Belonging in Southern California
The Historical Society of Southern California
HSSC Programing Calendar 2024-2025
Description of 2024-2025 Theme
What does the concept of belonging mean when applied to Southern California, and what do historians, academics, and researchers mean by it?
In Southern California, “belonging” can have different meanings depending on the context. However, it generally relates to community, identity, and connection to the region’s cultural and social fabric. Southern California is known for its multicultural population, and belonging here often means embracing diverse traditions, languages, and perspectives. The environment, including landmarks like beaches, mountains, and deserts, can foster a sense of belonging for residents. Neighborhoods often have strong identities, from the cultural hubs in Los Angeles to San Diego, with local traditions and events fostering community bonds. Southern California is a place of opportunity and new beginnings. People from around the world and other parts of the U.S. come to Southern California to seek better economic or educational prospects. For immigrants and newcomers, finding belonging can involve navigating these transitions and forming support networks. Finally, Southern California has a history of social movements and activism, including environmentalism, LGBTQ+ rights, and civil rights. Many individuals find a sense of belonging by connecting with movements that align with their identities or causes they are passionate about through shared values and activism. These concepts will guide this year’s program, and we are excited to present research, conversations, and stories that will further explore this topic.
OCTOBER 2024: HSSC AUTHOR HIGHLIGHT EVENT
Presenter: Eileen Luhr, Ph.D., California State University Long Beach
Author of Golden States: How California Religion Went from Cautionary Tale to Global Brand
DATE: Thursday, October, 2024, 6:00pm-8:00pm (PST) via Zoom
Dr. Eileen Luhr is a professor of history at California State University Long Beach. Her research interests include cultural and religious history, politics, modern United States history, and history pedagogy. Her first book, Witnessing Suburbia (University of California Press, 2009), explored the intersection of conservatism, religion, and suburbanization by demonstrating the ways in which conservative religious beliefs helped reshape the political and cultural landscape of the late twentieth century. Her current book, Golden States: How California Religion Went from Cautionary Tale to Global Brand, examines how religious beliefs get re-invoked, re-shaped, and re-imagined within new economic and cultural contexts. Professor Luhr also serves as the advisor and coordinator for the Social Science Credential Program. In addition to teaching the capstone course for credential students in the subject matter program, she teaches courses in United States religious and cultural history, the junior-level History and Theory seminar, and the introductory seminar for incoming graduate students. Dr. Luhr is a graduate of Williams College (BA) and UC Irvine (Ph.D.)
