’DEIS Impact unites campus to pursue social justice

How can I get involved more effectively in social justice work?

How can I turn my passion for social justice into a career?

These are a few of the questions organizers of the ’DEIS Impact “festival of social justice” at Brandeis hope participants will ask themselves and, by the time the nine-day event draws to a close, begin to answer.

The third annual ’DEIS Impact kicks off on Friday, Jan. 31, 1-3 p.m. in the Shapiro Campus Center Atrium, with refreshments, presentations, and a ball pit organized by The Ripple Effect designed to foster interpersonal interactions around social justice questions. The festival continues through Feb. 10, featuring more than 50 events, including talks, workshops, performances, and exhibitions organized by students, faculty, clubs and academic departments.

The festival was founded to encourage students, staff, faculty and members of the greater Waltham community to come together to explore social justice through collective learning, dialogue and action, says Marci McPhee, chair of the ’DEIS Impact steering committee. Greater awareness of social justice concerns and perspectives on campus, in Waltham and around the world is critical, the festival organizers believe.

Kweku Mandela-Amuah and Ndaba Mandela, grandsons of the late Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid activist and first black president of South Africa, will deliver the keynote address Wednesday, Feb. 5. On Thursday, Feb. 6, death penalty opponent Sister Helen Prejean, author of the best-selling book “Dead Man Walking” will give a talk.

The festival is organized by the International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life and the Student Union, with support from the Louis D. Brandeis Legacy Fund for Social Justice.

All events are free and open to the public. A complete schedule of events is available online.