Proposal for a Student-Organized Conference
Title/Theme: Poverty in the Land of Prosperity
Date: Saturday, February 10, 2007
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: Burkle Building, CGU, Claremont, California
Purpose: To start a transdisiplinary dialogue concerning poverty in America. To raise and answer questions such as: How do we learn about poverty culturally? What are the religious aspects or implications of poverty? How are economics related to poverty? In what ways does the government system influence poverty? What are the psychological implications of poverty, especially for women? In what ways can we address issues of poverty?
Overview: Invited speakers will give presentations on poverty in America according to their own disciplines and research experience. Following presentations, CGU students will constitute a student panel that will present their own research and then lead a public discussion. Lunch will then be provided to all in the middle of the day. A second session of speakers and the last student panel will follow.
Schedule:
8:30-9:00 Conference registration-Members of the conference planning committee will greet guests at arrival. All participants and speakers will register at a table and receive name tags that include what school they are from and their research area or, when applicable, occupation. During this time, refreshments such as bagels and coffee will be served as participants register and socialize.
9:00-9:45 Gina Lamb, Ph.D., Pitzer College, Media Studies
Topic: Does the media portray and prioritize poverty as a national and global problem? Presentation will focus on television and movies though other media outlets such as recent documentaries and books will be discussed.
9:45-10:30 Pamela K. Brubaker, Ph.D., Cal Lutheran University, Economics & Ethics
Topic: Neo-liberalism's contribution to poverty both globally and in North America analyzed from a socio-economic and religious ethical perspectives; concluded with policy proposals aimed at overcoming poverty in North America.
10:30-10:45 Break-Refreshments served
10:45-11:45 Student Panel #1
Conference facilitator Dong Hyun Kim will introduce a panel of CGU students to the audience. Each panel is to be made up of four students from four different disciplines. This panel's students will be from social psychology, philosophy, cultural studies, and politics and economics. The facilitator will ask general questions such as "What is your discipline view of poverty? Is this your personal view?" The audience will then be asked to respond to any of the views or to state any objections and/or additions. Participants will then be asked to focus on how the different areas can all contribute, together, to alleviating poverty.
11:45-1:15 Lunch-To accommodate participants, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian trays will be provided. In addition to catered sandwiches, we will also have cheese and fruit trays as well as a variety of beverages.
1:15-2:00 Heather Bullock, Ph.D., UC Santa Clara, Psychology & Women’s Studies
Topic: The problem of poverty goes beyond the effects of monetary issues; there are psychological and emotional costs of living in poverty. Focus will be on families living in povert (e.g., single mothers with children living in urban neighborhoods).
2:00-2:45 Jeff Thomas, Claremont School of Theology, Pastor & Religion Student
Topic: Impact and reality of poverty in the inner city's underprivileged persons in and around Los Angeles' Skid Row. As pastor and advocate for his congregation on skid row, Jeff Thomas will help clarify the religious needs, physical challenges and counseling strategies involved in overcoming the effects of inner city poverty.
2:45-3:00 Break-Refreshments served
3:00-4:00 Student Panel #2
The four CGU participants in this panel will consist of business, education, history, and religion students. Dong Hyun Kim will once again introduce each of the members and give a brief background of their interests. The panel will present their discipline's view as well as their own, addressing any similarities or differences between the other disciplines. The audience will then be asked to contribute to each field's views, drawing on how combining efforts can lead to an improvement in the problem of poverty.
Planning Timeline:
11/10/07 CGU Call for student panelists: students will be recruited through department announcements, flyers, and e-mails. All interested applicants will be asked to turn in a resume and will be interviewed by at least one of the conference organizers.
11/10/07 Speakers and facilities confirmed; begin collecting sponsorship money for food and refreshments from local businesses.
12/10/07 Student panelists chosen: all chosen panelists will be e-mailed to confirm interest. An orientation meeting about requirements and preparation will be set within the same week.
Travel arrangements made for out of area speakers. Speakers will be able to receive compensation for any traveling costs that were ensued for the conference.
1/10/07 Conference volunteers organized: About 10 CGU students will be volunteering (see list of responsibilities below). Volunteers will be recruited through e-mails and flyers.
Conference publicity: Publicity for this event will primarily be done through e-mails and flyers.
1/27/07 Conference materials prepared: Speakers and panelists will turn in any material that they would like distributed during the conference. Copies of material will be made using conference budget.
Catering confirmed: Three large sandwich trays, one cheese tray, one vegetable tray, and one fruit tray will be ordered from Albertson's catering service.
2/08/07 Refreshments, utensils, etc. purchased with sponsored money.
Planning Responsibilities:
Dong Hyun Kim: speaker confirmations, conference facilitator
Catherine Nylin: refreshments, organize volunteers
Anthony Shin: publicity, issue call for proposals
Betty Tanius: facilities arrangements, catering sponsorship
CGU volunteers: A/V coordination, transportation arrangements, thank-you baskets, conference material preparation, registration table
Budget:
Travel expenses $350
Honorariums $600
Thank-you baskets for speakers $150
Thank-you gift certificates for volunteers $150
Conference materials $250
TOTAL $1500