CCA 2017 Annual Conference

Call for Proposals

Friday, July 21, 2017

Saturday, July 22, 2017

It is through Jessica’s work in Student Affairs, as a college administrator, in South Carolina, Oregon, New York, and Arizona that she realized her love for the conversations across difference. As an Social Justice Training Institute Alumna, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, and a Certified Speaking Professional, Jessica has taken the typical diversity talks to the next level of social justice conversations examining privilege, oppression, entitlement, and our collective responsibility to make change while connecting difficult topics with employee retention, crisis management, and increasing innovation and profits.

Referred to as the “Margaret Cho” of Diversity Trainers, Jessica blends politics, humor, identity, and local flair with big city passion and energy through direct, individualized, and interactive conversations. Her workshops, seminars, and keynotes don’t just leave participants invigorated but inspired and motivated to follow through with action to create change. Having traveled and lived in a variety of communities and environments all over the world, while also engaging with education as student, teacher, administrator, and active community member, Jessica uses her take on life to lead participants through a safe but confrontational process of examination, self reflection, and open dialog that is as challenging as it is rewarding.

Responses to Jessica’s programs are overwhelmingly positive and include comments such as, comments ranging from, “This was awful – I never had to think so hard while laughing!” to “I can’t believe my boss brought, her – thanks for actually treating us like adults,” to “She answered all of my questions knowledgeably and without making me feel dumb for asking.”

With her attention now turning to larger associations and corporate leadership, Jessica is pulling from the past 15 years of direct experience to lead teams to try instead of avoiding a stretch. It is in this trying that clients uncover a deeper sense of belonging, resourceful collaboration opportunities, and reignite their creativity and innovative ideation. Learning, feeling, and being Good Enough Now allows for teams to do the best they can with what they have and persist long into the future no matter the crisis, topic, or challenge.

Graduating from the University of South Carolina with an M.Ed in Higher Education Administration with an emphasis in Crisis Management, Jessica pulls together lessons from teaching History and English in the classroom as well as those from the stand up comedy stages of New York City to bring real and actionable results to meeting rooms and board tables. She is well published, including multiple DVD and online training courses, curriculum guides, and a book that makes the abstract actionable.

Saturday Keynote: Cesar Cruz

Dr. César A. Cruz- From marching 76-straight miles, to hunger striking for 26 days, César has dedicated his life to fighting for justice. He was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, México and migrated to the U.S. at a young age with a single mother and grandmother. He grew up in South Central L.A. and moved to the Bay Area to study. César graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in History. He has been an educator for 23 years, in positions of leadership for the last 17 years, most recently serving as the Dean of Secondary Schools Program at Harvard University. He co-founded the independent school, Making Changes, out of his home, and has sought to create autonomous education spaces. For the last four years, he has overseen the Homies Empowerment Program serving gang impacted/involved youth in Oakland, CA. He is the author of two books, Revenge of the Illegal Alien, and Bang for Freedom. He received his doctorate in Educational Leadership at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, becoming the first Mexican immigrant male to do so. The recipient of the Jefferson Award for Public Service, César currently serves as a Bridge Fellow for the national organization TNTP (The New Teacher Project), and is on the advisory board of the education policy organization Broader Bolder Approach to Education (BBA). Amidst all, he is proudest to be a husband, and father of three children: Olin, Amaru and Quetzali. He can be reached at Cesar_Cruz@mail.harvard.edu

Location

Getting There

From Los Angeles International Airport

Head west on Vicksburg Ave. Slight right to stay on Vicksburg Ave; Turn right onto World Way. Turn left toward Center Way, Turn left onto Center Way, Continue onto World Way. Turn right onto S Sepulveda Blvd; Merge onto CA-1 S/S Sepulveda Blvd via the ramp on the left to Interstate 105; Slight right onto the I-105 E ramp. Keep left, follow signs for Interstate 105 E/Norwalk and merge onto I-105 E; Take exit 13 to merge onto I-710 N toward Pasadena. Take exit 21 toward Ramona Blvd; Turn left onto Corporate Center Dr. Turn left onto W Ramona Blvd, Turn right onto Campus Rd, Turn right onto Circle Dr. Turn left, Destination will be on the right.

Metro Bus Lines running through Cal State L.A.

38, 71, 170, 484, 485, 487, 489, 490, 491, 493, 665.

Call CSULA Commuter Services at (323) 343-5277.

Crowne Plaza Los Angeles- Commerce Casino
6121 E. Telegraph Road Commerce, Ca 90040
Phone: 323-728-3600

Booking Group Code: CCA 2017

Single or Double Rate 159$ per night, Triple rate 169$ per night, or Quad Rate 199$ per night
Free Shuttle to and from Cal State LA
Rooms must be booked by 6/21/17

DoubleTree by Hilton - Rosemead
888 Montebello Blvd Rosemead, Ca 91770
Phone: 323-722-8800

Booking Group Code: CCA0720

Single or Double Rate 150$ per night
Conference attendee responsible for his/her own transportation to and from conference
Rooms must be booked by 6/22/17

Courtyard by Marriott Pasadena/Old Town
180 North Fair Oaks Avenue Pasadena, CA 91103
Phone: 626-403-7600

Booking Group Code: CCA 2017

Single or Double Rate 169$ per night
Conference attendee responsible for his/her own transportation to and from conference
Rooms must be booked by 6/29/17