The Center for Community Engagement (CCE) is excited to announce a dynamic series of non-partisan, election-related events designed to foster civic participation and education across campus and the wider community. In collaboration with various campus departments, and the League of Women Voters of Sonoma County, the “It Matters!” program aims to empower individuals with the knowledge and enthusiasm necessary to actively participate in the electoral process.

Join us for our two opening events in the series and then participate in our semi-weekly discussions throughout the semester. This year’s events promise to be both informative and engaging, and we look forward to welcoming both new and returning participants.

Civic engagement series co-sponsored by the SSU Center for Community Engagement, SSU HUB Cultural Center, SSU University Library, SSU Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), SSU Department of Political Science Cheryl Peterson Memorial Lecture Fund, League of Women Voters of Sonoma County.

• Kick-off Event presented by the HUB Cultural Center: Wednesday, September 11th, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM, Stevenson 1301. More info.

• Reception: Wednesday, September 11th, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Wine Spectator Learning Center Patio. Light refreshments will be served; please RSVP.

• Afternoon Discussions: Wednesdays, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM, Stevenson 1301 starting on September 11th and continuing through November. Please see the full schedule for precise dates.

Series Events

Defending Voting Rights: Past, Present, and Future

September 11th | 12-1pm | Stevenson Classroom 1301 | Link

Join the HUB Cultural Center for an engaging panel discussion on the intricate history of gender, race, immigration, and voter suppression within the context of voting rights. For questions or accommodations, please contact austindi@sonoma.edu.

It Matters! Opening Reception

September 11th | 5-7pm | Wine Spectator Learning Center Patio | RSVP to the reception

Join the Center for Community Engagement with campus and community partners for a kick-off reception to It Matters. We will have light refreshments, voting-related swag, and remarks on the It Matters! campaign. For questions or accommodations, please contact cce@sonoma.edu.

Associated Students Voter Registration Tabling

September 17th | 12pm | Seawolf Plaza
Are you registered to vote? Getting registered is quick and easy! Stop by the Associated Students’ registration tables, listen to the live DJ, and get registered to vote for the first time or re-register in Sonoma County. Help SSU and Sonoma County break more registration and voting records and win the Ballot Bowl by getting registered to vote!

Alumni Association Panel Discussion

September 18th | 5:30pm-8pm | Student Center Ballrooms | About the Speakers |  Register

Sonoma State University has many experts on recent domestic and geopolitical events within its faculty. On September 18th, we'll highlight some of that expertise with a panel discussion on the upcoming elections in the United States, with a focus on the presidential race and on California's major races and propositions. 

Join us for an engaging discussion that offers our alumni, students, and community members valuable insights in an age of overwhelming information. Sonoma State's experts will guide you in understanding what information truly matters and how to view upcoming events, particularly as we approach November 5th, with a more informed perspective. The event will take place in person and will be streamed online. This event is free, but you must register. Limited seats are available. Complimentary parking will be available. If you have questions about the event, please contact the Alumni Engagement Office at alumni@sonoma.edu or (707) 664-2426.

Fed by Algorithms: How Technology Takes Advantage of Human Nature and Reshapes Political Movements

September 25th | 12-1pm | Stevenson classroom 1301

The rise of online news and social media have transformed how we discover, consume, and share information in ways that many may not understand. Technology improves our ability to be connected and informed, while also increasing access to misinformation and disinformation and (sometimes inadvertently) sowing division. Join us for a lively discussion of the evolving information ecosystem and how it has impacted the political sphere, particularly in the U.S. Presented by the University Library.

Latinx Community & Voting 

October 9th | 12-1pm | Stevenson classroom 1301

Join the CCE and the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters for a facilitated panel discussion of Latinx elected officials on their experiences running for office and the impacts of the Latinx vote on local and state elections. For questions or accommodations, please contact cce@sonoma.edu.

The Initiative Wars: Financing of Ballot Measures, November 2024 Ballot

October 16th | 12-1pm | Stevenson classroom 1301

What exactly is going on with all of the ballot measures on the California and Sonoma County ballots?  Who is behind them and who is financing these measures?  How do voters prepare themselves to make informed choices?  Come learn the "behind the scenes" story on what is on the ballot this November.  

SSU students move beyond the pro-con of ballot measures and examine the groups and interests behind the ten statewide measures and the two local ballot measures on the Sonoma County ballot.  Fast-paced and informative, our students present information about what is really going on as voters face the deluge of advertising on the November ballot.  

Shaping Perceptions: The Role of AI in the Spread of Misinformation

October 23 | 12-1pm | Stevenson classroom 1301

More information coming soon. 

Governing Climate: How Science and Politics Have Shaped Our Environmental Future

November 6th | 12-1pm | Stevenson classroom 1301

More information coming soon. 

It Matters: What’s Next

November 13th | 12-1pm | Stevenson classroom 1301

The SSU campus community is invited to join our community partners, our media associates, and SSU Political Science faculty members to discuss the election results and analysis of what happened in the presidential and down-ballot elections 2024.

Ongoing Installations and Attractions

SSU Student Activism: A Look Into Engagement via the Archives

From Sonoma State’s start in 1961, student-led activism has been an integral part of campus life. Come see materials from the Library’s University Archives demonstrating SSU student engagement and dissent over the decades in the Special Collections displays near the 2nd floor entrance. We’ll have photographs, event posters, fliers, and ephemera on topics including campus safety, political figures, and social justice.