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Contact: Jackie Cooper or Lee Herring
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June 23, 2009

Sociologists to Explore “The New Politics of Community” in San Francisco August 7-11

American Sociological Association annual meeting press registration now open

More than 5,000 sociologists will convene in San Francisco this August to explore ideas and scientific research about how community affects contemporary social issues as part of the American Sociological Association’s 104th annual meeting.

In addition to three plenary sessions featuring leading sociological minds, a mini-symposium will examine how the election of Barack Obama might signal a refreshed spirit of community activism and involvement. More than 200 additional sessions will feature the latest sociological research and perspectives from the leading minds in social science.

WHAT: The American Sociological Association’s 104th Annual Meeting: “The New Politics of Community”

WHEN: Friday, Aug. 7, through Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009

WHERE: Hilton San Francisco and Parc 55 Hotel
San Francisco, Calif.

MAJOR PLENARY SESSIONS:

• Building Excellent, Diverse and Just Communities: A Conversation Among Artists, Academics and Activists
  Friday, Aug. 7, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
  A distinguished and diverse panel will address the connections between social justice and community-building, discussing the needs of contemporary and future communities with a special focus on youth.
• Why Obama Won (and What that Says About Democracy and Change in America)
  Saturday, Aug. 8, 12:30 – 2:15 p.m.
  Social scientists examine the potential for change — the oft-used buzzword of the Obama campaign — in the post-election era, taking into account new forms of political engagement; the changing American population; and the revitalization of democratic institutions. Panelists will discuss the actual and potential significance of Barack Obama’s victory.
• Bringing Communities Back In: Setting a New Policy Agenda
  Monday, Aug. 10, 12:30 – 2:15 p.m.
  Given the influence of social networks on individual actions and beliefs, prominent sociologists discuss how sociology’s conception of communities can assist in the development of public policies that effectively address social problems.

ADDITIONAL SESSIONS OF INTEREST

Mini-Symposium on the Social Significance of Barack Obama

• A Defining Moment? Youth, Power and the Obama Phenomenon
  Saturday, Aug. 8, 10:30 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. 
• Through the Lens of Gender, Race, Sexuality and Class: The Obama Family and the American Dream
  Sunday, Aug. 9, 10:30 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. 
• Understanding Democratic Renewal: The Movement to Elect Barack Obama
  Sunday, Aug. 9, 8:30 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. 
• The Future of Community Organizing During an Obama Presidency
  Sunday, Aug. 9, 2:30 p.m. – 4:10 p.m. 
• Asian-American Movements, Identities and Politics: A New Racial Project in the Obama Years?
  Saturday, Aug. 8, 4:30 p.m. – 6:10 p.m.

Selected Author Meets Critics Sessions

• Black on the Block: The Politics of Race and Class in the City by Mary E. Pattillo
  Sunday, Aug. 9, 2:30 p.m. – 4:10 p.m. 
• God Needs No Passport: Immigrants and the Changing Religious Landscape by Angie Y. Chung
  Saturday, Aug. 8, 4:30 p.m. – 6:10 p.m. 
• Opting Out: Why Women Really Quit Careers and Head Home by Pamela Stone
  Saturday, Aug. 8, 10:30 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. 
• Shopping for Safety: How We Changed from Protecting the Environment to Protecting Ourselves by Andrew Szasz
  Monday, Aug. 10, 2:30 p.m. – 4:10 p.m. 
• Toxic Exposures: Contested Illnesses and the Environmental Health Movement by Phil Brown
  Saturday, Aug. 8, 2:30 p.m. – 4:10 p.m. 
• Won’t You Be My Neighbor: Race, Class and Residence in Los Angeles by Camille Zubrinsky Charles
  Tuesday, Aug. 11, 10:30 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.

CONTACT: Jackie Cooper, ASA Media Relations Officer, pubinfo@asanet.org, 202-247-9871

Editor’s Note: Complimentary media registration is open. Download the press policy and registration form and visit http://www.asanet.org/cs/meetings/2009 for the meeting’s searchable preliminary program and additional details.