News Release Archive
News Releases Index FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. COC-09-042
October 14, 2008 Panel Discussion to Focus on Urbanization, Race, Environment 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.” Free, and open to all community members, the event 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. “We believe that Dr. Torres’ and Professor Williams-Paez’s presentations will help bring about more intellectual discussion to an important subject which 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. | 
