The 9th Annual Ethnic Studies Conference will be held at Stanislaus State on the Turlock campus on March 24, 2026 from 11am-7pm. We will recognize, celebrate, and galvanize the power of community and co-solidarity. The conference will highlight strengths and gifts that abound in Stanislaus and San Joaquin county communities. We will conduct interactive workshops to build on this foundation of community power to activate collective justice and joy.
Agenda
11:00 am – 12:00 pm - Opening Remarks and Lunch
12:00 pm – 2:00pm - Activation Workshop – Conscious Relationship Building Framework
2:00 pm – 3:30pm - Workshop A
- Workshop A1: Rewear Revolution with Empower 8
- Workshop A2: Reclaiming Pleasure, Power & Liberation with Dr. Clarissa Francis
3:30pm – 5:00pm - Workshop B
- Workshop B1: Rewear Revolution with Empower 8
- Workshop B2: Reclaiming Pleasure, Power & Liberation with Dr. Clarissa Francis
5:30pm – 7:00pm - Healing Circle and Dinner
Guest Speakers
Dr. Clarissa Francis:
Dr. Clarissa Francis, known as The Real Hot Girl Doc, is an award-winning sexuality educator, scholar-activist, and founder and lead consultant of Blue Garnet Consulting Inc. With over 15 years of experience, she partners with colleges, nonprofits, and community organizations to advance sexual and reproductive health, mental health awareness, and equity-centered healing in Black and marginalized communities. She holds a PhD in Human Sexuality from the California Institute of Integral Studies, where her research explored pleasure activism and the Hot Girl Movement as a pathway to Black women’s sexual liberation. Dr. Francis is the author of Black Women’s Bodily Autonomy, Sexual Freedom, and Pleasure (Routledge, 2025) and currently serves on the AASECT DEI Committee and the WoCSHN Leadership Collective.
Empower 8:
Empower 8 (formerly known as the Stanislaus County Youth Empowerment Program) is dedicated to educating young people and adults about the eight dimensions of wellness, with a focus on emotional, mental, physical, and social well-being. As a result of our efforts, we hope that young people and adults can be informed and feel confident about the practical steps they can take to better their well-being. In turn, we strive to inspire young leaders to care about improving the well-being of their communities through advocacy and collaboration. It is important that our activities prioritize the creation of safe, inclusive spaces that celebrate culture, equity, and resilience.
Empower 8’s activities are open to young people and adults of all backgrounds, and we are committed to making wellness education more accessible. Our activities include community fitness gatherings, arts and craft sessions, educational book clubs, social gatherings, gardening and nutrition workshops, digital media projects, and more!