2008 McMaster Symposium/Collegiate
Global Summit under way

	Dr. Don Buerk

	Baldemar Velasquez

The 2008 McMaster Symposium/Collegiate Global Summit got under way on Wednesday with student and faculty presentations and the evening’s keynote address by farm labor organizer Baldemar Velasquez.

Velasquez recalled growing up in the 1950s when his family was recruited to travel from Texas to northwest Ohio and Michigan to work in the fields. The excruciating work and poverty-level existence was a hard lesson. Velasquez was determined to get an education and improve his life. “You have a desire to be treated with respect, that you have an important contribution to make.”

During his college years, Velasquez was inspired by the movements of Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez. He went on to organize migrant workers across the country, and over the years has negotiated groundbreaking labor contracts with food processors and growers.

The first day of the symposium also featured presentations by the Cambodia learning community and sessions on social issues in youth sport, the Middle East, the Northwest Ohio Family Justice Center, and women in technology.        

Thursday’s events include the Belize and Israel learning communities, the status of Puerto Rico, the Jamaica service initiative, a diversity workshop, and a presentation by Anna Baltzer about life in occupied Palestine. Thursday evening’s keynote speaker will be Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page. His talk begins at 7:30 p.m. in Schomburg Auditorium. All events are free and open to the public.

For a complete list of events and activities, go to http://www.defiance.edu/pages/MS_symposium_agenda2008.html

See Also
2008 McMaster Symposium/Collegiate Global Summit (Part II)

	Baldemar Velasquez with DC students

	The Cambodia Learning Community

	Family Justice Center session