Seeking Justice • Wednesday, April 21 & Thursday, April 22, 2021 • Virtual Event
Traditionally our Annual Student/Faculty Research Conference has been held on our campus at Inver Hills. Things changed quickly in 2020, however, and with campus closing we were forced to decide whether or not to continue with the conference. We chose to soldier on and held a shortened version last April on the heels of the shutdown.
Brief background
This April 2021 we are hoping to host a lively, student-driven conference focused on the issue of Justice and what that means in the 21st century. We will continue to make use of Zoom and other technologies, but this time we will have a LOT more experience behind us in terms of holding such events “remotely.”
Our campus community continues to work toward bringing awareness and education about the range of global issues facing future generations. We can, will, and must face these challenges. Just like what we have seen in the pandemic interventions, this starts locally at the community level.
Our Inver Hills community can play a big role in participating in sustainable practices and educating our community. In that spirit we will also work in tandem with the campus Bee/Sustainability committees around celebrating Earth Day 2021.
LIVE Webinar & LIVE YouTube Stream links
April 21, 2021
The LIVE Webinar link will take you to Zoom where we are hosting this year’s Student/Faculty Research Conference. Here you can follow the presentations and ask questions in either the chat or in person; your choice. These are presentations are open to the public.
The LIVE YouTube link will take you to the live stream of the presentations. Here you can only see the presenter, though you will be able to hear any questions asked by the audience. All presentations will be saved and shared as Common Source, for those that cannot view the live streams.
Earth Day 2021 is on Thursday, April 22. We are proud on this day to turn our focus toward the problems of environmental justice, including listening and learning about the links between human justice and environmental justice.
In honor of our keynote speaker, Jim Denomie, we will offer discussions around the role land plays in American Indian views of Justice.
Michael J. Sandel, Harvard University
As an introduction to the theme of Justice, we cannot recommend Dr. Sandel’s lectures enough, which Harvard has been kind enough to share for public viewing.
Dr. Sandel exposes the uncertainty inherent within any claim on justice, and we are excited to continue the search for Justice.
We are proud to welcome our esteemed keynote speakers to this year’s Annual Student/Faculty Research Conference. Jim and Dwight represent the diversity within academic research, and offer windows into Justice that are often overlooked if not downright ignored.
We encourage you to join us for both Jim and Dwight’s presentations as well as the Chat w/Our Keynotes, where you will be able to continue your discussions with our speakers as we Seek Justice.
Jim Denomie
Jim Denomie
Jim Denomie (Ojibwe) works as a painter and multimedia artist from his studio in Shafer, Minnesota. He refers to his work portraying historical, political, and social issues as “narrative paintings,” expressing a broad range of ideas and experiences with sly humor and an eye-popping palette. He will present and answer questions about his work.
Rev. Dwight Welch is the campus pastor at United Campus Ministry and an Instructor in Philosophy and Religion at Montana State University Billings. His work with UCM is focused on interfaith dialog, advising Out (an LGBT student group) and the Autism club, as well as building a community of students across divides to engage the religious and ethical issues of our day. His research and writing have focused on communication across our religious/ethical divides.
