Hot on the heels of its new Social Justice Center opening last month, EC will be hosting its second annual Social Justice Fair today on the Schauerman Library lawn from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

With over 40 local organizations scheduled to attend, each focused on issues of social justice as varied as health care, environmental sustainability, gender equality and affordable housing, students should have no problem finding a topic that interests them, Breanna Von Stein, event organizer and student services specialist, said.

“The organizations will give students information and resources to use for themselves, but they’ll also give them a way to engage and give back to their community,” Von Stein said.

“We really hope students can find a subject that they’re passionate about, and many of the groups will be offering students volunteer opportunities,” she added.

A new feature to this year’s fair will be a series of “mini-workshops,” Kayla Arango, student organizer and business major, 22, said.

“We’re going to have six different organizations giving students a series of 20 minute long workshops or presentations,” she said. “One of the groups we’re hoping to have present is a feminist group, which is something I’ve wanted to learn more about.”

Additionally, just as last year’s fair included a documentary screening afterward, students will have the chance to view a short film called “Default: the Student Loan Documentary” in the Student Activities Center from 5 to 7 p.m, Robert Dewitz, alumni and student organizer, said.

According to the film’s website, “Default” chronicles the stories of student borrowers and the often dire consequences they face, such as financial and emotional ruin, as well as the growing movement to change the student lending industry.

Unfortunately, this year’s fair is slated to be a little bit smaller than last year’s.

“We’ve spent quite a bit of time on the opening of the Social Justice Center, so a lot of our energy went into its opening instead,” Dewitz said.

The trade off isn’t without benefits to students, however.

“With the Social Justice Center, we’ve been developing relationships with a lot of these organizations, so they can let us know when they need volunteers,” Von Stein said. “That way, not only just once a year at the fair can students get involved, but during the rest of the year as well.”

Even students who don’t normally involve themselves in social issues are urged to come visit the Social Justice Fair.

“As students, I feel that a lot of the time we underestimate our own power to have an effect on our own community and on this world,” Dewitz said. “We shouldn’t underestimate the power we have, and should try to get involved in an organization that makes sense to us.”