2nd Annual Multilingual Symposium and the 8th Annual Central Coast Social Justice Education Conference

Foundations of Freedom: Language Equity and the Fight for Educational Access

We are honored to invite you to join us at the Cal Poly Campus for a powerful day of learning, advocacy, and community building! This one-day event takes place on Saturday, May 9th, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo's Advanced Technologies Lab (Building 7-ATL) — a collaborative convening featuring the 2nd Annual Multilingual Symposium and the 8th Annual Central Coast Social Justice Education Conference.

Whether you are a current educator, a student, or a community advocate, this convening offers a powerful space to deepen inclusive classroom practices and defend the education rights of immigrant families.

This year’s theme, Foundations of Freedom: Language Equity and the Fight for Educational Access, focuses on bilingual pedagogies and the vital work of defending education rights for immigrant families. These activities offer an excellent professional development opportunity for both current and aspiring teachers looking to deepen their inclusive classroom practices and advocacy skills. Beyond professional training, we are committed to providing a welcoming space for students and community members to engage in collective advocacy and strengthen our shared understanding of educational equity.

This event is sponsored by the Cal Poly School of Education and the Central Coast Coalition for Undocumented Success. We look forward to seeing you there as we work together toward a more inclusive and just future for all students and families. 

DETAILS
📅 Date & Time Saturday, May 9th | 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
📍 Location Advanced Technologies Lab (Building 7-ATL) Cal Poly Campus, San Luis Obispo, CA
     View Interactive Campus Map

🎟️ Registration 
Please RSVP to secure your spot for both the Multilingual Symposium and the Social Justice Education Conference.
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RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/2026-SJEC 

​🤝 Hosted By

• Cal Poly School of Education
• Central Coast Coalition for Undocumented Success (CCC-USS)
• Cal Poly SABE Program

​Our Commitment: We are committed to providing a welcoming space for students and community members to engage in collective advocacy and strengthen our shared understanding of educational equity.

PAnelists & Speakers

Jehan Mirzaei an educator from the Central Coast who was born in San Luis Obispo.
I went to Oceano Elementary, Paulding Middle School, Arroyo Grande High School, Cuesta College, and Cal Poly. I worked in China for 10 years teaching English as a second language, where I also got my Master's Degree through Concordia University's online program. Upon getting back to the US, I worked at Atascadero Middle School for 3 and 1/2 years as a 6th grade teacher teaching primarily English and Math. In lessons on ancient civilizations I often leaned on my own experiences working with other cultures to show that all cultures have worth and that racism and sexism are never justified. Before my English classes read Avi's "Something Upstairs" I would preface by speaking about race and racism and my own experiences coming to terms with being a mixed race Iranian-American. In February, I resigned from my position at Atascadero Middle School after being unimpressed with leadership's inability to address concerns students and staff had with ICE. Nowadays I can usually be found playing drums at pro-democracy protest events in and around San Luis Obispo and doing my best to speak against injustice.

Julianna Munoz Torres is a senior at Cal Poly SLO where I study Child Development with a minor in Spanish.​
As the daughter of immigrant parents, my lived experiences have shaped my passion for educational equity and supporting first-generation and underserved communities. I have been involved in youth mentorship and community engagement through programs like Youth 2 Leaders Education Foundation and Loud for Tomorrow, where I support Middle School and High School students in building leadership skills, exploring their identities, and finding pathways to higher education. I also work as a Financial Aid student assistant, where I help students navigate systems that can often feel confusing or inaccessible, especially for those who are the first in their families to attend college. These experiences have strengthened my commitment to creating stronger connections between families, educators, and institutions, especially within immigrant communities. I plan to become a bilingual pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist so I can support children and families from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Ultimately, I am passionate about creating spaces in education that feel inclusive, supportive, and reflective of the communities they serve.

Cesar Vasquez is a 18 year-old high school graduate who has built one of the most significant youth-led social justice movements in recent American history. As founder and executive director of La Cultura Del Mundo, he has created a national network spanning 17 states that fundamentally challenges how America views immigrant communities. Beginning his formal activism at age 13 as a board member with Youth Making Change, Cesar developed expertise across multiple social justice issues before founding his own organization. He transformed “Reaching for Education that Awake Children’s Hopes” into La Cultura Del Mundo, demonstrating remarkable strategic evolution as anti-immigrant enforcement intensified.
As the son of undocumented parents, Cesar understands that organizing isn’t just activism—it’s survival. His comprehensive approach addresses immigration enforcement, labor exploitation, environmental destruction, and housing equity as interconnected systems targeting the same vulnerable communities.

Juan Ignacio Vergara is a bilingual Mexican-American high school English and English Language Development educator. Vergara obtained his English single-subject teaching credential and M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. In his teaching career, he has assembled an annual poetry journal intended to amplify the voices of newcomer students, Newcomer Voices. As an educator at Santa Maria High School, serving a 96 percent Hispanic/Latino and 21 percent English learner population, Vergara is committed to linguistically and culturally responsive teaching. He enjoys reading and seeks to achieve his yearly Goodreads reading goal.

Helen Yanez is an artist and illustrator based in Santa Maria California whose work is deeply rooted in the rich cultural heritage of her Purépecha ancestry. She creates with intention and purpose, illustrating the lived realities of her brown, Indigenous, and migrant community. Through bold imagery and storytelling, Yanez reflects the beauty, complexity, and strength of her people. Her art serves as both a mirror and a bridge, offering her community a sense of visibility, representation, and celebration, while also educating those outside of these lived experiences. Yanez takes immense pride in preserving her culture’s traditions, struggles, and spirit through every piece she creates. For her, art is not only a form of personal expression, but also a powerful tool for cultural preservation, resistance, and collective healing. She will continue to develop her artistic practice and further her education at the University of California, Berkeley, where she plans to deepen her work and expand her impact as an artist.

Schedule

Time	Session	Details
9:00 a.m.	Registration	All activities take place at the Advanced Technologies Lab (Building 7-ATL) ​
9:30 a.m.	Welcome by CCC-USS	Coffee & Light Breakfast
10:00 a.m.	Multilingual Symposium	Workshop led by Dr. Anthony Muro Villa III
11:10 a.m.	Multilingual Symposium	Workshop led by Dr. Greses Perez
12:15 p.m.	Networking & Lunch	Poster Session + ​Refuel and network with a free catered lunch
1:10 p.m.	Social Justice Education Conference	Panel of Educators and Activists
2:10 p.m.	Call to Action	Facilitated by Cesar Vasquez, 805 Undocufund Rapid Response Network

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🚗 Parking & Logistics
Tip: Arrive 15 minutes early to allow for the walk from the parking lots to the campus core.
Recommended Parking Lots

1. Closest General Parking: Lot H-2 & Lot A-1
   • Lot H-2: Located off Highland Drive (closest to Building 7).
   • Lot A-1: Located off North Perimeter Road (Central campus).
2. Large Capacity: Grand Avenue Structure (Lot G-1)
   • Primary visitor structure. A 7–10 minute uphill walk to the ATL. Includes EV charging.
3. Accessible Parking (ADA)
   • Blue zones are available in Lot A-1 and Lot H-2. A valid DMV placard is required.

Important Weekend Rules

• Permits: Generally, permits are not required on Saturdays in Commuter (C) or Staff (A) lots, except for spaces marked "Staff 24/7” or metered parking spaces. 
• Enforcement: Always avoid "Service Vehicle" and "Loading Zones," as these are strictly enforced 24/7.

Payment: Use the ParkMobile App for metered zones.