Juan Flores

The UC Merced Community and Labor Center invites the public to the Biometric Surveillance, Immigration and Labor Virtual Symposium on Friday, May 6, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Two panels of law experts and community organization representatives will explain the use of biometric surveillance technologies — such as facial recognition, fingerprinting, DNA collection and more — in immigration and labor contexts, and answer questions from attendees.

Tens of thousands of undocumented immigrant workers in California could receive aid from an unemployment benefit system if the state approves the program. UC Merced's Community and Labor Center (CLC) has published a report that examines the need for the system.

A representative sample survey of Fresno voters, now in its second year, is giving area policymakers insight into the opinions and concerns of the people they represent.

The UC Merced Community and Labor Center partnered with the Fresno County Civic Engagement Table to conduct the Fresno Speaks survey and fill a critical need to inform elected officials and the people of the Central Valley about public opinions on major issues. The survey findings are already being used to deepen democratic participation in Fresno.

Hondurans cast their votes in the presidential election over the weekend, and the majority decided to elect opposition candidate Xiomara Castro to lead the Central American country. Nasry Asfura, the candidate from the incumbent National Party, conceded defeat and congratulated Castro, who will become the country's first female president.

More than 100 sociology undergraduate students got the opportunity to conduct research about social movements and civic engagement in Central America. A UC Merced professor, along with colleagues from universities in Honduras, Costa Rica and El Salvador, recently co-authored an article in the journal Social Problems to share the research findings.

Farmworkers can learn more about their labor rights and workplace safety protections as a mobile informational caravan makes multiple stops across the Central Valley this weekend.

California is getting a closer look at exactly how workers in high-risk industries across the state have borne the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic. For the first time, UC Merced's Community and Labor Center (CLC) has analyzed the increase in the number of pandemic-era deaths of working-age people.

While this year's ceremony looked quite different from years past due to the coronavirus pandemic, the presentation of the Alice and Clifford Spendlove Prize in Social Justice, Diplomacy and Tolerance remained an important celebration.

Alicia Garza, civil rights activist and co-founder of #BlackLivesMatter and the Black Lives Matter Global Network, will be honored as the 13th recipient of the Alice and Clifford Spendlove Prize in Social Justice, Diplomacy and Tolerance during a virtual award ceremony on April 20.

For the first time in 20 years, researchers from across the country, UC Merced officials, local and state leaders and community members will take part in a conference stemming from an active study to address issues relating to the health and safety of agricultural workers in California.

The UC Merced Farmworker Health Research Conference takes place Friday, April 9, from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the free event will be held virtually.