2024 International Forum on Youth
A Forum on Conflict and Peace Topics
November 18-21, 2024
Join us for day one of the 6th annual International Forum on Youth! College of the Canyons will host an International Forum on Youth on November 18-21, 2024, highlighting the challenges and aspirations faced by today's young people through lectures, scholarly presentations, and other events.
Hosted by COC's International Services & Programs, the forum was designed to help foster strong scholarship among faculty, form connections with international scholars, encourage dialogue on challenging topics that are timely and international by nature, and generate interest among faculty, students, and staff for projects and comprehensive internationalization.
The 2024 International Forum on Youth will feature COC faculty as well as students and scholars from abroad, who will provide insights into today's youth and seek to inspire them to act. This presentation will examine the consequences of environmental risks that confront societies around the globe.
Keynote Speaker
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Lauren TurnerDiscussion on the Impact of UN’s Sustainability Goals on the Environment. Lauren is the Sr. Sustainability Specialist at the Ivey Business School's Centre for Building Sustainable Value in London, Ontario. She completed a Bachelor of Health Sciences in 2012 followed by a Master’s in Environment and Sustainability at Western University in 2013. She later completed a Master’s in Insurance and Risk Management from the MIB School of Management in Italy, where she focused on environmental risk mitigation strategies in the face of changing market sentiments towards low carbon. Lauren has worked primarily in the non-profit and higher education over the past decade. Her work has revolved around corporate social responsibility in mining and minerals governance, stakeholder engagement, and writing/editing for corporate audiences. Lauren has written on the intersection of sustainability and finance, access to capital, investor risk, consumer behavior, and sustainable marketing. Monday, November 18, 2024 |
Events
Panel Discussion: How Global Education and UN’s Sustainability Goals Intertwine.Panelist: Lauren Turner, Jason Oliver, Jeannie Chari, Erica Seubert, Cindy Heremans and Karel Matthys Monday, November 18, 2024 |
COC Student PanelA panel discussion led by COC students. The dialogue will center on topics concerning global development, environmental challenges, and global conflicts, among other issues facing today’s young people. Tuesday, November 19, 2024 |
Film Screening: The Lemon TreeA special screening of The Lemon Tree, a moving examination of the human costs of conflict between Israel and Palestine. Presented by COC professors Phil Gussin and Erik Altenbernd, the film will be followed by a discussion. Tuesday, November 19, 2024 3:30 PM – 4:55 PM Film Screening: The Lemon Tree 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Lemon Tree film Presentation by Phil Gussin and Erik Altenbern
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Presentation: Assessing the 2024 ElectionA presentation by scholar Michael Miller, who will assess the results of the 2024 U.S. elections and their broader implications. Wednesday, November 20, 2024 Live Streaming Location: International Center for Sustainability(STCN 138) Zoom ID: 894 3512 0851 |
Scholars' PanelThe 6th annual International Forum on Youth concludes with a panel discussion led by faculty from COC and abroad. The dialogue will center on the issue of global conflicts, their consequences, and potential resolutions. Panelist: Pamela William-Paez, Karl Striepe, Tiffany Diaz, Lauren Turner, and Cindy Heremans and Karel Matthys. Thursday, November 21, 2024 Closing Remarks 2:30 PM - 2:45 PM |
Speakers
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Pamela holds a Master’s degree in Sociology from University of Washington. Her research includes studies in race & ethnicity, culture, and public space. Her graduate researched focused on the work of transit operators and their relationship to their cliental, these explorations leading her to an analysis of the Sociology of a Metro Bus. Pamela has been teaching in higher education for more than 30 years and currently serves as the faculty advisor to the Gender-Sexuality Alliance at College of the Canyons. She is a former presenter for the International Forum on Youth and has enjoyed working with students through many global education opportunities over the years. Pamela lives in Santa Clarita. Her interests including travel, the outdoors, ceramics, and music. Pamela enjoys spending time with family and with her dog, Kaya Chi. |
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Cindy holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing, followed by a specialization in emergency and intensive care. In 2008, she obtained a master’s degree in Nursing Sciences at the University of Antwerp. After a 14-year career as a nurse (ICU), she transitioned to education (2011). She have now been working for 13 years as a lecturer and international coordinator in the Nursing program at Thomas More Mechelen, Belgium. |
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Jeannie Chari has been working at College of the Canyons for 17 years. She received her undergraduate degree with a double major in Biology and Environmental Engineering and her MS is in Evolutionary Biology. Jeannie coordinates the campus biodiversity initiative, the environmental/science and studies courses and the campus community garden. She is a co-advisor for the Hands on Earth Club, and is the PI for an NSF grant that provides opportunities for community college students to participate in native bee research and habitat development. Through the Campus Biodiversity Initiative, students and the local community engage in projects and research that use our campus as a living lab. The educational focus is to explore ecosystem dynamics, and to use that knowledge to inform habitat creation, expansion, and education on the importance of essential ecosystem services provided by biodiversity. Students participate via work study opportunities, club involvement, unpaid internships, independent projects and NSF funded internships. |
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Jason Oliver is Chair of the Architecture and Interior Design Program at College of the Canyons as well as being a California licensed Architect with over 25 years of professional experience and a LEED Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction. He began his educational journey studying architectural drafting at Los Angeles Pierce College and then transferring to the University of Colorado to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design and Master’s degree in Architecture. Jason is an active participant in a variety of non-profit educational outreach organizations including the Southern California chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (SoCal NOMA) and the California chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC-CA). Recent international collaborations include student focused educational projects with colleges and universities in Central and South America as well as Europe. As an educator, Jason focuses on the synergy between sustainable building design and every phase of each student’s learning process. |
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Karl Striepe teaches courses in American politics, political theory, comparative politics and global studies in the Political Science Department at College of the Canyons, joining the faculty in 2021. He has also taught courses in international relations and race and politics at El Camino College and Compton College since 2013. Prior to teaching, Professor Striepe studied literature, philosophy, and political science at the University of Chicago, the University of Sussex, and UCLA. |
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Dr. Erica Seubert obtained her PhD in Biological Sciences from USC in 2012. Her research focuses on marine microbial ecology, specifically harmful algal blooms. Harmful algal blooms represent a natural phenomena that may be exasperated by human driven ocean acidification and warming ocean temperatures. She has been a full-time faculty member at College of the Canyons since 2018. |
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Chief Librarian and Chairperson of the Library Department, Bronx Community College Professor Michael Miller is the chief librarian and chairperson of the Library Department at Bronx Community College (BCC). After achieving tenure as the associate librarian for public services at Queens College – CUNY, he was appointed as chief librarian at BCC. Most recently, Prof. Miller was a 2023-2024 Leadership Fellow of Stanford’s Global Studies Education Partnership for Internationalizing Curriculum (EPIC) Leadership Program, exploring international education. He is a co-editor for the SUNY Press book International Librarianship: Developing Professional, Intercultural, and Educational Leadership. He is a two-time recipient of the Fulbright-Hays seminar program; once visiting the Maghreb surveying religious diversity in Morocco and Tunisia (2011) and then also journeying to Chile (2017) studying their educational system. |
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Phil Gussin earned a PhD in Political Science from UCLA in 2007. His primary area of research is the impact of the news media on political preferences. Phil has been teaching at College of the Canyons for fifteen years. |