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2010 Symposium Agenda

Friday, November 12, 2010

4:00pm - 6:00pm: Conference registration: Bernstein Gallery, Lower level of Robertson Hall

5:00pm - 6:00pm:  The showing of "The Other Side of Immigration" in Bowl 16, presented by film producer, Roy Germano.

6:00pm - 8:00pm: Informal mixer: Bernstein Gallery, Lower level of Robertson Hall

Saturday, November 13, 2010

8:30am – 3:00pm: Conference Registration: Bernstein Gallery

9:00am- 10:45am: Pre-conference Meeting and Breakfast: 300 Wallace

11:00am – 12:30pm: Panels: Held in Bowl 16, Lower level of Robertson Hall 

Although the United States is consistently one of the largest providers of development assistance (in real dollar terms), recent reforms and economic uncertainty have led some individuals to reevaluate the purpose and question the value of U.S. development aid. President Obama, for instance, recently increased spending for combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic – which disproportionally affects communities of color around the world – but by far less than he had originally pledged. To explore these themes, this panel will investigate how the American public and policymakers (with a special focus on communities of color in the U.S.) perceive, evaluate and prioritize development assistance in the larger context of American foreign policy and economic objectives. Panelists will explore questions such as “Is development assistance an important investment for the U.S.?” “Does development aid improve the standard of living in communities of color in developing nations?” and “How can the delivery of aid be more effective and foster local ownership of programs within communities of color?”   

12:45pm - 2:30pm: Opening Session and Lunch - Bernstein Gallery

2:45pm – 6:00pm: Panels: Held in Bowl 16, Lower level of Robertson Hall

One of the primary goals of the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is to expand health insurance coverage to the over 50 million Americans that today go without insurance.  Whether or not this objective is achieved will be especially important for communities of color, who make up one-third of the country’s total population but comprise 50 percent of the uninsured.  The new health reform law also attempts to address problems like health care workforce shortages, high teen pregnancy rates, and a lack of preventive care – all of which could have huge ramifications for American communities of color, where poor health outcomes are the norm.  Some argue, however, that the new law does not sufficiently tackle the root causes of health disparities like poverty, stress, and low health literacy.  Our panel will discuss these critical issues and aim to answer the overarching question: Will Obamacare help reduce racial and ethnic health disparities?

Arizona's controversial illegal immigration law has renewed pressure on Congress and the Obama Administration to fix a fragmented federal immigration system.  Despite this revived discussion of reform, a wide range of myths about everything from the costs and benefits of the U.S. employing noncitizens to the impact of low-skilled workers on the economy may undermine constructive efforts on this front. 

This panel will address questions such as: What really attracts immigrants to the United States? If the next Congress does take up a comprehensive immigration bill, what reforms should be included? Is this an issue that other communities of color in the U.S. can coalesce around? 

6:00pm – 7:30pm: SAOC Alumni Mentorship Reception: 300 Wallace

8:00pm – 9:30pm: Keynote Dinner: Carl Icahn Center/ Washington Rd

10:00pm – 12:00am: Dessert and Entertainment: Friends Center (Corner of Olden St. and Williams St.)

Sunday, November 14, 2010

9:00am – 10:00am: Diversity Roundtable Breakfast: 300 Wallace Hall

Join us for the Diversity Roundtables Breakfast, an opportunity for current Woodrow Wilson students and visiting alumni to explore issues related to diversity in school and the workplace.

10:15am – 1:30pm: Panels: Held in bowl 16, Lower Level of Robertson Hall

Across all education levels, American students are falling behind their global counterparts. Our compulsory education system would imply that all children have equal educational opportunities, whereas studies demonstrate a wide and growing achievement gap and disparities in quality across racial and socioeconomic lines. Despite the well-documented economic consequences of sub-par education, reform has been riddled with problems from lack of consensus about the best solutions to significant barriers to successful implementation.  The Obama Administration has implemented several innovative but controversial programs to address deficiencies and seek innovative solutions, including Race to the Top.  The discussions in this panel will address questions such as: How are current reform programs impacting communities of color?  What are the largest issues facing this constituency?  What are the priorities for more comprehensive reform?  

Slack labor markets, declining home values and reduced growth have characterized the domestic macro-economy over the past few years.   While these trends have created significant hardship for a large number of American citizens, minority communities have been disproportionately affected. The unemployment rate among African Americans and Hispanics is 70 percent and 25 percent higher, respectively, than the national average.   The falling price of real estate, rising costs of mortgages, and increasing unemployment are a potent combination leading to consequences like mortgage defaults and foreclosures. Questions to be discussed during this panel include: How should the current economic policy address the needs of minorities challenged by unemployment and foreclosure?   As Americans adjust to the financial and housing market reforms, will policies targeting disadvantaged minorities help those who were disproportionally hurt by the economic downturn?

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm: Lunch: Shultz Dining Hall

3:00 pm- Conference Close