Discussion will focus on environmental, employment and political concerns.

This month the College of the Canyons Sustainable
Development Committee (SDC) and the campus’ Heritage Committee are
co-presenting a social ecology themed panel discussion on the subject of
“Urbanization, Race and Environment.”
 
The discussion is free and open to all community members and will take place Wednesday,
October 22, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:40 p.m. in Aliso Hall 101.
 
Featuring the insights of University
of California, Irvine
professor Dr. Rodolfo D. Torres and College of the Canyons sociology professor
Pamela Williams-Paez, the event will also include a question and answer period
designed to encourage audience participation.

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“We believe that Dr. Torres’ and Professor Williams-Paez’s presentations will
help bring about more intellectual discussion to an important subject that is
often overlooked in ecological discussions,” said Jia-Yi Cheng-Levine, co-chair
of the college’s SDC. “Both are eloquent speakers with extensive field research
experience who will be able to discuss the topic of ‘Urbanization, Race and
Environment’ from a variety of angles.”

Throughout the discussion, Torres — who teaches courses in planning, policy and
design, Chicano/Latino studies, and political science — will draw from chapters
of his co-authored study “Latino Metropolis.” While discussing the economic
transformation that has yielded today’s postindustrial landscape in Los Angeles,
Torres examines the impact the shift from large-scale mass production factories
to smaller high-technology manufacturers has had on the social organization of
Los Angeles’ working class.
 
Following Torres’ presentation, Williams-Paez will direct the discussion about
the convergence of environmental concerns as the specifically impact minority
communities in areas including: the effects of pollution, range of employment
opportunities, political representation on environmental issues, low income
housing and exposure to environmental hazards.
 
For more information about the panel discussion “Urbanization, Race and
Environment” please contact Jia-Yi Cheng-Levine at (661) 362-5806