Upcoming Events
Weekly Events
Lounge Discussions
The Office of Social Justice Initiatives & Identity Programs is dedicated to enhancing your learning experience by providing weekly topical discussion sessions called the Lounge Discussions. Hosted every [days] on a weekly basis from [time], these discussions can will range from current issues, hxstory, to understanding your personal intersecting identities.
Monthly Events
Critical Lens: Social Justice Film & Discussion Series
The Social Justice Film & Discussion Series is a thought-provoking social justice-themed films brought to you by OSJIIP. Designed to focus on important social issues facing our society today, the aim of the films and discussions are to facilitate dialogue to enhance informed communication, personal responsibility, social responsibility, encourage agency and action.
Annually Events
Black Grad
Fabulosity Drag Show
Fabulosity Drag Show, the culminating event for UC Merced’s annual Pride Week, brings together LGBTQ+ and Allies to celebrate the possibility of gender performance through the exaggeration, illusion and parody of gender norms. Fabulosity utilizes performance to experientially deconstruct the socially constructed categories the man/woman gender and straight/gay/lesbian dichotomy in an entertaining environment that celebrates the Drag community. It also provides an opportunity to introduce the broader UCM and Merced community to the LGBTQ+ community.
Human Rights Film Festival
The purpose of the Human Rights Film Series is to bring home the discussion about human rights, and to view film as an art form that can create change at the local and global levels in the effort to end violence and inequality.
Latinx Graduation
Lavender Graduation
The Lavender Graduation Reception is an annual cultural ceremony that recognizes graduating LGBTQ+ scholars of all races and ethnicities and acknowledges the tenacity for creating positive social change by being part of the UC Merced graduating class. Our dedication to honoring the lived experiences and triumphs of our LGBTQ+ graduates is rooted in the desire to create a welcoming, inclusive and affirming environment.
Philipeno American Graduation
Social Justice Retreat
The annual Social Justice Retreat is held each fall semester and is open to all undergraduate students who are interested in learning about, as well as those who are looking for opportunities to further their understanding of social justice, exploration of one's identities, and engaging in equity work.
Transgender Awareness Day
Transgender Awareness Day is created to help raise the visibility of transgender and gender non-conforming people and address the issues the community faces. Normally takes place the week leading up to Transgender Day of Remembrance. Transgender Day of Remembrance was created to raise public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people and publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten. Transgender Day of Remembrances takes place yearly on Nov 20th.
Welcome Open Houses
Each fall SJIIP will welcome new and returning scholars to campus. The Welcome Open Houses will be a rotating introduction tour of all of our spaces, provide resources, and highlight the various programs/events hosted by the SJIIP areas.
Womxn in the Wilderness
Womxn in the Wilderness aims to empower, educate, and celebrate young womxn and their connection with nature. It provides a supportive environment where all womxn can have fun, challenge themselves and develop strong connections in a community of womxn. We provide hands on experience that encourages womxn to push the boundaries of what it means to be a womxn in the wilderness. We spend 2 days and nights exploring the meadows and streams in the High Sierras with a group of womxn.
Womxn of Color Banquet
The Womxn of Color Banquet (WOCB) is an annual tradition devoted to honoring, celebrating and inspiring individuals who identify as womxn of color at UC Merced. WOCB aims to cultivate supportive environments and strengthen networks among women of color. WOCB also serves to unify and create dialogue amongst students, staff, and faculty willing to learn from the collective pressures of race and ethnic relations that women of color each experience. Contributing to diversity on campus, the dinner provides an opportunity for the UCM community to share their voices in a supportive atmosphere. This powerful event focuses on the struggles, triumphs and experiences of women of color and their allies and celebrates the professional accomplishments and personal successes of womxn of color throughout our community.
Womxn’s Empowerment Conference
Womxn’s Empowerment Conference was developed to showcase opportunities to empower womxn to achieve their highest level of personal and professional growth. The WEC is a transformative experience that brings womxn together to discuss the past, present and future of womxn’s empowerment. WEC’s mission is to educate, inspire, empower, and honor womxn as agents of positive social change.
