“Justice for Journalists” is the theme of the 2023 J. Paul Taylor Social Justice Symposium April 12-13. The event is free and will be open to the public both in-person and via video conferencing at New Mexico State University. The symposium will feature panels of journalists bringing to light national issues impacting treatment of journalists.
This year’s theme of 'Justice for Journalists' honors journalists for keeping us informed, providing an outlet for our voices, and functioning as a cornerstone of our democracy,” said Spencer Herrera, chair of the symposium and NMSU Spanish professor. “Their work is essential to social justice and we invite the community to learn more about journalism in the borderlands region.’
The symposium will offer a special tribute to the late J. Paul Taylor, a revered New Mexico legislator and longtime educator who founded the symposium. Taylor recently passed away after celebrating his 102nd birthday last August. NMSU’s College of Arts and Sciences established the symposium in 2005 when Taylor suggested bringing resources of the university and community together to address areas of concern for underserved populations in the region.
"Mr. Taylor was the resounding voice of social justice in our region for decades," said Cynthia Bejarano, NMSU Regents Professor and former chair of the symposium who worked closely with Taylor for many years. “As an educator, he worked in higher education as the NMSU registrar and in public education as a schoolteacher and then principal. He was also a fierce advocate for bilingual and migrant education and worked for all students, children and youth alike, even those who were incarcerated.”
“Justice for Journalists” begins at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 12 with a welcome and introductions by Herrera followed by the first panel of journalists who will discuss challenges facing journalists in the border region at 5:30 p.m in the Health and Social Services Annex, Room 101. A screening of the documentary “Endangered” will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by a question-and-answer session with Molly Molloy and Héctor Iglesias Pascual.
Day two of the symposium begins with a welcome and tribute to J. Paul Taylor along with the presentation of the Department of Government’s Social Justice Awards at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 13 in the west courtyard of Hardman and Jacobs Undergraduate Learning Center.
Bertha Bermúdez Tapia, an assistant professor in the NMSU Department of Sociology, and Haleigh Haven, an NMSU graduate student enrolled in the Masters of Public Administration program will receive the 2023 Social Justice Awards.
“Dr. Bermúdez Tapia has conducted research at migrant camps and shelters in the Mexican border cities of Reynosa and Matamoros,” said Neil Harvey, government professor and department head who coordinates the award. “This work led her to move from scholarly analysis to action for social justice, including advocacy for the rights of asylum seekers and the procurement and distribution of donations such as mattresses for pregnant women, food, clothing, blankets and tents.”
Haven was nominated by fellow graduate student Tobias Murphy who praised Haven’s commitment to social justice. She is among the first students to be trained as a peer mental health ambassador in a program started with the goal to advocate for mental health awareness for students on campus at NMSU. In addition, Haven serves as an executive officer in the Save the Children Action Network in which she lobbied for higher quality in early learning and education, as well as organizing food drives and fundraising to address the needs of underprivileged children.
A special tribute film “Remembering the Life of J. Paul Taylor” will follow the Social Justice Awards presentation in Hardman and Jacobs Undergraduate Learning Center, Room 125.
"Of the countless good deeds and transformative work that he did, I admired him the most for treating everyone equally,” Bejarano said. “From adjudicated youth to children working in the fields, he treated every person with respect and dignity. His social justice teachings and causes are the focus of each J. Paul Taylor Social Justice Symposium, and his life's work and legacy will continue to live on within every future symposium."
The tribute film will be followed by a second panel discussion about “The Future of Journalism.”
This year’s keynote speaker will be Katherine Corcoran, author of “In the Mouth of the Wolf: A Murder, a Cover-Up, and the True Cost of Silencing the Press.” Her talk will be after the panel discussion at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 13 in Hardman and Jacobs Undergraduate Learning Center, Room 125.
Taylor enjoyed attending the annual symposium to engage with those involved in the different areas of social justice work and see the progress in the community.
"Like everyone who knew Mr. Taylor, I deeply miss him and our conversations over dessert,” Bejarano said. “I will miss seeing him at each symposium, as he was always interested in attending and engaging with every aspect of each year's symposium. His wisdom, high energy, good humor and sweet disposition and passion for improving the lives of others will stay with me always."
Register to join the symposium online via Zoom videoconferencing at Meeting ID: 984 6540 0303 on both days. No registration is required for those who attend in person.