
Regional inequity in Orange County is well documented, but why and how did we get here?
For example, can we truly understand inequity in housing and property ownership without knowing the historical context of redlining, restrictive covenants, and the original theft of land from the Tongva and Acjachemen peoples? Can we fully grasp education inequity without examining the historical context of school segregation right here in Orange County as well as the systematic efforts to overturn policies meant to remedy past discrimination? And what is the lived experience of this region’s diverse communities in relation to inequities such as these and the varied forms of oppression that created them?
Building upon its own Equity Strategic Plan and the recent report Beyond Equity: Seeking Liberation, Autonomy and Justice in Orange County, Orange County Grantmakers is excited to announce a learning series on the historical and cultural context for inequity in our region as well as the need for systemic change to address its root causes. Launching in March 2023, these in-person sessions will uplift the experiences of specific communities, cultural groups, and indigenous peoples, and will provide an opportunity for funders, government agencies, service providers, and other stakeholders to learn together and develop concrete action steps for addressing inequity.
Who
Beyond Equity Learning Series
March Session: Beyond Debt and Gratitude: Vietnamese Migration and Settlement in Orange County

Since the Cold War era, over 1.8 million refugees from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam have entered the United States and remade their lives through and against conditions of war and displacement. Orange County, CA is home to the largest population of resettled Vietnamese refugees. Although Vietnamese Americans have lived in the U.S. for almost 50 years, it was not until this recent decade that the stories told about our experiences were written by Vietnamese people. Join us as we explore how Vietnamese communities have been shaped by competing forces and how the framework of joint struggle can be used to build solidarity and advance social, racial, and economic justice.
Where: Lawrence de Graaf Center for Oral and Public History, Cal State Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton
When: Thursday, March 23, 2023
8:30AM - 10:30AM
Cost: $15 or free for OCG Members
Speakers:

Thuy Vo Dang
UCLA

Tracy La
VietRISE

Vincent P. Tran
VietRISE

Son Do
OCMHRC
April Session: History of Race, Criminalization & Anti-Blackness in Orange County
In 2020, at the top of a global pandemic, the world witnessed countless murders of Black folks by police – George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Kurt Reinhold, Dijon Kizziee, and countless others. These murders led to the Black uprisings, Black folks organizing globally and at the local level in Orange County, calling for an end to policing and murders of Black people. These uprisings also called for community leaders and organizations working in and around communities of color to make way to support Black folks: financially, structurally, and in their organizing efforts. This presentation aims to provide a historical overview of race & criminalization in America with a focus on Orange County. Participants will be engaged in their understanding of anti-Blackness, how it shows up in policy and advocacy efforts, and ultimately how to address it within their roles and organizations and create systems change that supports Black people and Black-led organizations.
Where: Lawrence de Graaf Center for Oral and Public History, Cal State Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton
When: Thursday, April 27th, 2023
8:30am-10:30am
Cost: $15 or free for OCG Members
Speaker:

Mau Trejo
Resources
Recorded Session
September Session: Anti-migration Policies and Power of Migrant Refusal
Throughout the 21st Century, the fight for migrant rights and comprehensive immigration reform has captured significant attention in the U.S. public sphere. Nowhere is this more apparent than Orange County, CA. Starting in 2010, a national movement led by undocumented queer and trans youth blossomed across the United States. Since then, youth activists have defiantly taken to the streets and organized a series of civil disobedience acts that ultimately led to executive actions like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in 2012. Join us as we explore how the U.S. has historically developed immigration laws grounded on exclusion and how present-day migrant rights activists, specifically queer and trans leaders have shaped a framework towards ending detention and deportation policies in Orange County and across the U.S.
Where:
via Zoom
When: Tuesday, September 26th
via Zoom
Cost: FREE
Speakers:

Rafael Ramirez Solórzano

Jorge
Gutierrez

Christina
Lopez
Hosted & Partner with:

October Session: Get out of my county!" Deconstructing Media Stereotypes, Reconstructing New Visions
This presentation provides an overview of how historical and contemporary popular media creates and perpetuates stereotypes regarding Arab and South Asian communities. Starting with analyses of early twentieth century comic books and political cartoons, to mid-to-late twentieth century radio, television, film, and video games, this presentation provides a brief glimpse into the genealogy of misrepresentations that various media texts have created. The presentation illustrates how these misrepresentations have real-life consequences, including right here in Orange County, for the people they portray. The presentation will conclude with an invitation for audiences to collectively envision alternative lenses through which to consume and analyze contemporary film and media.
Where:
via Zoom
When: Tuesday, October 24th
9am-11am PST via Zoom
Cost: FREE
Speakers:

Tavleen
Kaur
Hosted & Partner with:

What
Learning series on the historical and cultural context for inequity in Orange County. Each 2-hour session will include:
When
8:00 to 10:00 AM on the 4th Thursday of the month from March to August 2023:
Click through each event date to register through Eventbrite!
Where

Lawrence de Graaf Center for Oral and Public History
California State University, Fullerton
Registration
8:00 to 10:00 AM on the 4th Thursday of the month from March to July 2023:
For more information, contact OCG’s Executive Director Taryn Palumbo ([email protected]) or Project Consultant Eric Altman ([email protected]).