Back in the fall of 2019, Richard Rothstein, author of the bestselling book The Color of Law, delivered an address to a standing room-only crowd at the Congregational Church of San Mateo (CCSM). With nearly 400 community members in attendance, he described how government at all levels—national, state and local—acted to segregate our communities and prevent all but whites from owning homes.

On October 26, 2023 Richard Rothstein returns to San Mateo, accompanied this time by his daughter and housing policy expert Leah Rothstein. Together they will discuss how concerned community members can act to undo the harms of this history and remedy a profoundly unconstitutional aspect of our nation’s past. The name of the event is Just Action, which is also the title of a book the two of them have co-authored, just released in June. The evening’s program will also feature examples of work being done locally to achieve the ends that are the focus of the event.

The event will take place from 7 to 9 pm on Thursday, October 26, and will again be hosted by the Congregational Church of San Mateo, located at 225 Tilton Avenue in San Mateo. The program will include a Q&A period and be followed by a brief reception in the CCSM community hall.

The financial sponsor for this event is the San Mateo Anti-Displacement Coalition. Organizations involved in the planning include One San Mateo, Menlo Together, Housing Leadership Council, NAACP, the Peninsula Solidarity Cohort, Peninsula for Everyone, Pacifica Housing for all, and the social action ministries at St. Bart’s Parish and St. Matthews’ Catholic Church.

The registration link for the upcoming Just Action event is now available here: bit.ly/47aNaFR

Flyers and other materials for the event can be found below: