SANTA BARBARA — “Putting Inequity to Rest” is both title and theme of a three-hour event at the SBCC West Campus Lawn to celebrate Dia de los Muertos on November 2, 2016. Organizers from the SBCC Student Equity Committee (SEC) invite students and the community to pay homage to diversity and equality on and off campus with a collaborative creation of a community “Altar” and live mural. The November 2 gathering takes place at the Winslow Maxwell Overlook, from 11:00am-2:00pm.
Speakers at the event include SBCC’s very own “Still I Rise” poetry group, representatives from the college’s Black Student Union and IDEAS club, and two-time National Slam Poet Matt Sedillo. Also addressing the gathering is a representative from L.A.-based Homeboy Industries, an organization that provides training and support to formerly gang-involved or incarcerated men and women.
SBCC is proud to welcome Richard Cabral to speak at the event. Cabral is an Emmy-nominated actor for his role on the television series “American Crime” and can currently be seen in a recurring role on the Fox action comedy-drama “Lethal Weapon”, based on the action film series of the same name. Cabral is a former gang member and community organizer. He was featured in an NPR piece in 2015 titled “How Former Gang Member Richard Cabral Went From Prison to Prime Time” (Link to Story).
“In an effort to continue providing safe spaces for dialogue that connects us and pushes back on the illusion that we are not able to create community that includes, we host this gathering to embrace equity, diversity and promote cultural competency,” said SBCC Director of Equity, Diversity and Cultural Competency Luis Giraldo.
Additional Dia de los Muertos Events at SBCC
- October 31, 2016:
- Altar Display at the Luria Library
- November 1, 2016
- 11 am – 2 pm SBCC West Campus,
- Chumash Blessing and Songs, Handmade Crafts, Silent Art Auction and Face Painting
About Santa Barbara City College: Founded in 1909, Santa Barbara City College currently serves approximately 25,000 students each semester who enroll in courses for transfer preparation, career education, and foundational skills and an additional 4,500 enroll in lifelong learning classes. SBCC was the 2013- 2015 national co-winner of the prestigious Aspen Institute Prize for Community College Excellence. The college was recognized for its quality and focus in four areas: facilitating underrepresented and minority student success, student learning outcomes, degree completion and transfer rates, and labor market success in securing good jobs after college.
Our Mission: As a public community college dedicated to the success of each student…Santa Barbara City College provides students a diverse learning environment that inspires curiosity and discovery, promotes global responsibility and fosters opportunity for all.