Events
Our events convene diverse people and knowledges to translate theory into practice. We collaborate with the communities and organizations we work with to co-host talks, lectures, film screenings, workshops and more. We also host our own flagship events to share our research findings and co-create actionable conversations and next steps for our work. This is a critical part of our emphasis on power- and capacity-building at the community level.
Whether you’re a part of our campus community or a member of the public looking for ways to get involved, these events offer the opportunity to experience the authentic community-building that drives societal change. We hope you’ll join us sometime soon!
Event co-sponsorship requests
The Institute for Social Transformation welcomes requests for event co-sponsorship for novel public facing conversations and cross-sector, interdisciplinary collaborations at the intersections of environmental sustainability, social justice, and democratic societies.
We provide funding (typically $200-$1,000), staff time for event preparation and coordination, and advertising as forms of co-sponsorship. We ask our co-sponsors to acknowledge the Institute by name and logo in marketing materials.
Interested UC Santa Cruz faculty and staff should reach out to Institute Executive Director Ned LeBlond.
Upcoming events
Visit the UCSC events calendar for a list of all upcoming events
Past events
Explore our past featured events hosted and co-sponsored by the Institute for Social Transformation. To view event recordings, visit our video library.
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Gathering for Change Gala
May 30, 2025 Event photos Thank you for joining us for an unforgettable evening at the Gathering for Change Gala, where the community came together to learn about and celebrate the unwavering power of collective action in building a better future, even in uncertain times. During the event, guests mingled with changemakers and visionaries affiliated
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2024 U.S. Elections Forum Series
October 2024 Power, Politics, and Our Democracy This series provided a platform for deep conversations with scholars and national thought leaders about our quickly changing and polarized democracy. Co-sponsored by: Institute for Social Transformation, Merrill College, The Humanities Institute, Science and Justice Research Center, Politics Department Democratic Discourse and Engagement Initiative, Kresge College, John R. Lewis
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Higher Education’s Labor Upsurge
May 22 – May 23, 2023 UC Santa Cruz’s Center for Labor and Community was pleased to host a two-day workshop on the growing labor movement in higher education. This event aimed to bring together worker-organizers to share insights, lessons, strategic perspectives, organizing models, questions, and challenges from our various struggles. Across the United States and beyond,
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Architects of Abundance: Indigenous Regenerative Food Systems and the Excavation of Hidden History
Conversations on Climate Justice March 13, 2023 Wildfires. Flooding. Drought. The nation has faced these climate issues for centuries. Yet, there’s still a lot that can be learned from pre-colonial Indigenous food and land management techniques to combat our current climate problems, according to Dr. Lyla June Johnston, the keynote speaker at the Institute for Social Transformation’s third
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All-In: Conference Event Recap, Videos, and Photos
Scholars, students, and community working together for social transformation at UCSC’s All-In Conference By Elisa Smith More than 400 university scholars, students, community organizers, foundation representatives, artists, and activists came together in late October for a one-of-a-kind event to build collaborative partnerships for community-engaged research and meaningful social change at the UC Santa Cruz conference:
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#WeChooseNow: Climate Justice From the Southern Frontlines
A conversation with Colette Pichon Battle. April 4, 2022 Speakers Video recording Event recap Signs of the climate crisis are everywhere–from record wildfires, drought scorching the west, intensified hurricanes lashing the south, and rising oceans threatening coastal communities around the globe. At the same time, in recent years we have witnessed profound assaults on democracy
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Necessary Trouble: Thinking with the Legacy of John R. Lewis
“Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.”– John R. Lewis 2022 Event Series Ready for some necessary trouble? In honor of the dedication of John R. Lewis College at UC Santa Cruz, the Division of Social Sciences, Colleges Nine and Ten, the Institute for Social Transformation, and the Center
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Solidarity Economics: OUR Movement, OUR Economy
November 4, 2021 Speakers Video recording Event recap Solidarity Economics is an economic frame that recognizes that people are not just individuals, but also members of broader social groups and communities; that people are motivated not just by self-interest, but also by caring for others and a desire for belonging; and that we can and should
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Reparations for Black Americans: The Road to Racial Equality in California and Beyond
April 15, 2021 Speakers Video recording Event recap In September 2020, California became the first state in the country to adopt a law that established a task force to study and develop proposals for potential reparations to descendants of those impacted by slavery. Although the movement for reparations extends back to the 18th century, it has gained
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Changing Climate: The Role of Environmental Justice
A Conversation with Rhiana Gunn-Wright February 10, 2021 Speakers Video recording Event recap Rhiana Gunn-Wright, lead developer of the Green New Deal and current climate policy director at the Roosevelt Institute, shared her insights on climate justice with the UC Santa Cruz community during a virtual event hosted by the Institute for Social Transformation. More