Schedule:

9:00 AM – 4:30 PM: Morning panels followed by lunch and a plenary panel with various speakers!

Saturday, February 15th, will be at ASU Tempe Campus. We will have limited morning sessions in Wilson Hall, lunch catered by Mario Etsitty, an afternoon plenary panel, followed by a closing discussion.

Attendees are welcome to bring non-perishable food items and personal care products for donation to the mutual aid group NOURISHPhoenix.

Scroll down to view more details about the panels and speakers.

9:00am: Registration and breakfast Wilson Hall

Breakfast includes coffee donated by Ron Cortez of Cortez Coffee and tea from Skoden Tea and Coffee.

9:30-10:15 AM: Session 1

-Land Ownership in Iowa: Tracing power through Meskwaki and white settler histories Wilson 112

Sophie Neems, PhD Student in Anthropology at ASU

Access to farmland has become an increasingly insurmountable challenge for beginning farmers across the country and Iowa, the second largest agriculture producing state, is no exception. But how did land come to be owned in Iowa in the first place? This presentation will compare the land purchasing experiences of the Meskwaki people, an Indigenous group, and their white settler counterparts around the time of Iowa statehood. This historical political ecology analysis rewrites dominant narratives that tend to portray Indigenous people as powerless and white settlers as powerful. Instead, it illustrates the Meskwaki’s power to coopt the white system of private land ownership, purchase their own land, and establish the Meskwaki Settlement. In contrast, it illuminates the relative powerlessness of white agriculturalists who, subjugated by the power of wealthy land speculators from the east, were unable to afford to purchase land themselves.

-Unpacking Our Inner Police: Restorative Impulse and Self-Reflection Wilson 114

Ona Wang, PhD Student in Anthropology at ASU

Through self-reflection and writing exercises, we will engage in reflection, writing exercises, and optional sharing about the ways we police ourselves and loved ones. Participants will practice the “restorative impulse” through an abolitionist feminist and liberatory lens, reflecting on past experiences and the ways we can show up for community accountability and right relationship with our community and Earth, instead of regulation and rules. We will reconsider what we need as both survivors of harm and authors of harm.

-Hear Our Dispossession Stories and Understand Why Palestinians Seek Justice, moderated by Barbara Taft Wilson 103

Dispossession is a common experience for most Palestinians. From the Nakba in 1948 to the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza begun in October 2023, Palestinians have been forced out of their homes and off their ancestral lands, losing their livelihoods their human rights, and their individual and group history. Our panelists have witnessed and been a part of this in their own lifetimes. They will recount their personal stories, to be followed by Q and A.

Barbara Taft

Barbara is active with Arizona Palestine Network. She is also a member of the Leadership Team of US Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)'s Middle East Peace and Justice Action Committee (MEPJAC). She holds a Master's in Political Science, and has traveled to the Middle East ten times, mostly with peace delegation/study tour groups. She owns a small private school, substitute teaches, and is also a poet.

Maher Arekat

Maher is a Palestinian entrepreneur in Phoenix who was born in Jerusalem. He immigrated to the United States shortly after he became a refugee during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. He believes in the power of diplomacy and dialogue to create a more just and equitable world. Over the years, he has worked to bridge divides, foster understanding, and advocate for human rights, embodying the spirit of unity and cooperation that transcends borders.

Fadi Zanayed

Born in the city of Ramallah in the Palestinian West Bank, and immigrated to the U.S. shortly after the June 1967 war. He is an author, poet, community activist, and attorney living in metro Phoenix. He has written several books, including Observations of Israel's Apartheid System, an informative book about how Israel subjugates the Palestinians through its occupation, apartheid, and colonization.

Mohamed El-Sharkawy

Mohamed was born in Gaza City and lived there for 26 years before immigrating to the U.S. in 1986. He has long been an aviation enthusiast and now works for American Airlines in metro-Phoenix. He serves as the chairman of the Arizona Muslim Police Advisory Board and is a liaison between the Muslim community and law enforcement agencies.

Bandaly Baddour

Bandaly was born in Bethlehem in Palestine and has lived in metro Phoenix for 25 years. His father is a Palestinian refugee from West Jerusalem. The injustices he observed and survived at a young age in his homeland made him think deeply about how justice can be achieved in Palestine and Israel.

10:30-11:20 AM: Session 2

-Land, Space, Architecture and Disability Wilson 114

Part of any discussion related to architecture is inherently a discussion about land because no buildings could be built without the land on which to build. Likewise, any discussion of architecture/building design should necessarily include a discussion of disability issues. This panel would focus on how academics primarily focused in critical disability studies can speak to or with those from an architectural background in service of inclusion for people with disabilities whether those people identify with the label of disability or not. Ultimately the question is: how can we as academics or community activists from a wide variety of academic and nonacademic backgrounds come together to help construct a more fully accessible ASU campus, a campus on which it is possible to not only welcome all students, faculty and community members, but a campus that ultimately conditions the possibility of viewing every person as fully human regardless of the societal labels that are placed upon them.

Dr. David Jaulus

David Jaulus earned his PhD in Justice Studies with a focus in disability inclusion from Arizona State University. His dissertation research focused on how to make ASU more accessible for students with disabilities. Accessibility both in the academic setting and community is a passion of David's as a person with a disability and an academic. David's true passion lies in the classroom helping students develop as people and aspiring scholars while leading discussions where he encourages students to think for themselves and disrupt the "banking model of education" which sees the professor as the ultimate source of knowledge. The core of David's teaching philosophy is that he sees his students as his intellectual equals.

Dr. Terri Hlava & Montreux

Terri Hlava holds a PhD in Education Psychology and is the personal human to Copper D. Hlava, Shay B. Hlava, Montreux G. Hlava and a quintet of kittens. Terri and Montreux team teach Disability Studies, Ethnic Studies and Justice Studies at Arizona State University and research children’s implicit theories of academic ability for self, others and other species. The team is particularly interested in understanding how teaching dogs to read reduces academic ability stereotyping and increases a sense of belonging among preemergent bilingual children. In 2007, Terri and her teammates co-founded H.A.B.I.T.A.T. (Human Animal Bond In Teaching And Therapies). Terri’s happy place is always in the company of animals and most anywhere outdoors.

-Panel: The Struggles for Land Justice: Experiences from Liberia, South Africa, and the US. Wilson 112

This presentation will discuss three interrelated foci on land justice for all: First, the history of colonialism in South Africa and the subsequent loss of the land (the Land Act of 1942) and the forceful removal of Indigenous communities from their mineral rich areas, relocating them to arid areas where the land was not suitable for community sustenance. Drawing from Desai (2002), we share the vignettes of communities in KwaZulu-Natal, who struggle for land justice for all in post-apartheid. Second, we will share how Liberia’s tensions between the Indigenous communities and Americo-Liberian settlers around land rights have impacted access to resources, including education, and contributed to the civil wars. Through the inclusion approach, we will examine the connection between post-war land rights and education policy. Third, we discuss land acknowledgments, which have become a common practice in higher education settings as a way to recognize Indigenous peoples whose ancestral lands campuses occupy. We discuss their limitations, potential for superficiality, and unintended consequences. We provide suggestions to move beyond land acknowledgements to center the lived realities, rights, and self-determination of Indigenous peoples as they fight for land justice for all.

11:30 AM -12:20 PM: Session 3

-Panel on Housing, Moderated by Richard Starling Wilson 112

Featuring:
Lorena Suarez, Living Earth
Edward Kuharski, Occupy Madison II Village
Stephanie Brewer, Newtown

-Ubuntu Education Movement: Decolonizing Inclusive Education Wilson 114

Brenna Da-Tokpah, Arizona State University

This session explores the Ubuntu Education Movement as a transformative alternative to the Inclusive Education Movement. Through an interactive activity, participants will examine the colonial roots of Inclusive Education. Then, they will examine how the Ubuntu Philosophy centers indigenous knowledge, community support, and localized practices to create equitable access for learners with disabilities. The session concludes with action planning to apply Ubuntu principles in education and advocacy locally and globally. Participants will receive scholarly resources on the Ubuntu Education Movements.

Movement for Social Justice Activists Wilson 105

Mara Sapon-Shevin

Come join us as we dance, move and play in ways that will connect us, energize us, and allow us to think about social justice issues including visibility, voice, cooperation, inclusion and ally building. Session is open to all bodies. Multiple ways of participating will be welcomed. Weather permitting session will be outside near the Wilson breezeway.

Mara is Professor Emerita of Inclusive Education at Syracuse University with a lifetime of social justice work including being a leader of the Syracuse chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace. She is a Let Your Yoga Dance facilitator and will facilitate a movement experience to energize activists.

11:00 AM -1:30 PM: Experiences

Healing for Justice: Arizona Pranic Healing Clinic 12:30-1:45 PMWilson Breezeway

Join Arizona Pranic Healing at the Local to Global Justice Festival and Forum for a unique opportunity to experience energy healing. Our skilled practitioners will offer sessions designed to relieve stress, restore balance, and promote overall well-being in a peaceful and inclusive environment.

Explore the intersection of healing and justice. All are welcome to experience this transformative offering!

12:30-1:45 PM: Lunch Wilson Hall - 2nd Floor Patio

Vegan lunch catered by Mario Etsitty of Rez Catering

Mario Etsitty

A Navajo chef, artist, educator and activist. He is from Many Farms and has volunteered with Food Not Bombs and other community groups for many years in Phoenix. His catering is familiar to all who have attended Local to Global Justice over the years - with distinctive pumpkin mole with kidney beans, roasted corn salsa, pumpkin fry bread, and chipotle brownies.

1:00 PM: Performance Wilson Hall - 2nd Floor Patio

Ballet Folklorico Quetzalli

Celebrating the colorful tradition of Mexican folkloric dance and led by an experienced dancer and artistic director, Vanessa Ramirez, the group began as a recreational class. As one of very few East Valley folklorico groups currently operating, interest in the dance troupe has grown rapidly from just 6 students in June of 2005 to more than 60 currently. Our students range in age from 3 years old – adult and enjoy an exciting and fun way to express themselves through dance and learn about Hispanic heritage.

2:00-3:15 Dialogue on Land and Food Justice Wilson 103

Jean Willoughby

Jean is the founder of Health Equity Resources and Education and a trainer with the Racial Equity Institute. With more than a decade of experience in economic development at the nexus of the food system and social justice, Jean is dedicated to promoting equity through partnerships, leadership development, and serving as a trainer focused on an equity and power analysis, institutional and community organizing, and movement building. At the Racial Equity Institute, Jean has worked with 100+ non-profit, corporate, community, city, state, and federal institutions including the NIH, CDC, and many others.

Richard Starling

Richard has been helping people create nonprofit organizations and cooperatives for over 45 years. He is also the executive director of the Arizona Community Land Trust and the Chairperson of the Arizona Cooperative Initiative.

3:30-4:30pm: closing discussion and clean up Wilson 103

It requires many volunteers to make this free annual event happen - please support us with some assistance as we clean up and pack up for another year - thanks!

Register