Conference at Colorado State University Explores Issues of Justice and Human Rights

The department of social work at Colorado State University will present a conference titled "Advancing Diversity Through Human Rights" April 25.

The Second Annual Student Organized Social Work Conference will feature a day-long series of talks by government officials, administrators and educators on the topics of justice and human rights. All presentations will be in Room 212 Eddy Building on campus. The conference begins at 8:30 a.m. and is free and open to the community.

"This is the second conference we have organized around the theme of culture and diversity," said Maria Puig, event coordinator and assistant professor in the department of social work. "The presentations show that human rights are closely tied to culture and diversity. If we ensure everyone has human rights, then we are promoting diversity."

Highlights of the conference include a morning keynote address by Shay Bilchik, administrator from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in the U.S. Department of Justice. The afternoon keynote speaker is Lula Rodriguez, deputy assistant secretary for public affairs, U.S. Department of State. Afternoon events also include a panel discussion with Colorado State international students. A complete schedule of events follows.

  • 8-8:30 a.m. – Registration and continental breakfast.
  • 8:30-8:45 a.m. – Welcome.
  • 8:45-9:30 a.m. – "Justice for Juveniles," keynote speech by Shay Bilchik, administrator in the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in the U.S. Department of Justice.
  • 9:45-10:30 a.m. – "Human Rights, Race, and Social Work Values: Moving Beyond Talk," presentation by Willie Tolliver, associate professor in the School of Social Work at Hunter College.
  • 10:30-11:15 a.m. – "American Indians of Mixed Descent: Issues of Identity and Oppression," talk by Gretchen Cotrell, assistant professor in the School of Social Work at Boise State University.
  • 11:15 a.m.-noon – "Reflections on Human Rights from the Social Work Profession: A Cross-cultural Perspective," presentation by Lowell Jenkins, associate professor in the department of social work at Colorado State, and Marita Romano, graduate student in the School of Education at Colorado State.
  • 12:15-1:30 p.m. – Lunch break. Optional luncheon in Room 217 and Room 219 in the Education Building on campus.
  • 1:30-2:15 p.m. – Afternoon keynote speech by Lula Rodriguez, deputy assistant secretary for public affairs, U.S. Department of State.
  • 2:30-3:15 p.m. – Mona Schatz, associate professor in the department of social work at Colorado State, presents "How Does Teaching About the Holocaust Create Opportunities for Building Understanding About the Importance of Global Peace?"
  • 3:30-4:30 p.m. – "Views From Abroad: Perspectives on Human Rights," presentation by Martha A. Denney, director of international education at Colorado State, and an international student panel discussion.
  • 4:30-5:15 p.m. – "The Impact of Culture on Human Rights," a talk by Anthony Sainz, associate professor in the School of Social Work at Hunter College.

The conference was organized by Colorado State undergraduate and graduate students along with two faculty members in the department of social work in the College of Applied Human Science.

A free luncheon is available for those who request a lunch ticket before April 23.

For more information or to request a lunch ticket, call Puig at (970) 491-3849.