fortieth@sfsu.edu


The 1960's marked a turning point in the struggle for civil rights and the emergence of a new vision for a more just and inclusive America. We saw the rise of leaders such as Ella Baker, Cesar Chavez, Angela Davis, Delores Huerta, Robert Kennedy, Yuri Kochiyama, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Richard Oakes, and Edward Said; and, unfortunately also the deaths and assassinations of some of them. Both the 1964 and 1968 Civil Rights acts were passed and demands mounted for colleges and universities to accept a more diverse student body, faculty and curriculum. By 1969 a number of universities across the country conceded to student and community demands to create Ethnic Studies programs and departments, and, subsequently, related programs such as Women's, LGBTQ and Disability Studies programs. As a result of the historic Black Student Union/Third World Liberation Front led strike of 1968, San Francisco State created the first and only School (now College) of Ethnic Studies in 1969.

On behalf of the College's students, faculty and staff, I invite you to participate in the 40th Anniversary Conference, probably the largest publically accessible conference of its type in the nation. The conference is an in-depth exploration of the evolution of Ethnic Studies as an academic discipline and vehicle for community empowerment. It includes three days of presentations and performances by over 130 participants from 7 countries and 35 universities. It culminates with a major celebration. In the spirit of maximum access, most of the conference will be open and free for those who cannot afford registration. However, given the need to support this event, there are modest registration fees of $20 for students and $40 for other attendees. There are several events and some materials that are only available to paid registrants. Donations are requested from those friends of the College or the field who have the ability to support this historic event. For more information or to register, please go to the Ethnic Studies 40th Anniversary website.

If you wish to attend or be supportive of the event you can do so in any number of ways:

1. Register, contribute and attend!
2. Share this information with your networks.
3. Follow updates and posting on our Ethnic Studies 40th Anniversary website or our Face Book Page.
4. If you can't attend, send colleagues a note of encouragement, or become a friend on our Face Book Page to show support.
5. Become an advertiser or sponsor. Contact us at fortieth@sfsu.edu for more information.
6. If you are a faculty member or educator, consider how you might use content from the conference in your classes, either by bringing your class to the conference or using materials from the conference that will be archived on the web later this year.
7. Attend the closing Gala Celebration on Saturday, October 10. Space is limited for this event, and over a third of the seats are already sold.

I truly hope that through your attendance or through educational material that we distribute on the web after the conference, we provide you with useful and powerful information from this conference. I look forward to your participation and support in whatever way best serves you.

In the advancement of knowledge and service to our communities,

Kenneth P. Monteiro, Dean
College of Ethnic Studies


"San Francisco State University and the conference are accessible to persons using wheelchairs and others with disabilities. In order to ensure that reasonable accommodations such as assistive listening devices, print material in alternative format, sign language interpreters, and others will be available, please submit your request by September 23.  To make a request or for more information, please contact: fortieth@sfsu.edu. In order to assist SFSU's efforts to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illness, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, attendees at campus events are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based scented products. Please help SFSU to accommodate these individuals."