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Social Justice Events at Lehman

Screening: College Behind Bars

Thursday, June 16, 2020

Conference: Disasters in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean: Human Rights, Recovery, and Resistance3:00 p.m.

The first in a series of screenings of the four-part documentary, "College Behind Bars" was followed by a panel discussion featuring director Lynn Novick, Bronx Defenders Chief of Staff/BPI Alum Wesley Caines, New York Senator Luis Sepulveda, President/CEO of the Bronx Parent Housing Network Victor Rivera, and Reentry@Lehman founding member Penny Prince about the intersection of criminal justice and higher education.

Additional screenings, followed by discussions, will take place on July 16, August 20, and September 17. Check the Lehman Events Calendar for screening times and Zoom registration information.


Postponed Events

Conference: Disasters in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean: Human Rights, Recovery, and Resistance

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Conference: Disasters in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean: Human Rights, Recovery, and Resistance11:15 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
East Dining Room

A daylong, interdisciplinary, international conference featuring scholars, advocates and experts in dialogue with Eileen Markey, Lehman College professor of journalism and media studies, and Yarimar Bonilla, Hunter College professor of Africana, Puerto Rican, and Latino Studies. The event will include a screening and discussion of the film After Maria with director Nadia Hallgren. In recognition of their work, David Begnaud of CBS News, and El Centro de Periodismo Investigativo (Center for Investigative Journalism) will be honored with presidential medals.

Registration is free and open to the public. To register, visit eventbrite.org


Past Events

Panel Discussion: 114 Years of Revolutionary Food Justice

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Panel Discussion: 114 Years of Revolutionary Food Justice1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
East Dining Room

This panel disussion, one of the events celebrating Black History Month at Lehman, features former Black Panther and Young Lords members Denise Oliver-Velez, Shepard “Bro. Shep” McDaniel, and Cleo Silvers. Historian Johanna Fernandez, author of the recently published, The Young Lords: A Radical History, and J. Robin Moon, a public health expert who formerly served as a Senior Health Policy Advisor for the Bloomberg Administration, will also participate. The disucssion will be moderated by Lehman College faculty members Robyn Spencer and Mary Phillips.


Book Reading with Rima Brusi: Aftershocks of Disaster: Puerto Rico Before and After the Storm

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Book Reading with Rima Brusi: Aftershocks of Disaster: Puerto Rico Before and After the Storm Aftershocks of Disaster examines the lasting effects of Hurricane Maria—not just the effects of the wind or the rain—but what followed:  state failure, social abandonment, capitalization on human misery, and the collective trauma produced by the botched response.

Rima Brusi is a Distinguished Lecturer in the Anthropology Department.

11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Leonard Lief Library Treehouse, Room 317

For more information, contact Michelle Erenphreis at 718-960-6760 or email michelle.ehrenpreis@lehman.cuny.edu

When They Saw Them: The New York News Media, Racism, and the Central Park Five

November 21, 2019

When They Saw Them: The New York News Media, Racism, and the Central Park Five Join Central Park Five exoneree Yusef Salaam and New York Times columnist Jim Dwyer in conversation. Dwyer, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times columnist, covered the story in 1989 and later wrote the book “Actual Innocence,” about wrongful convictions and DNA exonerations. Yusef Salaam speaks widely on his experience, prison, racism, media bias and rebuilding a life. Both will evaluate the role New York news media played in convicting the teenagers long before they got to trial, and later the role the news media played in the push to overturn the convictions and free the men.

12:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m. on Thursday, November 21, in the Lovinger Theater, Music Building, Lehman College

For more information, call Eileen Markey at 646-938-0557 or email eileen.markey@lehman.cuny.edu


A Reading, Documentary, and Discussion Double Dads One Teen: A Queer Family’s Trailblazing Life in the USA and Taiwan

October 16, 2019
Stuart Chen-Hayes book

Stuart Chen-Hayes offers a personal story about his 25-year loving relationship with his husband, Lance Chen-Hayes. He describes their journey in the United States and Taiwan as they build their family and encounter multiple legal barriers, including basic health care rights, legal marriage, and marriage equality.

As they experience schools both affirming and problematic for a two-generation gay family, they address their experience as gay fathers to a gay teen.

Stuart Chen-Hayes is Professor and Program Coordinator of Lehman College’s School Counseling Program.


Wednesday, October 16, 2019
3:30 – 5:30 PM
Leonard Lief Library


Let My People Vote

April 17, 2019

Let My People VoteOn Wednesday, April 17th from 6-7:30 p.m. the Social Justice Speaker Series and the Re-entry Committee at Lehman College will host “Let My People Vote,” a screening of two short films by award-winning filmmaker Gilda Brasch, on voting rights and voting after incarceration. A panel discussion will take place after the screening, including a Q&A with Gilda Brasch and Joseph D. Alli, of the Parole Preparation Project. Faculty are encouraged to bring their classes. See flyer for more information.




Decade of Fire: The Bronx Is Burning

March 21, 2019

Decade of Fire: The Bronx Is Burning “Throughout the 1970’s, fires consumed the South Bronx. Black and Puerto Rican residents were blamed for the devastation even as they battled daily to save their neighborhoods. In DECADE OF FIRE, Bronx-born Vivian Vázquez Irizarry pursues the truth surrounding the fires – uncovering policies of racism and neglect that still shape our cities, and offering hope to communities on the brink today.”

Join the City and Humanities program for this powerful film on the history and future of the Bronx. Discussion with filmmaker Vivian Vasquez and activists will follow the screening. See flyer for more information


Center for Human Rights and Peace Studies 9th Annual Conference

March 13, 2019

Is Racial Equity Possible? Race and Racism in 2019 The Center for Human Rights and Peace Studies at Lehman College hosts its 9th Annual Human Rights Conference on Wednesday March 13, 2019. The conference brings together leading academics and activists to address racial equity and racism in a range of contexts. Topics of the day’s panel discussions include political racism, philosophical racism and Africana Studies, and racial injustice in the healthcare system. The program also includes a theatrical performance of “Nothing About Us” by high school students from Epic Theater Ensemble.



31st Annual Black Nurses Day Celebration

February 22, 2019

31st Annual Black Nurses Day CelebrationThe 31st annual Black Nurses Day was celebrated at Lehman on Feb. 22, 2019.  The program included a keynote presentation by Norma Amsterdam, executive vice president of 1199-SEIU United Health Care East Division of Registered Nurses, entitled “Nurses: Our Influence on Policy and Politics.” The Black Nurses Association, over 200,000 members strong, sponsors Black Nurses Day; the association promotes culturally-competent health care and advocates on behalf of both its members and the communities they serve. See flyer for more information




Presentation on Healthcare Fraud & Abuse

November 7, 2018

Presentation on Healthcare Fraud & AbuseOn Nov. 7, 2018, the Health Services Administration Club hosted a guest presentation and professional networking session. Daniel Coyne, an attorney with the New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General, spoke about healthcare fraud and abuse. The Health Services Administration Club offers social opportunities and professional support for Lehman students of all majors who are motivated to work in a health care environment and advance health equity. See flyer for more information




Homelessness and Housing Insecurity Conference

March 23, 2018

Homelessness and Housing Insecurity ConferenceOn March 23, 2018, the Department of Social Work held a conference on housing insecurity and homelessness, supported by a grant from the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA). The conference featured exhibitions of students’ community-based projects and offered continuing education credits for holders of LMSW and LCSW degrees.

Lehman Celebrates the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

December 11, 2018

Lehman Celebrates the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights In recognition of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights’ adoption 70 years ago, Lehman College faculty, staff, and students gathered in the Faculty Dining Room on Wednesday, December 11 to learn about the history of this remarkable document and the current state of human rights. In addition, students presented their original research on a variety of topics related to social justice and human rights issues.
Read more about the news


Ethical Leadership in the Trump Era

November 12, 2018
Ethical Leadership in the Trump Era

On November 12, Peter G. Northouse, well-known for his books on leadership, delivered a lecture on ethical leadership in the Trump era. Dr. Northouse is professor emeritus of Communication at Western Michigan University. His book, Leadership: Theory and Practice, 8th Edition, is the best-selling academic textbook on leadership and has been translated into thirteen languages. The event was sponsored by the Herbert H. Leman Center for Student Leadership Development, the Lehman College Masters in Organizational Leadership, and the Lehman College Office of the President.

Lehman Hosts Panel of Journalists to Examine News Coverage of Hurricane Maria and its Aftermath

October 11, 2018
Lehman Hosts Panel of Journalists to Examine News Coverage of Hurricane Maria and its Aftermath

On October 11, Lehman College hosted  the panel discussion “Journalism in the Age of Disaster, Puerto Rico: La Tormenta, the Truth and Making Sense One Year after Hurricane Maria.”  

The conversation was led by journalists and moderated by David Gonzalez, a noted New York Times reporter. Participants included Carla Minet, from Centro Periodismo Investigativo de Puerto Rico; Alana Casanova-Burgess, a producer for On the Media, WNYC, New York Public Radio; Ana Teresa Toro, of El Nuevo Dia; and Ed Morales, a freelance journalist who teaches at Columbia University's Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race. The event focused on how news organizations performed their jobs as “watchdogs, witnesses, and truth tellers” in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.  Read more about the news

A Discussion with Ericka Huggins

April 11, 2018
A Discussion with Ericka Huggins

On April 11, the Departments of Africana Studies and History, along with the Dean of Arts & Humanities, sponsored a timely and engaging discussion with Ericka Huggins, human rights activist and former Black Panther Party member. Huggins influenced and transformed evolving gender conventions in the Black Panther Party (BPP). Her work was critical in broadening gender politics in the BPP and supporting a distinguishable and unique black feminist politics.

CNN en Español Screens Documentary at Lehman College that Chronicles the Struggle of Undocumented Immigrants in the U.S.

March 28, 2018
CNN en Español Screens Documentary at Lehman College that Chronicles the Struggle of Undocumented Immigrants in the U.S.

On March 28, CNN en Español screened its new investigative documentary “Deportados” at Lehman College. The program conveyed the impact of living illegally in the United States and the effect it has on every aspect of an individual’s life; it also depicted the tragic experiences of several undocumented immigrants, some of whom were separated from their families after being deported to their countries of origin. The producers describe the documentary as a film about people who have "lost the American dream." The screening was followed by a panel of experts who discussed the film and the reality of those struggles for individuals living in New York City and the Bronx. Read more about the news

President Cruz Commits Lehman College to the Paris Agreement

June 5, 2017
President Cruz Commits Lehman College to the Paris Agreement

Lehman College President José Luis Cruz is one of the many United States educational leaders to sign on as part of the “We Are Still In” pledge on the Paris Climate agreement. The pledge was publicly submitted on June 5, demonstrating the ongoing commitment of American leaders to the international agreement, despite President Donald J. Trump’s announcement that the U.S. would withdraw. Cruz joins 205 other college and university presidents, along with governors, mayors, businesses, and investors, who have, according to the pledge, “declared their intent to continue to insure the U.S. remains a global leader in reducing carbon emissions.” Read more about the news

Seventh Annual Conference of the Center for Human Rights and Peace Studies

May 9, 2017
Seventh Annual Conference of the Center for Human Rights and Peace Studies

The 7th Annual Conference of the Center for Human Rights and Peace Studies, “Human Rights in the Americas, Freedom of Expression and Citizenship in 2017,” was held on May 9 at Lehman College. The event focused on some of today’s most crucial human rights issues. “Freedom of expression and citizenship rights are core values of American democracy,” said Victoria Sanford, the center’s director. “We seek to educate and empower the Lehman community to exercise these critical rights," she explained. Comprising three panel discussions and a film screening, the conference addressed human rights abuses in Guatemala and Mexico, as well as the experiences of migrants and detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Read more about the news

Health Conference at Lehman College Demands ‘Equity Now’

May 8, 2017
Health Conference at Lehman College Demands ‘Equity Now’

Faculty, staff, and national experts came together on May 8 to address health equity in urban centers throughout the nation at the CUNY Institute for Health Equity’s Annual Conference, “Equity Now.” The conference brought together public and private sector leaders to tackle some of the most difficult health issues facing American urban settings. Dr. Thomas LaVeist, the chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management at the George Washington University, Milken School of Public Health, was the keynote speaker. LaVeist is a renowned world expert on health equities who has “led seminal research on the impact of socioeconomic and racial inequities on the health of individuals and communities.” Read more about the news

‘Activism in Academia’ Forum Seeks to Inspire Student Activism

April 7, 2017
‘Activism in Academia’ Forum Seeks to Inspire Student Activism

A daylong symposium, coordinated by Lehman English Professors Dhipinder Walia and Olivia Loksing Moy was held on April 7, 2017 at the CUNY Graduate Center. Entitled “Activism in Academia,” the event featured an impressive cross section of CUNY professors, Lehman students, and other academics, discussing topics ranging from religious representation and secularism to literature’s power to create empathy and social change.  The symposium, said Walia, was “meant to be a space for all those in academia to see the value of the classroom and the college campus as a space for activism, especially when our campus is New York City itself.” Read more about the news

Professor Chudnovsky: Balancing Physics with Human Rights

April 3, 2017
Professor Chudnovsky: Balancing Physics with Human Rights

In a recent extensive radio interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Dr. Eugene Chudnovsky, a distinguished professor of physics at Lehman College and the CUNY Graduate Center, discussed his human rights work as well as his own struggle as a young scientist who wanted to escape the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s. A theoretical physicist,
Chudnovsky has dedicated much of his life to two disciplines: physics and human rights. Since 2011 he has served as a co-chair of the Committee for Concerned Scientists, an international organization of leading scientists who monitor and document the “violation of human rights and scientific freedom of scientists.” In March, he published an op-ed piece in the Washington Examiner criticizing the Trump administration’s proposed travel ban for preventing students and scholars studying at U.S. universities from entering the country. Read more about the news

Tackling Food Insecurity at Lehman College

March 30, 2017
Tackling Food Insecurity at Lehman College

Members of the Lehman community gathered at the Student Life Building this week for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to inaugurate the opening of the new food pantry. With this crucial student resource, Lehman College joins a movement taking place at colleges and universities across the nation, that both recognizes and addresses hunger issues among students. The college has been working with Food Bank for New York City and the City University of New York to bring the food program to students at Lehman. Read more about the news

NYS Human Rights Commissioner Helen D. Foster Delivers Keynote Address at Annual MLK Lecture

February 15, 2017
NYS Human Rights Commissioner Helen D. Foster Delivers Keynote Address at Annual MLK Lecture

Lehman College celebrated Black History Month with its annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture on Wednesday, February 15 in the Lovinger Theatre. Helen D. Foster, the New York State Human Rights Commissioner, delivered the keynote address, entitled “Reflecting on the Past to Strengthen Our Future.” A champion of human rights law, Foster is widely credited for reducing a decades-long backlog of human rights cases after her appointment by Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2013.