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Eighth Annual Pathway Summit

February 10–11, 2023

University of Southern California Gould School of Law
699 Exposition Blvd,
Los Angeles, CA 90089

Student Empowerment Through Law And Civic Engagement: Students Making A Difference

An informed and engaged citizenry is critical to maintaining a healthy democracy. Learn about the characteristics of effective citizenship and how to become civically engaged by examining the issues you believe are most important to address and initiating positive and sustainable change in our communities.

Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00–10:00 a.m.  |  Lobby

Welcome and Introductions

10:00–10:15 a.m.  |  Plenary Room 3 and Overflow Room 7

  • Ruthe Ashley, Advisory Board Chair, California LAW
    • Introduction of Pamela Enslen, Executive Director, California LAW
    • Introduction of Andrew Guzman, Dean, University of Southern California, Gould School of Law
  • Welcome Remarks: Andrew Guzman, Dean, University of Southern California, Gould School of Law 

Opening Keynote

10:15–10:45 a.m.  |  Plenary Room 3 and Overflow Room 7

Opening Plenary – Importance of Civic Engagement for a Healthy Democracy

11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.  |  Plenary Rooms

  • Peter Khang, Deputy General Counsel, Los Rios Community College District
    • Introduction of Constitutional Rights Foundation

Facilitators:

  • Laura Wesley, Director of Programs, Constitutional Rights Foundation 
  • Gregorio Medina, Senior Program Director, Constitutional Rights Foundation

What is citizenship? (25 mins)
What does it look like? How does it promote a healthy democracy? Participants will work together to create a profile of citizenship that is a direct reflection of what they believe are the important values, traits, and characteristics for initiating positive and sustainable change in their communities.

Intro to CAP and State Seal of Civic Engagement (15 mins)
Civic Action Project (aka CAP) enables students to create meaningful civic experiences that address problems, issues, and needs that are important to them. CAP also satisfies the criteria for students to earn a California State Seal of Civic Engagement on their diplomas, which promotes their success in college, career, and civic life.

Lunch Break and Participant Networking

11:50 a.m.–1:00 p.m.  |  Lunches will be available outside of Plenary Room 3 and Overflow Room 7

Issues, Policies, and Civic Actions

1:00–2:30 p.m.  |  Breakout Rooms are noted on your name badge 

What’s Your Issue, Problem, or Need?

  • Education (e.g., college access, DACA, school-based issues, etc.)
  • Environment (e.g., global warming, litter, recycling, etc.)
  • Public Safety (e.g., policing, gun control, homeless, etc.)
  • Health and Wellness (e.g., mental health, food deserts, etc.)

Room Numbers

  • Room 3: Education
  • Room 101: Health and Wellness
  • Room 130: Public Safety
  • Room 107: Environment

Transition – Break and Snacks

2:30–2:45 p.m.  |  Grab refreshments and return to Plenary Room 3 and Overflow Room 7

Plenary Session – Gallery Walk and Debriefing

2:45–3:50 p.m.  |  Plenary Rooms

Debrief

3:50–4:10 p.m.

Transition – Break Into Two Separate Tracks

4:10–4:15 p.m.  |  Pathway Students and Pathway Partners/Stakeholders will reconvene in two large groups for separate focused roundtables

Student Tour and Roundtable – “You Can Do It!”

4:15–5:30 p.m.  |  Plenary Room 3

  • David Kirshner, USC Gould School of Law, Associate Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid
    • Law School Tour

Facilitators:

Roundtable – Educators, Advisory Boards, Pathway Stakeholders, and Others

4:15–5:30 p.m.  |  Room 7

Facilitators:

Pathway Reception 

5:30–7:00 p.m.  |  Cafeteria  |  Welcoming New Partners, Presenting Awards and Scholarships

Welcome and Introductions

Welcoming New Pathway Partners and Signing of Memorandums of Understanding

– University of San Diego School of Law
– University of San Diego
– Southwestern Law School
– University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco

California Education Pipeline Award

Legal Education Access Pipeline (LEAP)

California LAW Diversity Champions

Individual Diversity Champion: The Honorable Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Chief Justice, California Supreme Court (Ret.), and President/CEO, Public Policy Institute of California

High School Law Academy Diversity Champion: Narbonne High School Public Service Academy

Community College Diversity Champion: Saddleback College

Law School Diversity Champion: Joint Award

– University of California, Berkeley School of Law
– University of California, Davis School of Law
– University of California, Irvine School of Law
– University of California, Los Angeles School of Law
– University of San Francisco School of Law

Ruthe Catolico Ashley Scholarship Recipients

Presented by Ruthe Ashley

  • Darlene Martinez Balbuena, Santa Ana High School, Santa Ana
  • Yazmin Baroumand, San Jose City College, San Jose
  • Maridel De Los Reyes, Yerba Buena High School, San Jose
    (Co-Sponsored by California Lawyers Association, Presented by Oyango Snell, CEO and Executive Director)
  • Ricardo Gonzalez, East Los Angeles College, Los Angeles 
    (Sponsored by Fastcase, Remarks by Phil Rosenthal CEO and Founder)
  • Viridiana Santa Cruz Velez, Bakersfield College, Bakersfield
    (Sponsored by Law School Admissions Council, Remarks by Angela Winfield, Chief Diversity Officer)