Davis, California - About 250 people will gather to explore solutions to inequity and draw inspiration for their work at the sixth annual Equity Summit and Social Justice Awards Celebration at UC Davis on Tuesday, March 8.

Pedro Noguera, whose research focuses on how schools are influenced by social and economic conditions, will deliver the keynote address on principles and practices for educating all children.

Noguera, who is a distinguished professor of education at UCLA and director of the university's Center for the Study of School Transformation, also will be one of seven individuals to be honored with social justice awards.

The summit, on the theme of systems change for social justice, has been organized by the Office of Research and Policy for Equity at UC Davis with assistance from the UC Davis Equity Task Force.

“We are living in a time of international and national traumas, inequalities and violence,” said Vajra Watson, director of Research and Policy for Equity at UC Davis. “This evening presents an opportunity to coalesce efforts, build partnerships and revivify our hope in this world and one another.”

The social justice awards and their winners are:

• Awards for Seeding Improvements in Education Policy and Practice: Roneka Muhammed, a graduate student in the UC Davis Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing and supervising registered nurse at Folsom State Prison and Folsom Women’s Facility for California Correctional Health Care Services; and LaShawn R. Chatmon of Oakland, executive director of the National Equity Project.
• Ubuntu Awards for Inspiring Social Change: Leilani Kupo, director of the UC Davis Women’s Resources and Research Center; and Patrick Camangian, associate professor in the School of Education at the University of San Francisco.
• Lifetime Awards for Embodying Equity and Diversity: Herb Kohl, author, activist and educator known for advocating for progressive alternative education and founding the open school movement; Sandi Redenbach of Davis, president of Esteem Seminar Programs and ESP Wise Publications and founder of the Woodland Joint Unified School District’s Independent Learning Center; and Noguera.

The event, to be held at the UC Davis Conference Center, will begin at 4 p.m., with the formal program starting at 4:30 p.m. The award presentation will begin at 5:30 p.m. Following dinner, Noguera will speak at 7 p.m. The event will conclude at 9 p.m.

The summit is open to the public, and registration is available online or at the door. Admission is $25 for students, teachers and community organizers and $65 for the general public. Fee waivers are available.

The summit program and registration information are available online.