On Saturday, April 12^th, 2008 the Association of Raza Educators held its 2^nd Annual ARE Conference on the Struggle for Social Justice in Education at Lincoln High School. The conference gathered over 600 participants: educators, students, parents and community members from all over California, within the United States and some parts of Mexico, who are concerned with the oppressive conditions students and communities are facing.

The goals of the conference were: (1) To create a network of Raza educators which will be strongly committed to an education that is multicultural and relevant to the student’s social and economic needs; (2) To motivate educators to become involved in struggles within and outside the educational institutions (3) To provide a solid understanding of what critical and revolutionary pedagogy is about thereby arming us with the knowledge and skills to confront the racist-fascist onslaught currently being waged upon the Mexicano-Latino communities and other oppressed people.

The event opened with guest speakers Chente Jimenez a Youth Organizer and member of Somos Raza and Union del Barrio, Los Angeles; followed by Antonia Darder, a progressive professor and activist at the University of Illinois , Urbana Champaign.  Both shared their anger and frustration towards the imperialistic system which has created oppressive conditions for students and communities. 

The opening session was followed by two workshop sessions which addressed issues of importance to education and provided the space to dialogue about the injustices that take place in the educational system.

The conference ended with two keynote speakers Kobina Bantushango, Chairperson of the African International Student Organization and member of the African Peoples Socialist Party, Florida; and finishing the conference with Jeff  Duncan Andrade, PhD, progressive activist, scholar, and Professor at San Francisco State University who challenged attendees to take part in the struggle.