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Social justice series continues with two lectures

March 19, 2009

KALAMAZOO--Three scholars will visit the Western Michigan University campus to take part in two presentations offered as part of a series of lectures addressing social justice issues.

Both lectures are from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Fetzer Center's Putney Auditorium and are free and open to the public.

Monday, March 23
Social Justice for Teachers

Dr. Carlos Torres, an expert in political sociology and professor of social sciences and comparative education at the Graduate School of Education in the University of California-Los Angeles, will speak at 7 p.m. Monday, March 23, on the subject "Social Justice for Teachers: Paulo Freire and the Possible Dream."

Torres is director of the Paulo Freire Institute in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Los Angeles. His major areas of research include political economy, social change and politics. He has also conducted systematic investigations on public policy, educational reform and comparative education. His current policy research focuses on the impact of globalization.

Torres' theoretical and empirical research has resulted in the development of a political sociology of education presented in his book with Raymond Morrow, "Social Theory and Education." He is also among the principal biographers of Brazilian philosopher and critical social theorist, Paulo Freire.

Monday, March 30
Interdisciplinary Approaches

Drs. Sherry Linkon and John Russo will address "Interdisciplinary Approaches in Studying, Teaching and Community Organizing" beginning at 7 p.m. Monday, March 30.

Linkon is professor of English and American studies at Youngstown State University in Ohio where she and Russo co-direct the Center for Working-Class Studies. She and Russo co-wrote "New Working-Class Studies" and "Steeltown USA: Work and Memory in Youngstown."

In addition to co-directing the Center for Working-Class Studies, Russo is the coordinator of the labor studies program at Youngstown State.

Media contact: Mark Schwerin, (269) 387-8400, mark.schwerin@wmich.edu

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