Global Grant Recaps

Professor Elham Gheytanchi

Student attendees unanimously identified transnational repression - an authoritarian government's effort to control and intimidate its citizens even after they have left the country - as the speaker's main argument. In their reports, one student emphazised the use of legal threats, surveillance, and pressuring families back home to instill fear. Another studet noted that the Islamic Republic of Iran utilizes its vast network of proxies, such as Hamas and Hezbollah, to carry out this control and even assassinate dissenters. The students discussed that the primary purpose of these fear-mongering tactics is to ensure those in power remain perpetually dominant. Finally, the students highlighted that the repression tactics employed by authoritarian governments, such as Iran and Turkey, are fundamentally an act of self-preservation, fueled by the historical reality that successful resistance, like the 1979 Iranian revolution, confirms that current widespread movements, including the 2022 women's rights movement, represent an existential threat to their power.

Professor Briana SImmons

The conversation with Aydinaneth Ortiz and William Camargo took place on November 6, 2025 in A214 with about 100 people in attendance. The conversation was moderated by SMC faculty Erika Hirugami. Hirugami curated the Concrete Hope art exhibition currently at the Barrett art gallery and Ortiz and Camargo both have their work in the show.

Ortiz and Camargo are both lens-based artists and also faculty at other community colleges (Cypress College and Pasadena City College respectively.) Ortiz talked about her series Hija de tu Madre which centers immigrant mothers and their stories, connecting personal histories to global conversations about movement, belonging, and representation. Ortiz also talked about her series In the LBC, which looks at the Latine community in Long Beach against the backdrop of the industrial and maritime activity oof the Port of Long Beach, inviting viewers to consider the implications of global trade, local labor, and the movement of goods and people. Camargo's work focuses on the gentrification of immigrant communities in Southern California and he also spoke at length about his work, As Far As I Can Get Closer to the Border in 10 Seconds After Divola, which considers the space of borderlands/boundaries and the intersections of different languages, people, and migrations.

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Ferris Kawar

Overall, 58 students participated in the workshops, highlighting the program's ability to maintain meaningful student engagement over the course of the semester. This sustained participation is a testament to the relevance of the program's content and the value students found in the workshops. Through consistent attendance and active involvement, these students contributed to building a stronger culture of sustainability on campus, underscoring the program's long-term impact and potential for continued growth.

Students enrolled completed 3 hours of community service, demonstrating their commitment to sustainability and community involvement. Students' community service efforts directly supported local sustainability initiatives, helping to bridge classroom learning with real-world action. This group's collective effort reflects and encouraging level of civic engagement and dedication to sustainability. This outcome supports the program's goal of empowering students to take actionable steps toward environmental stewardship.

Students testimonials:

"I've learned so much about how I can personally contribute to making the world a better place, Week after week, I've found practical ways to conserve energy and water, and I plan to continue implementing these changes in my daily life." - Christine Joseph

"Thank you for the absolutely amazing sessions that taught me so much, and what really stuck with me was how often there's toxic ingredients in everyday items like skincare." - David Gol

"What is most valuable about this program is that the content is easy to read and breaks it down, as well as gives data which helps me better understand." - Gabriela Garcia

"I joined SMC Club Grow because of this program." - Austin Towns

"What I found most valuable about this program were the action items because if everyone takes part, the earth would be much more cleaner and a way better place." - Rachel Ransie

Professor Briana Simmons

We are so grateful to the Global Citizenship Council for funding this April 1, 2025 event with Donel Williams and Alicia Piller. The conversation was moderated by SMC faculty Cole James. James curated the Converge + Vertex art exhibition at the Barrett art gallery and Williams and Piller both had their work in the show. The discussion took place in A214 with a little over 100 SMC students, faculty, staff, and community in attendance. The discussion centered on the Global EcoFeminism and the place of Black artists and artworks in relationship to the larger movement. Piller spoke at length about her sculptures, which are created using only found and recycled materials, and spoke to the interconnected of colonial extractive practices and social injustice. Donel Williams discussed is work, which focuses on the politicized gestures of mark-making and the body as a site for agency and activism.

 Professor Pete Morris

Retired SMC Geography Professor, Bill Selby, presented a talk based on his new book, The California Sky Watcher: Understanding weather patterns and what comes next.

Corsair article & photos

SMC in Focus Bill Selby interview

 Professor Brandon Reilly

The Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) 2025 events successfully provided students with multidiciplinary scholarly presentations delivered in various media formats. Participants feedback indicates that the content directly connected to and reinforced concepts explored in their current coursework. The APAHM programming has demonstrated consistent and substantive growth over time, with the 2025 schedule featuring a greater number and variety of events compared to previous years. Furthermore, programming logistics and execution have been streamlined, enhancing the overall participant and presenter experience. Moreover, the planning committee has successfully leverged these events to foster a sense of community, a goal that is particularly important given the shorter length of time students spend at SMC compared to four-year institutions. The APIDA Steering Committee extends its sincere gratitude to the Global Citizenship Committee for their continued and invaluable support.

Bahala na si Bathala sa mga Banal na Bata film screening, May 7

Prof.  Domingo's film screening examined a somewhat niche topic- folk Catholicism- which developed arount Mt.Banahaw in the northern Philippines. Despita that, the student attendees found meaing in the film. In the Q&A, a number of them found ways to relate what they saw to their own lives. Students discussed American colonialism, religious change, racism, and more with Prof. Domingo and her collaborator.

An Ocean of Wonder: The Fantastic in the Pacific book discussion, May 8

Professor Warren's discussion of her co-edited book effectively covered its core themes in an accessible manner, presenting selective excerpts of its imaginative and analytical content, stimulating student interest. Students asked question spanning Pacific culture, history, and the broader genre of science fiction. These inquiries frequently linked the presentation content to external media, such as contemporary sci-fi cinema.

Lang Duong's poetry book talk, May 8 (report by Kat Olvey, English)

"Refugee Poetics: Thinking Critically, Writing Creatively" featured Dr. Lan Duong, a poet and scholar whose work bridges critical refugee studies and creative expression. The event brought together students, faculty, and staff for a moving conversation on Vietnamese refugee experiences and the power of writing as both resistance and archive. Dr. Duong read from her poetry and offered insight into how refugee narratives can challenge dominant histories. Audience members-many of whom were unfamiliar with Vietnamese refugee perspectives- engaged with thoughtful questions, and several faculty stayed afterward to continue the dialogue on memory, authorship, and cultural preservation. The event was both eye-opening and deeply meaningful.

Baseball behind the Barbed Wire film screeening, May 19 (report by Ben Fortun, History)

On Monday, May 19, 2025, the documentary Baseball Behind Barbed Wire was screened for Asian American Pacific Islander (APIDA) Heritage Month at Santa Monica College. The event was attended by 30 students and moderated by instructor Benjamn Makani Fortun. The viewing was followed by a short lecture and Q&A led by Professor Fortun. The event facilitated student learning regarding complex concepts, including Asian American identity, citizenship, tradition, resistance, and the meaning of being both American and Asian American. Furthermore, a discussion centering on baseball, race, and Japanese American internment provided attendees with the opportunity to engage with a historical period that is frequently overlooked or misunderstood.

 Professor Wenise Wong

This grant proposal sponsored the purchase of six air quality monitors. Professor Wong used them for trial experiments on the main SMC campus prior to writing the step-by-step lab procedure and report, which will be assigned to Chem 9 students this upcoming fall semester. Students will assess air quality at different SMC campuses, and also create short videos documenting their experimental results.

Air Quality Analysis Procedure

Air Quality Analysis Report

Professor Banafsheh Pourzangi

Invited speaker, Shadi Shafiei, Research Assistant at Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), took students on a journey through the region's rich artistic expressions, culinary traditions, and its influence on contemporary global conversations.

Professor Elham Gheytanchi

Professor Gina Masequesmay discussed her research and activism in the Vietnamese American and Asian  American queer communities.

Queer Activism in Asian-American Community

Professor Briana Simmons

The Converge+Vertex Roundtable Conversation featuring Cole James, Cass Everage, and Michael Massenburg was very well attended by 90 people in Art 214 on November 12, 2024. Cole James moderated the conversation between two artists of different ages exploring ideas of interconnected and materiality in the Black community of Los Angeles but also globally. The conversation began with a brief response to a video edited and curated by Massenburg and Everage, featuring interviews with Noah Purifoy, an incredible artist, known for his work with found objects. That was a starting point to discuss art making traditions and materials throughout the Black Diaspora and also how those materials - fabrics, found-objects, metals, etc. feature in the works of Massenburg and Everage. The discussion finished with an inspirational call to action for how SMC students can express their own creative voices through working with different materials.

Professor Hari Vishwanadha, English

London resident Leye Adenle is an award-winning Nigerian born author of gripping and suspenful crime thrillers that explore the darker side of human nature. His writing presents vivid descriptions of Nigerian society with a gritty realism, capturing the complexity of life in a country often misunderstood by outsiders. His debut novel, Easy Motion Tourist, won the prestigious Prix Marianne in France. The audience included students, staff and faculty.

SMC Literary Talks & Readings - Leye Adenle

Professor Alejandro Lee, Department of Modern Languages and Cultures

As a highlight of the SMC Social Justice series and Environmental Awareness month, Ms. Ann Kaneko presented her award-winning documentary to an engaged audience of 42 participants on 14 September 2023. The documentary offered an eye-opening exploration of how environmental issues created by the city of Los Angeles impact three communities. It also delves into the collaborative efforts of Native Americans, Japanese-Americans WWII incarcerees and environmentalists as they form an alliance to preserve in Payahuunadu (Owens Valley), known "the land of flowing water." The film was well-received and sparked thoughtful discussions during the subsequent Q&A session.

What SMC students said:

"Loved her choice to highlight the intersection of communities across history and within the context of water as the essential resource that it is. This provides a more complete picture of history and creates a much greater understanding for viewers and especially for college students."

"Great storytelling and very informational. I love how the indigenous community shared their own experience of what had happened to them and what was happening to Japanese Americans."

"It was a very interesting documentary, especially not knowing much about it and how the water issues affect the citizens of Los Angeles."

Professor Alejandro Lee, Department of Modern Languages and Cultures

Dr. Ábrego's presentation, "Communists, Criminals, and Caravans: Central Americans Seeking Refuge in the United States," drew the interest of 26 participants, including faculty and students. During the session, she elucidated on the multifaceted reasons behind the exodus of Central American citizens to the United States. 

"This talk was incredibly motivating, insightful, and helped reinforce my passions in pursuing a major of Political Science with a focus on Central American studies. Thank you so much!" - Helio Martinez, SMC student

"Her lecture on the plight of Central American immigrants was extremely informative. I have no doubt that the knowledge she shared will be used to help better educate both myself and my students, especially those in my 'Latine' themed literature classes." - Andrew Espinosa, SMC English faculty

Professor Alejandro Lee, Department of Modern Languages and Cultures

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage month, Zapotec artist, Maestro Porfirio Gutierrez, was invited to discuss "The Relationship to Climate and Artist Material" from an indigenous perspective.  

Maestro Porfirio addressed the traditional natural dyes used from pre-Hispanic times: "Natural materials have long been used to produce colorants. The cochineal insect is among the oldest used in Oaxaca, Mexico, and its color is an important symbolic element associated with gods, the sun, blood, and rituals. For Gutierrez, the colors are sacred, and creating color from nature reflects his deeply spiritual relationship with this divine aspect. His work is a living memory, a map of a moment in history and the climate of the time when the materials were harvested."

The talk was well received and sparked thoughtful discussions during the Q & A session, which continued during lunch.

"I really enjoyed the recent Porfirio Gutierrez talk. It was my favorite of the season. I enjoyed learning about the natural materials and techniques he uses, as well as his family and Zapotec history." - Stephen McKay, SMC student

Professor Gillian Grebler, Department 

This semester, nine speakers/groups made up the Earth Sciences Department's noncredit sustainability program speaker series.

Natalie Flores, SMC Alum, founder/director of NourishLA

Cecilie Stuart, founder/director of Full Circle Compost

The Kitchenistas of Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center

Pascal Baudar, wildcrafter, artist, author, food preservation speciialist

Jamiah Hargins, founder of CropSwapLA

Joseph Zanotelli, specialist in the microbiology of soil and compost from Compost Teana

Atossa Soltani, founder/president of Amazon Watch

Dennis Hutson, farmer/community Leader at TAC Farm

Mark Abraham, "Farmer Mark", head farmer at Will Rogers Elementary School Farm

Guest speakers represent diverse communities and are leaders of organizations that have the potential to provide internships, jobs and community service opportunities for SMC students, as well as inspiration and guidance. The talks and workshops provide ways to connect with others dedicated to sustainability, climate resilience and environmental justice.

Student feedback:

"It's been truly eye-opening. It's particularly resonant for me as I also work part-time as a school garden farm director at a middle school [...] [I've received] invaluable advice for my own journey towards starting a farm."

"I've [...] implemented some of the cooking techniques from the Kitchenistas and tried to make my cooking habits more sustainable and aim to hopefully utilize more of the lessons from the presenters in my daily routine."

"Learning about grassroots initiatives like community composting sites and food rescue programs has underscored the power of local action in addressing complex global challenges."

"I was especially interested in the concept of foraging of "weeds" as presented by Pascal Baudar, because it is related to my own personal projects of creating an app to reduce food waste from food suppliers, like grocery stores and private residences, as well as closing any other gaps in the food system to make it more circular."

"I am very impressed by Atossa Soltani [...] I learned about redefining values, wealth and prosperity that are needed to make necessary changes, if we want to reduce the climate change. For example, we need to value Amazon forest, not only as a commodity of timber and minerals, but also as a beautiful place which generated water, oxygen, and performs ecological functions that the whole world benefits from."

Professor Brandon Reilly, Department of History

Event feedback by organizing professor:

"Profs. Alfred P. Flores and Christen Sasaki made for a wonderful event during which they discussed their recent books, personal reflections, and more as it related to the theme of APAs and militarism in Oceania. Having attended other APAHM events throughout the month, I was pleasantly surprised not only by the number of people that turned out but also by how widely they represented the SMC community at large-students, faculty, and administration from all across campus. Profs. Flores and Sasaki discussed points of their research, but mostly pivoted to questions of wider interest, both during the panel discussion portion but especially during the Q+A. The questions students, administrators interested in the Pacific, and faculty that taught US history posed were excellent. We are all grateful for the GCC's grant, which made this event possible. It was a great contribution to campus life."

Professor Briana Simmons, Department of Art

SMC Art Department alum Nehemiah Cisneros returned to campus on April 20, 2024. He gave a lecture/discussion to around 100 SMC students, faculty, and community in Art 214. He told about his journey from his first semester at SMC to art school in Kansas City and then back to UCLA for his MFA. He talked about artists that influenced him including Wangechi Muty, Sun Ra, Kapwani Kiwanga, and others from the African Diaspora. Cisneros spoke about the city of Los Angeles as a muse for his work and the multi-ethnic influences within the city. He addressed the intersection of violence, beauty, futurism, and creation as themes throughtout his works.

Then SMC students participated in a large-scale mural making workshop. Cisneros works with large scale paintings so the discussion included how to conceptualize creating a collaborative piece at a large scale. The artist and the students also talked about the inclusion of patterning and symbols found in Diasporic communities around the world. Students worked together to create a movable mural that is on display in the Art department complex.

Professor Jihyeon Cha, Modern Languages and Cultures

With the help of the Korean Spirit & Culture Promotion Program (KSCPP), participants learned how to make beautiful Korean lotus lanterns. The lotus flower symbolizes Buddha's compassion and pure mind. It also represents creation, birth, and reproduction and is one of the most important symbols in Korean culture. The KSCPP workshop also touched on the technology advancements in South Korea.

A total of 92 people came and participated in the event, including Superintendent and President, Dr. Kathryn Jeffery.

Participants said:

I liked "the opportunity to learn about the wonderful cultural heritage of Korean, the uniqueness of their language and their celebration of compassion and altruism."

Professor Christyanne Melendez, Earth Sciences

Geographer, glaciologist, TED Fellow, and National Geographic Society Explores, Dr. M Jackson has dedicated her life to examining climate change where people and melting ice meet. In her talk, she speaks about her experience living and working directly with communities impacted by climate change - specifically melting glaciers. Dr. M Jackson also shares her insights and offers an inclusive approach to understanding climate change.

Living with Ice

Art Department & Decolonizing the Academy Committee

Matika Wilbur is a member of the Swinomish and Tulalip Tribes from Washington State. She created and runs Project 562, a multi-year national photography project dedicated to photographing over 562 federally recognized Tribes in the United States resulting in an unprecedented repository of imagery and oral histories that accurately portrays contemporary Native Americans.

Matika Wilbur Keynote Address

Professor Collin Ellis, Biological Sciences & the SMC Pre-Health Professional Association

Dr. Marco Angulo and Dr. Jennifer Lucero spoke to pre-health SMC students about the shortage of primary care clinicians in the U.S. and the necessity to practice medicine in underserved communities.

Professor Elham Gheytanchi, Philosophy & Social Sciences

Writer and founding member of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center, Roya Hakakian, spoke about the ongoing Women's Movement in Iran after the death of 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini.

"My motivation to invite Roya Hakakian was to have an opportunity for SMC students, faculty, staff and the greater public to acquire an in-depth understanding of the struggle of young Iranian women inside Iran in the latest uprising that started about a year ago. The speaker is a long time activist who has also presented to Congress and in front of the Foreign Relations Committee in Washington, DC.

In her talk, Roya informed the audience about Iranian peoples' longtime struggle for democracy that, in her view, started century ago with the Constitutional Revolution of 1906-1911. The revolution of 1979 was hijacked by the extreme Islamists and the people of Iran have risen up many times since then to end the theocracy. The religious government based on a strict interpretation of Shia Islam has formed a mafia-like chain of command that has benefited their own inner circle and other extremists in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Royas's talk contributed to a broad sense of global citizenship as she identified the theocratic Iranian government and its military wing called IRGG, which is--economically as well as ideologically--heavily invested not just in Iran, but also in Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon. The young women in Iran, like their counterparts in the US and other parts of the world, yearn for freedom from the yoke of their government and Roya highlighted why their struggles matters most for the women of the whole MENA (Middle East and North Africa)." - Professor Gheytanchi

"The 'women movement in Iran' talk was for the great cause of freedom in Iran and the women role in the ongoing revolution. It was very well organized and informative for the community on the west side. I hope to see more events like this in Santa Monica College." - SMC student

Art Department & Decolonizing the Academy Committee

Widely acclaimed photographer, writer, podcaster, and public speaker, Matika Wilbur, wraps up her one year residency at Santa Monica College. Wilbur delivered closing remarks about her book, the accompanying gallery exhibition, and spoke about the student-focused workshops and activities she led over the past months.

"The Matika Wilbur exhibition was a fantastic experience and I am so glad I went to this event. I found Matika's story so inspiring that she sold everything she had so she can go accross the country to take pictures. She's a free spirit and dropped everything to do something that she is proud and passionate of. I really like how she uses her platform to share the stories of the people she photographs; [especially] the story of the man who traveled across states by foot to get an education, and now the university has honored him. This story really resonated with me because I am first generation American so I can relate with having somone travel that far for a better life." - Jose Ramos

Professor John Quevedo, Mathematics

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Dr. Sarah  Portnoy, Professor of Latinx Food Studies and Food Justice, producer of "Abuelita's Kitchen: Mexican Food Stories," introduced the documentary to SMC students on March 30, 2023. This event was part of the celebration to recognize the lifework of César Chávez and Dolores Huerta.

Following the documentary, plates of barbacóa, rice, beans and agua fresca was given to the students, from Tirzah's Mexi-terranean restaurant.

A D.J., funded by the Global Citizenship Committee, played music on the Quad with a playlist that captured the spirit of the celebration of César Cháves and Dolores Huerta, including music that celebrated Mexican culture, Latin American heritage and songs with themes of social justice and equality.

Professor Shannon Herbert, English

A community read of "Holding Change: The Way of Emergent Strategy Facilitation and Mediation" by Adrienne Maree Brown throughout the course of the Fall semester with an event on October 14, 2021 with the author.

Professor Luke Johnson, Design Technology, and Sheila Cordova, Design Technology

The University Fellows Program is a program that offers structured guidance and training and asks that students bring this knowledge back to their home school to use this knowledge to create innovative projects  on their home campus.  It aims to drive change on the Fellow’s home campuses and increase student engagement with entrepreneurship, innovation, creativity, and design thinking.

4 SMC students participated in the 6 week online program with other college students from around the USA and other countries.

Professor Brandon Reilly, History

A series of three speakers who introduce to the campus at large various topics relating to global Filipino culture.

October 8, 2020:  Jean-Paul deGuzman - “From 1898 to 2020: Filipinxs and Black Lives” 
October 13, 2020: Terrie Cervas and Audine Tayag, GABRIELA, USA - "Filipina Women's Struggle for Liberation Under US Imperialism."
October 27, 2020:  Anthony Ocampo - "The Latinos of Asia: How Filipino Americans Break the Rules of Race."

Professor Elham Gheytanchi, Philosophy and Social Sciences

Mr. Shervin Khorranian, director of RAHA International, will lead speak on the lives LGBTQ persons whose rights are denied in Iran. Awareness promotes cross-cultural understanding among the SMC community about the obstacles faced by LGBTQs of Iranian descent.  

Ferris Kawar, Sustainability

Student Sustainability Workshops in fall semester 2020 and spring semester 2021. The student workshops combine hands-on real-world experiences with topic-based group workshops to create an all-encompassing understanding about environmental issues, solutions, and career opportunities in sustainability fields. The workshops are a way for students to connect with faculty, student groups, and administrators interested in promoting a culture of sustainability on campus. 

Professor Alexandra Tower, LIfe Sciences

Grant for the purchase of air quality sensors to be placed around the SMC campuses. The data collected from the sensors will provide information on the localized indoor and outdoor air quality at SMC. The data is publicized freely and shared with local agencies including the SCAQMD. It can be used by SMC faculty in course work and projects and will also augment the global air quality database.

Professor Shannon Herbert, English

A community read of Professor Gina Garcia's book, Becoming Hispanic-Serving Institutions: Opportunities for Colleges and Universities (Reforming Higher Education: Innovation and the Public Good), throughout the course of the Spring semester that will include stakeholders from across the campus who will read and present chapters from the book. The semester will conclude with a webinar with Professor Garcia to discuss the framework for an institution to better serve its Latinx students.

Professor Sheila Laffey, Film Studies

This informative series of film screenings and panel discussions included films centered on environmental and sustainability issues.

September 21, 2020: A screening of The River and the Wall followed by a discussion and audience Q & A with Professor Sheila Laffey, Film Studies and the SMC Natural History Club. 

October 12, 2020: A screening of Love Thy Nature followed by a discussion and audience Q & A with the Director Sylvie Rokab.

November 2, 2020: A screening of Hawai'i Eco Stories: We All Need the Forest and In the Middle of the Sea, followed by discussion and audience Q & A with Professor Cathi Miller, ECE, and Professor Sheila Laffey, Film Studies.

November 23, 2020: A screening of The Condor and the Eagle followed by a discussion and audience Q & A with Professor Sheila Laffey and the SMC Brazil Club.

April 5, 2021: A screening of Fantastic Fungi followed by a discussion and audience Q & A with Director Louie Schwartzburg.

April 26, 2021: A screening of Kiss the Ground followed by a discussion and audience Q & A with Producer Bill Benenson and Patrick Latting from Compost Culture.

May 10, 2021: A screening of Gather followed by a discussion and audience Q and A with Director Sanjay Rawal.

Professor Gillian Grebler, Earth Sciences

SMC's Earth Sciences department has developed a number of for-credit and noncredit courses in sustainability, providing a growing hub for academic, experiential and applied sustainability teaching which is called EcoLearningSMC. Guest speakers are integral to these courses. Funding for nine guest speakers was provided by SMC Global Citizenship.

Professor John Quevedo, Math

September 26, 2019: Screening of documentary, "Hailing Cesar", followed by a Q and A with Eduardo Chavez, grandson of Cesar Chavez. The film describes his experience of learning more about his iconic grandfather. The film reflects on the lifelong efforts by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta to unionize farmworkers to demand justice for workers' rights, civil rights, and immigrant rights.

Professor Sheila Laffey, Film Studies

This informative series of film screenings and panel discussions included films centered on environmental and sustainability issues.

September 23, 2019: A screening of The Earthing followed by a discussion and audience Q & A with the film producers, Josh and Rebecca Tickell.

October 7, 2019: A screening of Bringing It Home followed by a discussion and audience Q & A with the Professor Sheila Laffey, Film Studies.

October 28, 2019: A screening of Free Willy followed by discussion and audience Q & A with producers, Jenny Tugend and Lauren Donner.

March 2, 2020: A screening of Into the Wild followed by a discussion and audience Q & A with Actor Emile Hirsch.

Professor Poliana Raymer, Life Sciences

SMC has many reasons to be proud of its sustainability initiatives. This grant proposed by the Environmental Affairs Committee funded signage throughout the campus to highlight some of the sustainability projects that have been completed. The signage helps make students aware of the existence of these following exemplary projects:

Central Plant:

Below this building is a system that chills liquid glycol which is used to chill water used as a refrigerant in air conditioners around campus.

Cistern:

Below this grass is a cistern that traps up to 75,000 gallons of water. This trapped water is slowly returned to the aquifer through natural filtration to replenish groundwater.

Organic Learning Garden:

The Organic Learning Garden allows students to grow their own food and understand food systems.

Solar Water Heaters:

On the roof of the CORE Performance Center, water is heated by the sun for showers.

Solar Panels:

On top of parking lots 3 & 4 are solar panels that produce electricity saving SMC over $100,000 per year.

Worm Composting:

Behind the cafeteria, over 400,000 worms eat through 250-300 lbs of food scraps each week transforming the food into nutrient-rich soil for SMC campus plants.

Professor Sri Susilowati, Dance

This grant funded the design and manufacture of costumes for SMC's Global Motion Dance Company that were used in performances on The Broad Stage and other venues. Global Motion has always been a partner with SMC Global Citizenship and has provided free performances at Global Citizenship events such as IEW week student activities.

Professor Sheila Laffey, Film Studies

This informative series of film screenings and panel discussions included films centered on environmental and sustainability issues.

Tuesday, September 25th: A screening of Vanishing of the Bees was followed by a discussion and audience Q & A with co-director/producer/cinematographer, George Langworthy. This film examines the alarming disappearance of honeybees and the greater meaning it holds about the relationship between humanity and mother earth.

Tuesday, October 16th: A screening of Erin Brockovich was followed by a discussion and audience Q & A with the film's producers, Carla and Michael Shamberg, on the making of the film and how Ms. Brockovich continues to be an activist in the fight against water contamination and other environmental issues.

Tuesday, November 13th: A screening of Rock the Boat: Saving America's Wildest River, a unique documentary on the LA River which uses river images, insightful interviews, and humor to examine the challenges society faces providing clean water to urban populations. A discussion and audience Q & A with Award-winning director/producer Thea Mercouffer and kayaker George Wolfe followed the screening.

Thursday, March 7^th: A screening of The Last Stand: Heroes of the Ballona Wetlands was following by a discussion with co-director, Sheila Laffey and the SMC Eco Action Club. This film examines the preservation of the Ballona Wetlands not far from SMC.

Thursday, April 4^th: A screening of Straws was followed by a discussion and audience Q & A with the SMC Plastic Free Club. This film that examines the problems caused by plastic pollution.

Thursday, April 25^th: A screening of Evolution of Organic was followed by a discussion and Q & A with the SMC Grow Club. This film is a documentary about the rise of organic agriculture.

Thursday, May 16^th: A screening of Nourish: Food + Community was followed by a discussion and audience Q & A with the SMC Grow Club. This film traces mankind's relationship to food from a global perspective.

Professor Jihyeon Cha, Modern Languages
October 16, 2018

Hangul is the Korean alphabet system of beautiful characters that is registered as a UNESCO Memory of World Heritage. In Korea, October 9th is Korean Alphabet Day aka Hangul Day. In an October 16th workshop, over 100 students, interested family members, and the local community had a hands-on experience of writing Korean characters using the traditional tools and ink as they learned about Korean culture, language, and customs. Each participant took home a souvenir of his or her name written in Hangul by a professional Korean Calligrapher. The Korean American Calligraphy Association provided the instructors.

Professor Brianna Simmons, Art
September 25, 2018

Artist Jennifer Gutierrez Morgan presented a workshop for students on the making of Milagros, Mexican tin charms. Besides their unique beauty, these charms are also used to address social issues such as migration and labor. Students considered how object making and activism intersect and can lead to dialogues and solutions about issues of social justice. Then each student designed and created their own Milagro.

Professor Hari Vishwanadha, English

Tuesday, September 18th: "The Luminous Heart of Jonah S." - A reading by Gina Nahai Iranian-American author, Gina Nahai, is a bestselling author, columnist, and emeritus professor of Creative Writing at USC whose novels have been translated into eighteen languages and have won numerous awards.

Thursday, November 1st: "Multiculturalism and Feminist Struggles: a discussion with Mari Naomi on her graphic memoir, "Turning Japanese" Mari Naomi is an award-winning Japanese-American graphic novelist and artist whose comics and paintings have been displayed in such institutions as the Smithsonian and the Japanese American Museum.

Wednesday, March 27^th: A Student of History - A reading by Nina Revoyr
The novels of Japanese-American author, Nina Revoyr, are centered on the people and neighborhoods of Los Angeles that are often left out of mainstream stories.  

Tuesday, April 23^rd: A discussion with Maja Mataric
Maja Mataric is a Serbian-American author, computer scientist and co-director of the Robotics Research Lab at USC. She spoke about the social and ethical implications of the use of robots in society.

Professor Elizabeth Dastin, Art
February 21, 2019

A session of the art and history themed podcast Art Attack was presented by artist Justin Bua and Professor Lizy Dastin. Art Attack is a live discussion centered on topical and historical art world happenings and the intersection of public art and activism.

 

Lisa Moss, Senior Career Services Advisor/Internship Coordinator, Career Services Center
May 22, 2018

The theme for this year's fair was Take the Leap. Over 80+ employers including many from international organizations were given the opportunity to visit SMC and meet our outstanding students and to recruit SMC students as interns/volunteers for their organizations.

Professor Jennifer Hsieh, Physical Science
April 21, 2018

The SMC Chemistry Club hosted a one day Family STEM Festival for community participants ages preschool to high school to celebrate Earth Day. There were workshops, experiments, Planetarium shows, and games.

Professor Catherine Miller, Early Childhood Education
April 6, 2018

Rikke Rosengren gave a presentation on Danish forest kindergartens. In addition to describing the philosophy behind this active, outdoor-oriented model of early childhood education, Rosengren discussed her own experiences as owner-director of the Børneøen Bonsai school located on the rural outskirts of Copenhagen.

Professor Carol Davis, English
March 29, 2018

Catherine Sweetser, Co-Director, International Human Rights Clinic, UCI School of Law, spoke about the fight for international human rights through the US courts and discussed some of her cases including those pertaining to corporations engaged in human trafficking and the CIA's torture program in the War on Terror.

Professor Hari Vishwanadha, English
March 22, 2018

Chinese-American poet, Victoria Chang read from her latest book of poems which celebrates the intersection and interaction of diverse cultural traditions across international boundaries.

Professor Hari Vishwanadha, English
November 30, 2017

Author Nushin Arbabzabah spoke at an event about her book, Afghan Rumor Bazaar: Secret Sub-cultures, Hidden Worlds, and the Everyday Life of the Absurd. The book is a study of new media and youth cultures of contemporary Afghanistan.

Professor Janet Harclerode, ESL
November 14, 2017

Robert Williams, documentary linguist, and professor of linguistics at the American University in Cairo spoke about his work documenting Uncunwee, an endangered language spoken in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan and in refugee communities in North Khartoum, Sudan, and Cairo. Egypt.

Professor Delphine Broccard, Communications
November 16, 2017

Award-winning poet, writer, performer, educator, and speaker Denice Frohman performed a variety of poetic pieces and spoke with students about the intersectionality of race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality and the "in-betweenness" that exists in us all.

Professor Walter Meyer, Art and Art History
Oct 19, 2017

October marks the 100 year anniversary of the Russian Revolution. The avante-garde arts associated with the revolution were initially attached to the revolutionary fervor prior to being purged and exiled. This event included a screening of Art for a New World, a new film about the revolution in art that happened in conjunction with the Russian revolution.

Professor Meghan Chandler, Art
Oct 12, 2017

This interdisciplinary, one-day symposium included a diverse set of artists, scholars, and activists in conversation with the SMC community. Through short, spotlight presentations, the speakers explored their concept-driven works. Speakers included: Chinese born artist Tian Wei, who uses calligraphy, iconography and western art to forge alliances between polar opposites, Michelle Maydanchik, an investigator of themes of identity in digital media and propaganda, Nadja Millner-Larsen, lecturer on the relationship between Black identity and the arts, and artist Maggie West, whose art explores gender and identity while mobilizing political engagement.

Veronica Casillas, Counselor

SMC Counselor Veronica Casillas helped establish a weekly Farmers Market for SMC students. Students are trained by Food Forward to become leaders and glean produce at local farmers markets. They bring the produce back to campus and distribute it to students. With a Global Grant Ms. Casillas was able to purchase signage for the Farmers Market and tote bags for students to carry their fresh produce. The graphics were designed by SMC Marketing employee, Vivian Chu.

Kaya Foster, Student Greening Program Director at Sustainable Works

The theme of the 4th Annual Ecofeminism Conference on April 22 , 2017 was "Artivism" focusing on the unique power of aesthetics and visual culture to bridge language and culture barriers and stimulate open-ended conversation and understanding about gender equity and environmental issues. Pictured above: Charlotte Cressey, Isabella La Rocca, and Kaya Foster.

Professor Keiko Tsurumi

On April 27, 2017 the film, East Side Sushi, was screened on campus. The writer and director of this film, Anthony Lucero (pictured above on left side), spoke about the challenges of making this film. Also present to answer questions were sushi chefs from the Sushi Chef Institute (pictured on right side, Chef Anraku, Chef Andy Matsada, Anthony Lucero,and Chef Rogelio Cervantes). The film follows the struggles of a Latina single mother who attempts to become a sushi chef and the challenges she faces in the male-dominated world of traditional Japanese gastronomy.

Professor Roman Ferede

On October 28-29 2016 Professor Roman Ferede accompanied three SMC students, L-R Edwin Rashidi, Miguel Macias, and Simon Valenzuela to the LSMCE conference in Lisle, Illinois. The students presented a project about carotenoid extraction. This project had previously won first place in scientific research poster at the SMC Global Citizenship Symposium in May 2016.

Simon Valenzuela wrote:

"Being in an environment where everyone around you is interested in the same things you’re interested in, in this case STEM academia and research, you tend to relish in these moments and take it all in. The whole time I was there I felt like I mattered and that the work I did was important, but at the same time I saw that everyone else mattered and that the work that they did was important. So, I began to feel obliged to share my work and listen to what others had been working on, I suppose this is what being and feeling like a scientist is like. Producing and receiving information that propels the scientific community and henceforth the world."

Professor Marisol Moreno

Sponsored by Global Citizenship, the SMC History Department, the SMC Latino Center’s Adelante Program, the SMC Black Collegians Program, IDEAS at SMC, the Adelante Club, the SMC English Department, and the SMC Associates

Grammy® Award-winning Quetzal presented a two-day event in September. The East LA Chicano rock group features renowned musical artivists Quetzal Flores (guitar), Martha González (lead vocals, percussion), Tylana Enomoto (violin), Juan Pérez (bass), Peter Jacobson (cello), and Alberto Lopez (percussion).

Day 1 - Workshop - September 20, 2016

A conversation and collaboration on lyrics and melodies where exchanged with students and Quetzal’s members on a range of socially relevant issues.

Day 2 - Concert - September 22, 2016

Students and SMC community enjoyed a festive Quetzal concert featuring the premiere performance of the work created at the workshop on Day 1.

Professor Melanie Klein
Kaya Foster, Student Greening Program Director at Sustainable Works

On Saturday, April 23, 2016, the 3rd Annual Ecofeminism Conference took place on the SMC Campus. With help from the SMC Global Citizenship Initiative and the SMC Associated Students, organizers were able to provide an exciting and meaningful program that used an ecofeminist framework to explore the SMC Global Citizenship Theme; “Gender Equity: Is Equity Enough?”. A series of presentations examined what types of environmental policies create true gender equity. To read in-depth biographies of presenters and organizers visit 3rd Annual Ecofeminism Conference.

Professor Janet Harclerode

During Spring 2016 students in ESL 21A focused on themes related to the cultural life of Los Angeles: Pet Ownership; Sabato Rodia, Noah Purifoy, the Watts Towers, and the LA River. For an up-close view of the topics, the class embarked on 3 trips, two of which were sponsored by the Global Citizenship Initiative. Writing assignments included the topics of pet ownership, the influence of art on people’s lives, and the revitalization of the Los Angeles River. During the second 8 weeks, students moved up to ESL 21B, where they studied and wrote about the themes of global citizenship, social responsibility, and gender equity.

"Should the US Implement Significant New Gun Control?"

Professor Nate Brown
March 10, 2016

Naruhiko Nakano, Professor Nate Brown, Masaya Sasaki, Professor Luis Andrade

In March 2016 two members of the Japanese National Debate Team, Naruhiko Nakano and Masaya Sasaki, visited Santa Monica College to debate the SMC Debate Team on the issue of gun control. The event was organized by Professor Nate Brown, Communication Studies, and funded in part by the SMC Global Citizenship Initiative. The Japanese debaters visited a Com 21 Argumentation class to speak about communication, debate, and persuasion but when the SMC students started asking questions, it quickly shifted from debate topics to an intercultural information exchange. After that, the Japanese and the SMC debate teams debated on the topic of whether the US should have significantly higher gun control. The SMC team was represented by Stephanie Mendez and Alfredo Gama and the event was well attended by over 75 SMC students and faculty.

Professor Jeff Crum

Thanks to generous support from the Global Citizenship Initiative, Santa Monica College students and faculty have collaborated to produce a documentary film and web project that explores attitudes towards war and the perceived inevitability of future violent conflict.

The style of “The Question of War” is dialogue. The film includes interviews with peace authors David Swanson and Norman Solomon, war correspondent and publisher Helena Cobban, ex-Army Ranger Stan Goff and excerpts from a talk by the Dalai Lama. The perspectives and concerns of children from all over the world are also featured.

Professor Salvador Carrasco

On February 27, 2014, Santa Monica College’s Dept. of Communication and Global Citizenship presented the West Coast Premiere of rare untelevised footage lost for decades in an obscure archive: “MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.: A PERSONAL PORTRAIT,” by Emmy Award-nominated cinematographer, George Silano. The event was moderated by Prof. Salvador Carrasco, Head of SMC Film Production, and Associate Dean Frank Dawson, and after the screening, there was a Q&A/discussion with the filmmaker, George Silano.

The event was filmed and edited by Prof. Carrasco’s filmmaking students.

...and it was also featured as the cover story of SMC's Corsair Newspaper..

Professor Melanie Klein

Pictured above, from left to right: SMC Professor/Ecofeminism Conference Chair Melanie Klein with GlobalGirl Media panelists Alejandra Castillo, Rebecca Ruvalcaba, Francesca Guerrini, and Gillian Grebler (photo courtesy of Anais Walsdorf)

Over 350 students and community members registered to attend the 1st annual SMC Global Ecofeminism Conference, held on Saturday, April 26th, 2014. The conference examined how a range of environmental issues such as climate change, unequal access to natural resources, and exposure to toxins, relate to the concepts of conflict, violence, security, etc in the lives of women around the world, and how women in a variety of professions are working on solving these problems.

The conference consisted of 6 topic panel discussions with over 25 esteemed panelists, and a morning and afternoon keynote presentation. During lunch, attendees visited tables hosted by non-profit organizations and local artisans, purchased food from a sustainable and charitable food truck, and were blessed by a ritual dance from a local Native American organization. The conference was organized by SMC faculty Melanie Klein and Sustainable Works Student Program Director Kaya Foster, supported by an incredibly dedicated group of SMC student organizers, Antioch University faculty Jane Paul, and SMC faculty Gillian Grebler.

See photos from the event at the SMC Global Ecofeminism facebook page.

Professors Josh Kanin and Alan Buckley

In spring 2014, the Global Citizenship Initiative underwrote a film series on the subject of “Peace and Security,” hosted by Film Studies professor Josh Kanin and Political Science professor Alan Buckley. Each screening welcomed standing-room-only audiences of students, faculty, and College community members.

Three films screened: White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Starship Troopers, and The Best Years of Our Lives. Each in its own way illustrated the tremendous human toll associated with war, insecurity, and humankind’s quest for world peace and justice. Audience discussion followed each screening and featured a lively debate on the issues raised in each film.