Envisioning California Speaker Series

In partnership with organizations throughout California, the Center for California Studies offers opportunities for engagement for students, professionals, and the broader California community. Events are scheduled throughout the year on university campuses throughout the state.

The Envisioning California Speaker Series, originally founded by the Center for California Studies as an annual conference in 1989, focuses on policy issues relevant to California policy makers and the public. Our discussions attempt to convene experts, practitioners, advocates, scholars, elected officials, and interested parties, all in an effort to inform the public discussion around issues facing our state.

All events are open to the public, and are livestreamed for those unable to attend in person. For information on upcoming events, visit the Center’s homepage.

Links to some recent videos are below.

2023

• Inequality and Policy: A Tale of Two Recessions (November 29, 2023)
• Californian's Divergent Views on Diversity and Race: Public K-12 and Higher Education (November 8, 2023)
• Closing the Turnout Gap in the Black Electorate (April 13, 2023)

2022

• The 2022 Election: What Just Happened? (November 16, 2022)
• Perspectives on Black Voters: Examine Results from the Black Voter Project Public Opinion Survey (October 27, 2022)
• Pandemic Politics: How did COVID Alter the Election Landscape? (April 29, 2022)
• Affordable Care Act (January 28, 2022)

2021

• Understanding iGen: Parenting and policy around youth independence, mental health and technology use (September 21, 2021). Featuring Dr. Jean Twenge, Professor of Psychology at San Diego State. This event was not recorded - please contact the Center for California Studies for more information.

2020

• The 2020 Election: What Just Happened? (November 20, 2020)
• The LatinX Vote: Will it be the “X” Factor? (October 15, 2020)

2019

• Cannabis Equity in California (October 4, 2019)
• Juvenile Justice in California
• Payday Loans and Student Debt (March 27, 2019)

For recordings of prior events, visit our Video and Events Archive.