Hofstra’s Center for Civic Engagement presents
DAY OF DIALOGUE:
Challenging Times Tuesday, October 21, 2025
All events will take place at the Leo A. Guthart Cultural Center Theater, Joan and Donald E. Axinn Library, First Floor, South Campus. 9:40-11:05 a.m.
Finding a Way to “Keep on Keeping On”: Courage and Persistence in LGBTQ+ Activism During Disheartening Times One of the biggest challenges we all face is continuing the fght for human rights and justice against what seem to be impossible odds. This discussion will address how and where to fnd the courage, strength, and resilience to keep pushing forward. MODERATOR: Lisa Dresner, PhD, Associate Professor of Writing Studies and Rhetoric, Director of LGBTQ+ Studies, Hofstra University SPEAKER: Juli Grey-Owens, Executive Director and Board President, Gender Equality New York (GENY)
11:20 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
Radical Changes in Immigration Policy Under the Trump Administration Join us for a panel discussion on the Trump administration’s immigration policy and its impact on local communities and American democratic norms. MODERATOR: Andrea Libresco, EdD, Leo A. Guthart Distinguished Professor in Teaching Excellence, Professor of Teaching, Learning and Technology, Hofstra University SPEAKERS: Juana Cortes de Torres, Esq., Director of Immigrant Legal Rights Project, Rural & Migrant Ministry; Jessica Greenberg, Esq., Legal Director, CARECEN – Central American Refugee Center; Susan Gottehrer, MPA/MA, Director, Nassau County New York Civil Liberties Union; Francisco Lara-Garcia, PhD, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Hofstra University
1-2:25 p.m.
Are We Nearer to Peace? Thoughts on U.S. Foreign Policy Presentation by Aaron Maté, New York City-based journalist and producer, with student/faculty panel MODERATORS: Carolyn Eisenberg, PhD, Professor of History, Hofstra University, and Martin Melkonian, MA, Adjunct Associate Professor of Economics, Hofstra University
2:40-4:05 p.m.
Long Island’s Environmental Challenges, 2025: Renewable Energy and Water Quality How can we learn more about these issues, and what can local ofcials do to protect the people and environment of the place we call home? MODERATOR: Rosanna Perotti, PhD, Professor of Political Science and Hofstra Votes Coordinator SPEAKER: Joseph Stallone, Long Island Political Campaign Manager, New York League of Conservation Voters
4:20-5:45 p.m.
Long Island and the Legacy of Eugenics Presentation by Mark Torres, JD, author, historian, and adjunct assistant professor of economics at Hofstra University MODERATOR: Mary Anne Trasciatti, PhD, Professor of Rhetoric and Public Advocacy; Director, Center for the Study of Labor and Democracy, Hofstra University These events are free and open to the public. Advance registration is required. To RSVP and view the full schedule of events, visit events.hofstra.edu. For information, email Philip Dalton, director of the Center for Civic Engagement, at philip.dalton@hofstra.edu.