021 9:00 AM-10:00 AM Join our kick-off session with Dean Varun Soni as we talk about today’s most pressing social justice issues. Where do we start? Where… Read More »Welcome to Beyond 2020: Wellbeing as a Social Justice Issue

Fighting Fire with Fire: Indigenous Approaches to Environmental Conservation

Saturday, February 6, 2021 10:30 AM-11:30 AM The year 2020 was punctuated by a series of uncontrollable fires that ravaged natural landscapes across the world. In January, the Australian bushfires… Read More »Fighting Fire with Fire: Indigenous Approaches to Environmental Conservation

Charity vs. Solidarity in Educational Activism

Saturday, February 20, 2021 12:00 PM-1:00 PM As an Assistant Professor of Clinical Education at the Rossier School of Education, Dr. Briana Hinga is passionate about doing research in the… Read More »Charity vs. Solidarity in Educational Activism

COVID-19, Health and Human Rights: A Global Perspective

Saturday, February 20, 2021 1:15 PM-2:15 PM Sofia Gruskin (J.D.), Director of the USC Institute on Inequalities in Global Health, is a Professor of Preventive Medicine and Chief of the… Read More »COVID-19, Health and Human Rights: A Global Perspective

The Nature of Public Education

Saturday, March 6, 2021 12:00 PM-1:00 PM Dr. Kyla Walters is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Sonoma State University whose expertise lies in education politics, labor and work, race,… Read More »The Nature of Public Education

Social Justice and Service Innovation Grant Info Session

Saturday, March 6, 2021 1:15 PM-2:15 PM In addition to our speakers and workshops, for USC students that attend at least 4 sessions, you (or a group of you) are… Read More »Social Justice and Service Innovation Grant Info Session

People of Color in Predominantly White Institutions Panel

Saturday, March 20, 2021 12:00 PM-1:15 PM As a student, faculty, affiliate of USC, as people – we all are undeniably living in proximity to social injustices perpetuated by institutions.… Read More »People of Color in Predominantly White Institutions Panel

Pollution and Public Health: Need for Policy as a Solution

Saturday, March 20, 2021 1:30 PM-2:30 PM Dr. Amy Schulz who has her PhD in Sociology and her MPH in Health Behavior and Health Education has done her research on… Read More »Pollution and Public Health: Need for Policy as a Solution

Closing: Where Do We Go From Here?

Saturday, March 27, 2021 12:00 PM 1:00 PM A variety of nonprofits, student recognized organizations, and SJSI grant applicants will present about their mission, their social justice initiatives, and their opportunities… Read More »Closing: Where Do We Go From Here?

However, the speaker events are not the only component! We recognize the importance of education as a step towards making tangible progress against social injustice, and we also want to adopt a solutions-based approach. Our Social Justice and Service Innovation Grant gives USC students and RSO’s the chance to apply for up to $2,500 in funding towards a service project that tackles an area of inequity including those discussed in the series! Develop your own service projects and help make a difference!

At our last event, a Virtual Service Fair, we provided options for trojans and community members that want to get more involved. A variety of nonprofits, student recognized organizations, and Social Justice Service Innovation Grant applicants will have a platform to share with you their mission, their social justice initiatives, and their opportunities for involvement.