Neighborhood organizing is focus of 'Seeking Justice in Ariz.' lecture

Lawrence Robinson will wrap up the 2013 Seeking Justice in Arizona Lecture Series from 4:30 to 6 p.m., Nov. 7, with his talk on “Communities Organizing for Justice,” in West Hall 135 on ASU’s Tempe campus.

Robinson will discuss neighborhood organizing, drawing from his work on education, law, labor, immigration and LGBTQ rights.

An assistant professor of law at the Phoenix School of Law, Robinson previously served as a staff attorney for the Democratic Caucus of the Arizona House of Representatives, helping to affect legislation on issues like education, job creation and public safety.

He is an elected member of the Roosevelt School District Governing Board and serves on the board of one•n•ten, a nonprofit dedicated to the needs of LGBTQ youth.  

From an early age, Robinson says he had the opportunity to involve himself in the fight for statewide recognition of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, for inclusive curriculum within his schools and other activities that were instrumental in instilling in him the value of community involvement.

After earning degrees in religious studies and government at Claremont McKenna College, he graduated from New York University School of Law. Upon graduation, he spent two years helping establish a nonprofit legal services office, serving as an attorney for hundreds of low-income families.

The Seeking Justice in Arizona lecture series is sponsored by Justice and Social Inquiry in the School of Social Transformation, an academic unit of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The series, now in its 11th year, features topics of broad national concern, but with a local focus. Speakers represent a wide variety of backgrounds and interests, making it an engaging forum for students, faculty, staff and community members.

The other lectures in the 2013 series featured filmmakers Lourdes Vasquez and Bryan Vasquez, founders of Deep Focus Cinema, in September, with a presentation focused on the role of film in social change, along with their documentary, “The Immigration Paradox.” In October, the series featured Sam Wercinski, executive director of Arizona Advocacy Network, with his presentation, titled "Advancing Justice with Your Vote."