Events from SJSU’s Institute for Metropolitan Studies

Tuesday October 9th at 6pm: “The Color of Law”

Author Richard Rothstein will discuss his new book, about how race-based policies of the mid-20th Century created an enduring pattern of residential segregation in American cities that still needs to be addressed. IMS is co-sponsoring this event with SPUR San Jose.

6pm at SPUR San Jose, 76 S. First Street

More info: https://www.spur.org/events/2018-10-09/color-law

Wednesday October 17th at 12pm: Tactical Urbanism in Diverse Communities

Tactical urbanism and other ‘lighter, quicker, cheaper” approaches to streetscape redesign have become prominent trends in cities around the world in recent years. What does it mean to bring such things to less trendy places, traditionally under-served communities, or neighborhoods threatened by gentrification, and how can designers make sure improvements like these reflect the need and priorities of longtime residents? Join for a conversation with a panel of experts from cities across California.

12pm in MLK Library Room 225 (*refreshments will be served*)

RSVP here: https://goo.gl/forms/BU7LhljSwhgi2ayS2

Tuesday November 27th, 4:30pm: Craft Economies & Smaller Cities

Sociologist Richard Ocejo (CUNY Graduate Center) will join us to discuss his book on the rise of the craft economy and new work on the complex gentrification of small cities and industrial towns. (Co-sponsored by the Depts. of Economics and Anthropology.)

Tuesday December 4th, 12:30pm: The Road to Resegregation

Urban planner and geographer Alex Schafran (Univ. of Leeds) will present his new book, The Road to Resegregation: Northern California and the Failure of Politics, about how political fragmentation among institutions at all levels have led to a newly segregated geography of NIMBYism, sprawl, and the suburbanization of poverty. (Co-sponsored by TRANSITions SJSU.)

Smith/Carlos Legacy Event: “Social Action: It is in Our DNA”

October 16th, 1968 is the day that Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in Mexico City for racial justice, human rights, and the end to poverty.  On this 50th anniversary of their action, come hear from SJSU faculty, staff, and alumnae about Tommie and John’s historic action, as well as the long history of social justice at San Jose State University, which includes the creation of Chicano Commencement, the establishment (and re-establishment) of EOP, and the successful campaign to raise the minimum wage in San Jose.

Speakers include:

  • Rigo 23, California artist that designed and built the Tommie Smith and John Carlos Statues
  • Dr. Julia Curry, SJSU, Department of Mexican American Studies
  • Marina Corrales, SJSU class of 2010 (Master’s Degree, Applied Anthropology), and who worked to re-establish the EOP; currently SJSU EOP Academic Advisor
  • Diana Pondivilla Victa, SJSU ’10, former student leader of Students for EOP; currently Department Manager, SJSU Cesar Chavez Community Action Center
  • Leila McCabe, SJSU ’12, one of the founders of the SJ minimum wage campaign
  • Elisha St. Laurent, SJSU ’12, and former student leader that helped win the SJ minimum wage campaign

The event is sponsored by the Cesar Chavez Community Action Center, College of Social Science, Human Rights Collaborative, Institute for Study of Sport, Society and Social Change.  Please contact Dr. Scott Myers-Lipton at smlipton@sjsu.edu if you have any questions. Also, click here to see the booklet “Social Action: It is in Our DNA” about SJSU and its social action legacy: www.sjsu.edu/socialsciences/about/action/index.html

Yvonne Kwan in Academic Spotlight Newsletter

Assistant Professor Yvonne Kwan was featured in the September 2018 SJSU Academic Spotlight newsletter. Professor Kwan discussed her forthcoming book, Afterlives of Diaspora: Cambodian American Trauma and Memory. Professor Kwan is a second-year Assistant Professor of Asian American Studies in the Department of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences.

September 2018 Sourisseau Academy photo album and video

From 1850 to 1910, livery stables, harness makers, blacksmiths and wagon builders were essential to transportation and commerce in virtually every California town.  In the September 2018 Sourisseau Academy photo album retired Anthropology Professor Tom Layton presents an illustrated tour through the Equine Era of “horse power” to its replacement by the “horsepower” of the automobile.

The September 2018 Sourisseau Academy news video explores the elegant, engraved graphics that graced the letterheads of San José merchants during the same years as the “Equine Era.”

Alan Leventhal publishes a research article

Alan Leventhal is the College of Social Sciences Information Technology Consultant. He is also an anthropologist, and recently co-published an article with several others (including Department of Anthropology alumna Irina Nechayev). Their article “Biocultural Perspectives on Interpersonal Violence in the Prehistoric San Francisco Bay Area” is forthcoming in Hunter-Gatherer Adaptation and Resilience: A Bioarchaeological Perspective, which will be published by Cambridge University Press. Congratulations Alan!