Appalachian State University’s second Social Justice Week, planned by alumna Amanda Moore, will take place March 19 through 30.

“Social Justice Week is a series of events that are addressing a variety of human rights movements and social justice topics in a variety of different ways,” Moore said. “The week is really just to show that students, faculty and the community in Watauga County care about these issues and want to do something about them.”

Events during the week include several documentary and film screenings, a clothing drive hosted by People Fighting Poverty, a bake sale benefiting Prevent Child Abuse N.C. and multiple discussion panels and forums.

The highlighted events of the week will be March 20, including the screening of Bill Moyers’ documentary, “State of Conflict: North Carolina” and a lecture by Carl Wilkins titled World

Outside My Shoes, Moore said. Wilkins will speak about his experience as the only American to remain in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide.

This year’s Social Justice Week will also include a campus-wide food drive. At each event and in boxes throughout Plemmons Student Union, canned food will be collected for donation to the Hospitality House and the Hunger and Health Coalition.

Motivation to host the first Social Justice Week last year stemmed from the hope to create a Social Justice Human Rights Center on campus. Moore said a common misconception about the week is that it is hosted by a single organization.

“Last year was the first year our campus had it and there were about 13 events and 20 organizations that participated, but this year we have more than 35 events and almost 50 organizations participating in some form,” she said.

Organizations associated with events that will take place include the Student Government Association, the Marxist Student Union, Young Americans for Liberty, Appalachian Educators for Social Justice, Amnesty International and Invisible Children.

Andy Bratton, a YAL campus coordinator, said Social Justice Week is important to him because as active students, individuals can get together to attempt to solve social problems.

“This week is an example of how we can use our individual freedom to act and support causes for social justice from the perspective of helping disadvantaged and oppressed human beings attain and experience that freedom as well,” Bratton said.

Story: Nicole Caporaso, News Reporter