In this issue I Ghanian sttue of Kwame Nkrumah, the first prime minister, who led the revolution to free Ghana from colonial rule in 1957 Photo Credit: Myron T. Strong Written by Myron T. Strong, Ph.D. As the year ends, I find myself looking toward the stars. I mean I have always found inspiration and peace in the cosmos, My mother often tells a story of us stargazing when I was 5 years old, we saw a UFO. Though I don't remember it, I do attribute my imagination and fascination with space and the world. Recently, recently my perspective has leaned toward being a global citizen so every new project, paints and presentations, I search for connections that connects us all. It always leads me to dream about the past, present and future. I decided to put a picture of a statue of Kwame Nkrumah, the first prime minister of Ghana, who led the revolution to free Ghana from colonial rule in 1957 because it embodies the tenets of Sankofa. The concept originated with the Akan people of Ghana, and literally means, “go back and fetch it.” It is represented by a bird with its head turned backwards while its feet face forward carrying a precious egg in its mouth. It can be interpreted to mean that you have to understand the past, in order to live in the present, and plan for the future. Implicit in the concept is the notion that decisions and choices are linked and our actions are informed by those who came before and can inform the actions of those who come after. As always, I want to wish you a happy, peaceful, prosperous, successful, however you define each. I want to encourage all of you to apply for the awards. We have so many great brilliant people doing work that touching lives, I want to see you all get the recognition and the appreciation that you deserve. Nominate yourself or someone else, Also, let me know if you are interested in serving on any of the awards committees. Lastly, consider applying to our sessions in Philadelphia. It is always an exciting time to hear everyone share their scholarship and it is essential for the growth of our society. As the year ends, I find myself looking toward the stars. It can be interpreted to mean that you have to understand the past, in order to live in the present, and plan for the future. The deadline to submit to the SSSP 2023 Annual Meeting has been extended January 15. Notes From SSSP Purchase a Gift Membership Dear SSSP Members, As 2022 comes to a close, consider gifting a membership to a student or a non-academic activist – their membership ensures them opportunities for active participation in the Society and its divisions. A membership for students is only $33/year and comes with two free divisional memberships. First time professional membership is $50 and comes with one free divisional membership. To make the process convenient, you can purchase a gift membership online. If you have any questions, please contact the Administrative Office at ssspit@utk.edu. Learn about SSSP Member Benefits The Editorial and Publications Committee of the Society for the Study of Social Problems is soliciting applications for the position of Editor of the Society’s flagship journal, Social Problems. The Editor’s three-year term will begin with the operation of the new editorial office at mid-year 2024. The new editor will be responsible for editing and promoting Volumes 72-74 (years 2025-2027). An editor may be reappointed to a second and final term not to exceed three years with the recommendation of the Editorial and Publications Committee and approval of the Board of Directors. Applicants must be members of the SSSP by the time of their application and throughout their tenure as editor. Individuals interested in applying for the editorship should submit a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, a proposed budget for the operation of the Editorial Office, and a letter of support from their Department Chair, corresponding Dean of the prospective host institution, or appropriate official with budgetary authority. Guidance in the preparation of applications is available from the Editorial and Publications Committee as well as the current Social Problems Editor, the Executive Officer, and the Administrative Officer, if necessary. Please direct all questions, inquiries, nominations, expressions of interest, and application materials to: Dr. Yvonne Braun, Chair, SSSP Editorial and Publications Committee, Work: 541-346-5752, E-mail: ybraun@uoregon.edu. Recent Announcements by Division Members Joya Misra and Kyla Walters. 2022. Walking Mannequins: How Race and Gender Inequalities Shape Retail Clothing Work In malls across the United States, clothing retail workers navigate low wages and unpredictable schedules. Despite these problems, they devote time and money to mirror the sleek mannequins stylishly adorned with the latest merchandise. Bringing workers' voices to the fore, sociologists Joya Misra and Kyla Walters demonstrate how employers reproduce gendered and racist "beauty" standards by regulating workers' size and look. Read more about or purchase this book and Dr. Misra and Dr. Walters book here LaNysha Adams. 2022. Me Power Me Power redefines empowerment, encouraging us to tap into our limitless flow of possibility while connecting with others. No matter the barriers, Me Power pushes us to activate the best of who we are and dismiss the possibility that power is something we can authorize, give away, or take from others. Read more about or purchase this book and Dr. Adams work at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BG91YJQX IrinaChukhrayobtainsPhDcandidacyBruhn,S.(2022)“MeCuestaMucho”:LatinaimmigrantmothersnavigatingremotelearningandcaregivingduringCOVID-19.JournalofSocialIssues.IrinaChukhrayobtainedPhDcandidacyatUniversityofCalifornia,Davis.Hermixedmethoddissertationexamines1.5-generationimmigrationyouths'experienceswithsupportsandconstraintsinobtainingcollege-goinginformation.Additionally,Irinaisa2022-23GardnerFellowwiththeCenterforStudiesinHigherEducation(CSHE)atUniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley.RecentAnnouncementsbyDivisionMembersJack,AnthonyAbraham,andZennonBlack.2022."BelongingandBoundariesatanEliteUniversity."SocialProblems18.doi:10.1093/socpro/spac051.DaraShifrerandCJAppleton.2022.“DelineatingtheRacializationofUSHighSchools.”Youth&SocietyByeongdonOh,DanielMackinFreeman,andDaraShifrer.2022.“InequalityamongtheDisadvantaged?Racial/EthnicDisparitiesinEarningsamongYoungMenandWomenwithoutaCollegeEducation.”SociologyofRaceandEthnicity Recent Publications by Division Members ASA TRAILS looking to fill the Editorial board TRIALS editor Stephanie Medley-Rath is seeking to widening the representation of TRAILS authors, editorial board members, and content. If you are interested in helping to support teaching and learning in sociology, we invite you to apply to the TRAILS board today! *********************************************************************************** Want to support teaching and learning at ASA? Join the TRAILS Editorial Board! TRAILS Editorial Board Members are part of the network of passionate educators dedicated to supporting excellence in teaching and learning in sociology. Their main responsibility – reviewing submissions to TRAILS and mentoring authors through the publication process – is a crucial component of ASA's commitment to promoting innovative teaching techniques and developing scholarly teachers. Inspired to work with us to support best practices in teaching sociology? We are especially looking for editors with a focus on the following subject areas: Comparative & Historical Sociology Environmental Sociology Indigenous Populations Latina/o Sociology Black Communities / Populations Migration / Immigration Asian and Pacific Islander Populations Socialization Sociology of Development Teaching and Learning in Sociology / Assessment Rural Sociology Newly appointed members will begin a three-year (renewable) term starting January, 2023. In addition to reviewing materials submitted to their subject area and making publication recommendations to the Editor, members of the Editorial Board are responsible for promoting the digital library and working to expand the range, quantity, and quality of teaching resources in TRAILS. Applicants should be members of the ASA, have a PhD in sociology, and have a demonstrated commitment to teaching and learning in the discipline. A publication record in TRAILS is viewed favorably. Applications will be reviewed starting November 14th and continue until positions are filled. To apply, send a letter describing your interest and qualifications for the position and a CV to trails@asanet.org with the subject line "Editorial Board Application." CFP Special Issue: Black Popular Culture in America: For this special issue, Popular Culture Review All aspects of Black popular culture in America. This includes, but is certainly not limited to topics related to art video games food culture fashion social media culture We are interested in articles that consider contemporary popular culture and/or earlier popular culture. Submissions are due by June 15, 2023. EXPANDED AND RE-POSTED CALL FOR PROPOSALS ON GENDER AND ENVIRONMENTS Proposals due: February 15, 2023 Final Versions due: September 1, 2023 Editors: Vasilikie Demos & Marcia Texler Segal Projected Publication: Early 2024 We seek proposals for chapters in an edited volume on gender and environments to include built or natural environments, sheltering, cities, and communities. We understand that exterior and interior spaces of all dimensions impact and are impacted by gender. We welcome chapters on gender as it relates to climate change, restorative development, space, place, and environmental justice. In addition, we seek proposals connecting gender and the environment to indigenous communities, unsanctioned communities such as those of migrants and unhoused people, workplaces, and health. Also of interest are gender and environmental movements, environmental precarity, and environmentally-induced migration, as well as environmental sustainability. Qualitative and quantitative approaches are welcome. Proposals must be at least 500 words and include details about the research question, theory, methods, and any findings. Extended proposals and rough drafts are encouraged. We seek proposals from all countries and regions; chapters must be written in English. All work must be submitted as a Word document. The editors will base their decision to publish submitters' chapters on peer review. All correspondence should be sent to both editors v.demos.agr@gmail.com and mtsegal.agr@gmail.com. Books of Interest Educational Problems Division Awards STUDENT PAPER COMPETITION Deadline: 1/15/23 The Educational Problems Division announces its 2023 Graduate Student Paper Competition. Papers must address a contemporary educational problem and may be empirical or theoretical in nature. Authors must be current graduate students. In addition to single-authored papers, co-authored papers will be considered for this award if co-authors are graduate students but not co-authored with a faculty member or colleague who is not a student. Papers are not eligible for this award if they have been published or accepted for publication before being submitted for consideration. Papers are not eligible if they have been presented previously at SSSP or presented or accepted for presentation at other professional meetings, unless they have been revised substantially with new data, findings, or theoretical contributions. Papers must not exceed 30 double-spaced pages (excluding notes, references, tables, and figures). All papers must include a 150-200 word abstract and be prepared for anonymous review with the author’s name and institutional affiliation appearing only on the title page. The winner will receive a modest cash stipend, student membership in the SSSP, conference registration to the 2023 SSSP Annual Meeting, and a plaque of recognition at the conference awards ceremony. Authors are required to submit their papers through the annual meeting Call for Papers process as a condition for consideration for the award. Students may only submit to one division. All papers must also be submitted electronically (as an attachment) to the Division Chair, Dr. Myron T. Strong at mstrong2@ccbcmd.edu with subject line: SSSP-Edu. Probs. Div. Student Paper Competition. Please include your name, institutional affiliation, and contact information in the body of your e-mail. The paper should be submitted no later than 11:59pm (Eastern Time), January 15, 2023. OUTSTANDING BOOK AWARD Deadline: 3/1/23 The Educational Problems Division announces the creation of an Outstanding Book Award.The award will be geared toward division members on their 1st book. The goal is to award an early career scholar and those who recently turned their dissertation into a book or recently published their first book. The hope is to support their career journey whether it towards tenure, career outside, etc. To be eligible for consideration, books must have been published within 3 years of the meeting (2020-2023) for this year’s award) and not have been nominated for this award previously. Single or multiple-authored books and edited collections will be considered. At least one of the authors must be a member of the SSSP in order to qualify for the award, although they will not be required to present a paper at the 2023 SSSP Annual Meeting. Nominations can be made by members of the Educational Problems division as well as by publishers; self-nominations are also welcomed. The winner will be recognized at the 2023 Educational Problems Division business meeting. Nominees should send a letter with full publication information and a paragraph outlining the reasons for their nomination to Myron T. Strong at mstrong2@ccbcmd.edu with “Educational Problems Outstanding Book Award Nomination” in the e-mail subject heading. Once your nomination letter has been received, Dr. Myron T. Strong will confirm the mailing addresses to which copies of the book should be sent directly. Committee members choose whether they want a physical or electronic copy of the book. Authors or nominators will be responsible for facilitating copies of the a physical and/or an electronic copy of the book (if available) from the publishers to be sent to each member of the award committee by the nomination deadline of March 1, 2023. Award: 1. An engraved award plaque 2. Recognition at the annual Educational Problems division meeting 3. Recognition in the Educational Problems special edition newsletter 4. Recognition on the SSSP’s website under award winners CONTRIBUTION OF THE DISCIPLINE AWARD Deadline: 1/15/23 The Educational Problems Division announces the creation of Contribution to the Discipline Award. This award will be teaching/mentoring geared toward academic ranks of full or associate professors and nonacademic hires who are doing meaningful work, teaching, mentoring, etc. Nominees should demonstrate achievements through various avenues of teaching and/or mentorship. Includes, but is not limited to, recognition of teaching and/or mentoring through awards or other recognitions, publishing teaching and/or mentoring materials certificates of teacher training, unsolicited letters from students or community members, or community education via events or other contributions in the areas of education. Assistant professors can apply but the goal is to award those who have a history beyond a couple years and are more likely to be in places where they can focus on these areas. The purpose of the award is highlight members during great work advancing pedagogy, and mentoring undergraduate, graduate students, as well other faculty. This award is not solely limited to members with academic careers, because there are many are teaching and mentoring in all careers. Criteria: 1. Nominee narrative demonstrating contributions to teaching/mentoring, no longer than 1000 words. 2. No more than two nomination letters supporting the nominee’s noteworthy contributions to teaching/mentoring. 3. Nominee’s current CV with relevant items related to the award highlighted. Eligibility: The nominee must be a current member of the SSSP and Educational Problems division. To submit: Please send your nomination to Dr. Myron T. Strong at mstrong2@ccbcmd.edu. The submission deadline is January 15, 2023, but early submissions are welcome and encouraged. Award: 1. An engraved award plaque 2. Recognition at the annual Educational Problems division meeting 3. Recognition in the Educational Problems special edition newsletter 4. Recognition on the SSSP’s website under award winners