The Center for Social Innovation host exhibits, conferences, forums, and workshops on critical issues facing Long Island, often in partnership with other area universities, associations, and organizations. Center events are focused in the areas of thought leadership, community involvement, and student engagement. Events are typically open to the public.
Panelists/respondents included LuisValenzuela, Executive Director, Long Island Immigrant Alliance; Berenice Gomez, President, the Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and President/CEO, Harvest Home Mortgage; and Joe Gergela, Executive Director, Long Island Farm Bureau. The forum involved a question and answer session between the audience and panel.
Community Involvement
Immigration on Long Island: New Directions and Opportunities for Civic Engagement
May 14, 2009
The Center hosted this final forum in its immigration series. The keynote address, presented by Michele Wucker, Executive Director, World Policy Institute, was titled “Global Immigration: New Social, Economic and Civic Challenges for Host Communities”. Panelists included M. Omar Chaudry, Board Member, Islamic Center of Long Island; Javier Gallardo, Organizer, Long Island Civic Participation Project; Dr. Margaret Gray, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Adelphi University; David Dyssegaard Kallick, Senior Fellow, Fiscal Policy Institute; and The Honorable Edward Romaine, Suffolk County Legislator, 1st District. Facilitated audience breakout dialogue sessions followed the respondent panel, as well as an audience wide “report back” conversation. Discussions centered on the future of immigration on Long Island as well as opportunities for civic involvement.
Immigration on Long Island: Our Challenge, Our Responsibility May 15, 2008
The Center hosted a public forum titled "Immigration on Long Island: Our Challenge, Our Responsibility." The keynote address was "Immigration: History, Myths, and Lessons for the Present," delivered by Dr. Kenneth Prewitt, Carnegie Professor of Public Affairs, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University. Panelists included Jean Lau Chin, Dean, Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Adelphi University; Marianela Jordan, Executive Director, Nassau County CASA; Mariano Torras, Associate Professor, School of Business, Adelphi University; Reginald Tuggle, Associate Vice President, Nassau Community College; and Luis Valenzuela, Executive Director, Long Island Immigrant Alliance. The forum involved a question and answer session between the audience and panel.
Migrant Workers of Long Island, Seeking the American Dream May 1–21, 2008
The Center hosted a campus exhibit by Long Island photographer Mark Paris, Migrant Workers of Long Island, Seeking the American Dream.
The Otto Frank File January 24-February 27, 2008
The Center sponsored the on-campus display The Otto Frank File from the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research Archives: Chronicling the Efforts of Anne Frank's Father to Find Sanctuary in America. The exhibition featured newly discovered documents from the Otto Frank file, as well as other material from the YIVO archives pertaining to the Holocaust in the Netherlands.
Migrant Workers of Long Island, Seeking the American Dream May 1–21, 2008
The Center hosted a campus exhibit by Long Island photographer Mark Paris, Migrant Workers of Long Island, Seeking the American Dream.
Living with Our Immigrant Neighbors October 22, 2007
The Center for Social Innovation cosponsored a public forum, “Living with Our Immigrant Neighbors,” with Nassau County. Speakers included Robert Scott, Adelphi University President; Thomas Suozzi, Nassau County Executive; William Cunningham, Counsel to Nassau County Executive, and a panel of Nassau County department heads.
Student Engagement October 21, 2008
The Center cosponsored a student forum, “Being and Becoming American,” with the Adelphi Departments of Political Science and Sociology, and the V.O.T.E.R. Initiative & ICAN: Imagine Change Act Now projects. The forum explored the question: "What is it like to be an immigrant in the United States?" Students presented key findings from oral history interviews with immigrants undertaken as part of their spring 2008 “Race and Politics” course. Sandra Dunn of the Hagedorn Foundation and Luis Valenzuela of the Long Island Immigrant Alliance provided commentary on issues related to the experiences of immigrants on Long Island.
Contact For more information, please contact:
Sarah Eichberg Director of Community Research
p - 516.877.4418
e - eichberg@adelphi.edu
