Social Justice Award

Submission Timeline

• The review process for current year submissions is in progress
• Next submission cycle opens in May 2026

Essay Requirements

Length: 500-700 words

Prompt: Reflect on your experiences with social justice and how they have helped advance DEI initiatives

Required Content - Address at least THREE of the following points:
1. What the social justice framework means to you and how it has shaped your understanding of DEI
2. A specific example of your engagement in social justice work—what you did and what resulted
3. How social justice work can address marginalization and injustice
4. Your future goals related to social justice and DEI-B (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging) work

Format Requirements:

Well-organized and clearly written

Strong introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion

No specific formatting requirements

Essay Evaluation Criteria

Content (65%)
• Clearly and concisely demonstrates understanding of the prompt
• Addresses the questions above
• Contains original thought
• Includes supporting arguments that demonstrate critical thinking

Presentation (35%)

Quality of writing, including style, clarity, flow, and vocabulary

Organization, including structure, paragraphing, introduction, and conclusion

Conventions, including syntax, grammar, spelling, and punctuation

Submission Instructions

1. Prepare essay in both Word and PDF formats 2. Email to: fbeer@csusb.edu 3. Subject line: JHBC OAE Social Justice 4. If selected, recipient will receive monetary award and be expected to attend two JHBC events