The 15th annual "Envisioning California Conference," jointly produced by Cal State Northridge's Center for Southern California Studies and the Center for California Studies at California State University, Sacramento, will take place on Thursday, Sept. 25, and Friday, Sept. 26, at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Universal City.

This year's conference, titled "Dynamic Diversity: Expanding the California Dream," presents a rare opportunity for business leaders, community activists, politicians and educators to have frank discussions on what California's diversity means and on how they think the state's various sectors should serve its diverse populations.

"As the nation's largest and the world's seventh largest economy, California's dynamism and attitudes make it a bellwether of social, economic and environmental trends in the United States and internationally," said Stella Theodoulou, interim dean of CSUN's College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, where the Center for Southern California Studies is housed. "It is incumbent upon us to consider the consequences of social, spatial and environmental inequity and its potential to spark conflict or create positive solutions. That is what we hope to do at the conference."

Among those taking part in the conference are CSU Chancellor Charles Reed, Los Angeles Unified School District President Jose Huizar and Judy Burton, CEO of the Alliance for Student Achievement, who will talk about the future of education in California.

Another panel will feature Assistant Los Angeles Police Chief George Gascón, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca and Robin Toma, director of the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission, who will talk about urban justice.

Other participants include Alex Padilla, president of the Los Angeles City Council, Cynthia Rojas with the Busriders' Union, Fernando Guerra, director of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles, Joel Kotkin of the Davenport Institute at Pepperdine University, Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, developer Tom Gilmore and Donald Spivack of Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles.

Cisneros, a key player in national Latino politics, will deliver the keynote address on Sept. 25.

For more information about the conference, call (818) 677-6815 or visit the Center for Southern California Studies' Web site at http://www.csun.edu/~cscs/CSCSmain_new.htm.

CSUN's Center for Southern California Studies was established in 1996 to promote the study, documentation, and understanding of the cultural, historical, and ecological resources in the Southern California social and environmental setting. Housed in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, the center provides a bridge between diverse disciplines across the campus while strengthening research ties between the university and the community. The Center provides locational and policy analysis to the university and Southern California communities, local businesses, and government agencies.