Grinnell College to host symposium exploring urban issues and social justice in Chicago

Grinnell College to host symposium exploring urban issues and social justice in Chicago

Experts will discuss economic justice, urban education, grassroots organizing and deindustrialization

GRINNELL, Iowa – A symposium, titled "Chicago: Urban Issues and Social Justice in the Windy City," will be held at Grinnell College from Feb. 3-6, under the sponsorship of the College's Rosenfield Program in Public Affairs, International Relations, and Human Rights.

The symposium, which is free and open to the public, will feature speakers and panelists from across the country, and will include discussions of economic justice, grassroots organizing, urban education, activism and deindustrialization.

"In this symposium, we wanted to deal with American urban issues," says Ed Cohn, assistant professor of history and interim director of the Rosenfield Program. "In focusing on Chicago, a major American city close to Grinnell, we can discuss those issues in depth."

Speakers will include Virginia Parks, associate professor in the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago; Christine Walley, associate professor of anthropology at MIT; Barbara Ransby, professor of history at the University of Illinois at Chicago; and Kari Lydersen, freelance journalist and author.

The symposium also will feature "The Education Project Photo Exhibition" by photographer Sandra Steinbrecher. In this exhibition sponsored by the Faulconer Gallery, Steinbrecher has documented the struggles and triumphs of daily life in three Chicago high schools facing profound challenges. The exhibition runs from Jan. 26 through March 15 in Burling Gallery on the lower level of Burling Library. 

On Feb. 5, Steinbrecher will lead a gallery tour and discuss her experiences working with high schools in Chicago, exploring how art, urban issues and politics intersect in her project. A reception will follow. Educators from Chicago area schools will join Steinbrecher on Feb. 6 for a panel discussion titled "Images and Issues in Urban Education." The Grinnell Careers in Education Professions program is co-sponsoring this event, which will be followed by a reception.

A complete schedule of events follows. All events are held in Room 101 of the Joe Rosenfield '25 Center, 1115 Eighth Ave., unless otherwise noted.

Tuesday, Feb. 3

4:15 p.m.

"The Exit Zero Project: Exploring the Aftermath of Deindustrialization in Chicago" by Christine Walley, author and associate professor of anthropology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

8 p.m.

"Mayor 1% and Shaping the New Chicago:  The Reign of Rahm Emanuel, the 2015 Election and Beyond" by Kari Lydersen, Chicago journalist and author.

Wednesday, Feb. 4

12 p.m.

Scholar's Convocation: "The Fight for Economic Justice from the Streets of Chicago" by Virginia Parks, associate professor, School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago.

8 p.m.

Alumni Panel: Activism in Chicago, featuring 2013 Grinnell graduate Christian Snow, director of community engagement at Street-Level Youth Media, and 2014 Grinnell graduate Javon Garcia, health outreach, HIV Services at The Night Ministry.

Thursday, Feb. 5

4:15 p.m.

"The Education Photo Project," a gallery tour and talk by artist Sandra Steinbrecher.

Burling Gallery, Burling Library. Reception follows.

8 p.m.

"Politics from Below: Grassroots Struggles Reshaping the Landscape of Chicago" by Barbara Ransby, professor of history, University of Illinois at Chicago.

Friday, Feb. 6

7 p.m.

Panel Discussion: "Images and Issues in Urban Education" featuring panelists from Chicago area schools. Sponsored by the Grinnell Careers in Education Professions program in conjunction with "The Education Project Photo Exhibition." Reception follows.

Grinnell College welcomes the participation of people with disabilities. The Joe Rosenfield '25 Center, located at 1115 Eighth Ave., is equipped with an induction hearing loop system in Room 101 and accessible parking on the east side of the building. Burling Library is located at 1111 Sixth Ave. with accessible parking on the northeast side of the building. Both buildings are fully accessible. For further information about parking and accessibility, please see the college website. Accommodation requests may be made to Conference Operations at 641-269-3235 or calendar@grinnell.edu.

About Grinnell College

Since its founding in 1846, Grinnell has become one of the nation's premier liberal arts colleges, enrolling 1,600 students from all 50 states and from as many countries. Grinnell's rigorous academic program emphasizes excellence in education for students in the liberal arts; the college offers the B.A. degree in a range of departments across the humanities, arts and sciences. Grinnell has a strong tradition of social responsibility and action, and self-governance and personal responsibility are key components of campus life. More information about Grinnell College is available at www.grinnell.edu.

Social sciences teacher Romian Crockett, center, with his students at Fenger High School, Chicago, 2011. Photography © Sandra Steinbrecher 2015.