MAKE A BIG ASK DIFFERENCE!
Since 2004, the Cultural Center has organized an annual ASK for Social Justice program for the campus community. The purpose is to host a program that explores essential Attitudes, Skills, and Knowledge for promoting social justice.

We recently finished our 9th annual ASK for Social Justice Program!

The two day program included:

Saturday, March 10, 2012
Kick-Off Events: 

Keynote Speaker Vijay Prashad  
Vijay Prashad is professor and director of international studies at Trinity College. He has previously published eleven books: most recently, The Darker Nations: A People's History of the Third World (The New Press, paperback 2008), which was chosen as the best nonfiction book of 2008 by the Asian American Writers' Workshop and which won the 2009 Muzaffar Ahmad Book Prize. In the spring of 2012, he will release Arab Spring, Libyan Winter (AK Press) and Uncle Swami: Being South Asian in America (New Press). He writes regularly for Frontline (India) and Counterpunch (U.S.A.). 

ASK Masquerade Charity Ball: "A Night of Unveiling"

Donations were raised for the following local organizations:

50% to First Generation, Springfield, MA
50% to Prison Birth Project, Amherst, MA


Sunday, March 11, 2012
ASK for Social Justice Conference: “Shifting Identities in Different Spaces”



^{Poster designed by Jonah Taylor}

Purpose:
How we perceive ourselves can be incongruent with how others perceive us based upon a number of social, cultural, historical, and political factors. That incongruency of perception manifests itself in a number of ways interpersonally and socially, which can break down communities rather than foster community. With individuals’ multifaceted identities in an increasingly blurrying world of boundaries, how can we better understand the complexities of shifting identities and communities, and how can we better equip ourselves to navigate those shifts for others?

Need a better understanding of what the conference is about? Read Hampshire associate professor of law Flavio Risech's article, Political and Cultural Cross-Dressing: Negotiating a Second Generation Cuban-American Identity, Michigan Quarterly Review, Summer 1994).


The Cultural Center is appreciative of the generous support from our co-sponsors: campus leadership and activities; dean of students; residence life; global education office; office for diversity and multicultural education; the President's office; School of Critical Social Inquiry; the Program in Culture, Brain, and Development; and community advocacy.

Questions about the ASK for Social Justice program can be directed to culturalcenter@hampshire.edu.