Breadcrumb
CAHSS Newsletter - April 2025
Congratulations Cutcha Risling Baldy and Kaitlin Reed
In February, both Native American Studies professors received the 2025 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award, which recognizes innovative leaders whose breakthrough solutions to critical state challenges improve lives, create opportunity, and contribute to a better California.
The award of $350,000 was given to the Rou Dalagurr: Food Sovereignty Lab & Traditional Ecological Knowledges Institute to forward their important work on campus and in the community.
Journalism Students Win 26 College Media Awards
Cal Poly Humboldt Journalism & Mass Communication students took home 26 awards after a journalism conference and award ceremonies in Long Beach on March 8, including seven first-place state awards with the California College Media Association (CCMA) and four national awards with the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP).
Giving Day
Cal Poly Humboldt Giving Day is a 24-hour fundraising campaign on April 2 that brings faculty, staff, alumni, donors, friends, and family together in support of our students.
CAHSS groups participating in Giving Day include:
- Sociology Student Research and Community Action Program
- El Leñador
- The Studio School
- Dance Guest Artist
- The Theatre Arts Program
- Solitary Garden (Project Rebound)
- KRFH Student-Run Radio
- Journalism and Mass Communication
- Humboldt International Film Festival
- Environmental Studies Program
- Ballet Folklorico de Humboldt Club
- Cinema Club
- Career Pathway in Archaeology
- Politics Club
- Music Department Scholarship
- Rou Dalagurr Food Sovereignty Lab
Please take a moment to share some of these funds with your contacts, and consider giving. Everyone's contrinution makes a difference!
Upcoming CAHSS Events
Featured Events
Undammed Exhibition
Presented by the Goudi’ni Native American Arts Gallery
Opening Reception April 3, 4:30-6:30pm
The exhibition, running April 3 - May 17, highlights community members, artists, and activists’ efforts, responding to the Klamath dam removals and the power of continued community action. It features works by Annelia Hillman, Bob Benson, Lyn Risling, Julian Lang, Jackie Fawn, Jaimoe Kibby, and more.
Jennifer Espinoza Poetry Reading
Presented by the Department of English
Monday April 7, 3-5pm in the Scholars Lab (LIB 302) or on Zoom: hum.link/JE2025 passcode 660563
Joshua Jennifer Espinoza is a trans woman poet. Her work has been featured in The Nation, Poetry, the American Poetry Review, Southeast Review, The Rumpus, Poem-a-day at poets.org, and elsewhere. She is the author of I’m Alive / It Hurts / I Love It (Big Lucks, 2019), THERE SHOULD BE FLOWERS (The Accomplices, 2016) and I Don’t Want to Be Understood (Alice James Books, 2024). She holds an MFA in poetry from the University of California, Riverside, and currently teaches creative writing.
12th Annual Hip Hop Conference: Power to the People
Presented by CRGS
April 17 & 18. Featuring keynote speaker Dre T, performances, student presentations, celebrations and more!
Events will take place at Fulkerson Hall, Siemens Hall and the D Street Community Center. See the CRGS website for more information.
Humboldt International Film Festival
Presented by the Film Department
April 24 - 27 at the Minor Theatre in Arcata. Admission is free for all current students!
Over 30 short films from all over the world, plus a talk with visiting guest judges, parties and more.
CouRaGeouS Cuentos Volume 8 Launch
On March 7 at the Goodwin Forum, CRGS celebrated their volume 8 publication launch with a retrospective exhibition, open mic, performances and celebration.
Alison Ruth Holmes
Politics
At the end of May, Professor Alison Holmes (Politics & International Studies) was invited to speak to the Redwood Empire Division Meeting of the California League of Cities in Fort Bragg on the topic of: "When Global Issues Reach City Hall: Emerging Trends and the Growing Need for a Small City Strategy." Based on her research on the international affairs of California and subnational diplomacy more broadly, Holmes outlined the increase in activity by cities at the global level and presented a practical guide for any city interested in creating a strategy that could both help protect them from global risks and take advantage of potential opportunities. As well as members from across the division, Cal Cities President Gabe Quinto (mayor of El Cerrito) and CA League of Cities CEO Carolyn Coleman were also present. After discussion, members agreed that future work in this area may be necessary given the growing impact of chaotic international affairs on local politics.
Sarah Lasley & Nicola Waugh
Art + Film
Film professor Sarah Lasley recently received the prestigious 2026 Guggenheim Fellowship. Lasley’s award will support "MUCKRAKERS,” a short hybrid documentary that explores waste, labor, class, and climate migration in Humboldt County, co-directed with Art + Film Lecturer Nicola Waugh.
Gabi Kirk
Geography, Environment & Spatial Analysis
Dr. Gabi Kirk was awarded a American Association of University Women (AAUW) American Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship for 2026-27 to support the writing of her first scholarly monograph, Cultivating Sustainable Sovereignty: Palestinian Agrarian Lives in Transnational Focus.
AAUW’s largest funding program began in 1888, making it one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious fellowship programs exclusively for women. This fellowship supports women scholars who are completing doctoral dissertations, conducting postdoctoral research, or finishing research for publication. AAUW (American Association of University Women) is the nation’s leading organization for equity in higher education and women’s economic empowerment. Founded in 1881 by women who defied society’s conventions by earning college degrees, AAUW has since worked to increase women’s access, opportunity, and equity in higher education through advocacy and philanthropy of more than $146 million, supporting thousands of women scholars. Learn more at aauw.org.
