Digital Commons Network^™

Birthing While Black: The Color Of Care And Black Women’S Lived Experiences Giving Birth In The United States, Portia Cowlings

Theses and Dissertations

Black women in the United States face disproportionate maternal health outcomes during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Despite advancements in healthcare, the United States continues to report the highest maternal mortality rates among high-income developed nations, with Black women experiencing rates up to three times higher than their White counterparts. This phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of Black women in the United States to understand how they navigate the continuum of maternal healthcare, from preconception through postpartum. Guided by the social determinants of health (SDOH) theoretical framework, childbirth was examined through four interconnected …

One Move, Many Wins: Green Social Housing As A Solution For Housing Insecurity And Residential Energy Inefficiency In New Haven, Ct, Arinze Colin Agu

Public Health Theses

This thesis explores the dual challenges of housing insecurity and residential energy inefficiency in New Haven, Connecticut, and advances green social housing as a transformative policy response. Through a qualitative research design that integrates semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and policy review, the study uncovers the structural conditions that drive unaffordable, unhealthy, and energy-inefficient housing for low- and moderate-income residents. The findings reveal that high utility costs, poor building infrastructure, and disempowering tenant–landlord dynamics are not isolated issues but manifestations of deeper systemic inequities in housing and energy governance. Green social housing emerges as a strategic intervention that aligns sustainable building …

Addressing Anti-Black Racism In Library And Information Science Curriculum: A Canadian-Centric Learning Model, Amber Matthews

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Canadian communities are facing a crisis of inequity, and library service providers must do more to respond to the causal conditions of anti-Black and other forms of systemic racism (Black & Mehra, 2023). Beginning in 2022, the first known Canadian MLIS course, Anti-Racism in Library and Information Science, was piloted at Western University. It aimed to allow students to engage with transformative and collaborative anti-racism frameworks relevant to the Canadian library sector and MLIS curriculum. The one-semester (13-week) course was offered once each summer in 2022 and 2023. The multi-faceted course aimed to equip students with community-based approaches to learning …

A Scoring Approach For Evaluating And Ranking Complete Streets Projects, Eirini Stavropoulou

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

Complete Streets is a vital strategy for developing an equitable transportation network that provides access to all users and transportation options to communities. A growing interest in this concept has been noted in the United States, with over 1,700 Complete Streets-related policies implemented nationwide. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has developed the “Complete Streets, Roads, and Highways Manual” and the “Complete Streets Policy” aiming to promote a safer and more inclusive transportation system statewide through Complete Streets implementation. A recent KYTC initiative was the development of a scorecard to systematically evaluate Complete Streets projects competing for funding. The scorecard is …

Contagion Chronicles: A Spatiotemporal Analysis Of Armed Conflict And Infectious Disease, Devyn Escalanti

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

This dissertation examines the relationship between armed conflict and infectious disease transmission through a novel theoretical framework that integrates ecological disturbance and health systems resilience theories into epidemiological contexts. The framework conceptualizes diseases along a continuum from "pulse" to "press." Pulse diseases, like Ebola, are characterized by sudden onset, high mortality, and short-term outbreaks. Press diseases, like HIV, progress gradually with lower mortality and long-term persistence. Grounded in this pulse–press disease typology and ecological and health systems resilience, the theory suggests that the absorptive capacity, adaptive capacity, and resilience of community health workers in conflict areas can influence disease transmission, …

Strengthening Community Resilience Towards Infrastructure Disruptions Due To Hurricanes, Tasnuba Binte Jamal

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Extreme events such as hurricanes can significantly disrupt infrastructures, leading to negative impacts on productivity, economy, and social wellbeing. Understanding community resilience against infrastructure disruptions in response to such events is crucial for effective preparedness, mitigation, and recovery efforts. The overarching problem addressed in this dissertation centers around enhancing community resilience against infrastructure disruptions due to hurricanes. Community resilience is defined as the ability of a community to return to normalcy following a disaster. One way to enhance community resilience is to strengthen its critical lifelines and infrastructure services (e.g., power, water, transportation, internet) and capital—to reduce the likelihood of …

Addressing Barriers To Preventive Healthcare Access Through Community Outreach In Underserved Populations, Deneisha Sparks

Theses and Dissertations

Access to preventive healthcare is a significant public health challenge, particularly for underserved populations in Muscogee County, Georgia. This project addresses systemic barriers such as transportation, limited health education, and economic constraints, which contribute to health disparities and reliance on emergency room services. Guided by the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) framework and the Health Belief Model (HBM), the project aims to enhance access to preventive care, improve health literacy and identify barriers to healthcare access.

This program evaluation report examined a community-based initiative that utilized a mobile health unit to improve access to preventive healthcare in underserved areas of …

Community Perceptions Of Police Capacity And Police Legitimacy In Seattle: Are They Connected?, Rafail Markodimitrakis

Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Theses

Police legitimacy is of ongoing concern for police agencies in their interactions with the public. Police legitimacy is impacted by a range of factors. After the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent protests calling for systemic changes in policing, police legitimacy ratings declined in the United States. In the city of Seattle, police legitimacy ratings declined dramatically coinciding with an historical decrease in police staffing leading to a staffing crisis. The current study aims to investigate how community perceptions of police capacity in Seattle impact community perceptions of police legitimacy at citywide, precinct and neighborhood levels. Quantitative and qualitative …

Bank Of America Foundation Fellowship 2015–2024, Bank Of America Foundation, Notre Dame Law School

Student, Faculty, and Staff Awards

The Bank of American Foundation Fellowship, launched in 2015, covers the cost of salary and benefits for two graduating class members to work for two years at a city agency or nonprofit organization of their choice. The fellows’ work must advance community sustainability and provide legal services to low-income or underrepresented populations.

Empowering Reproductive Health & Access To Enhance College Student Well-Being: A Mixed Methods Community Engaged Proposal, Allison Maladore

CGU Theses & Dissertations

This study is a proposal developed in response to the need for the expansion of reproductive health services in institutions of higher education. College-age young adults in the age group of 18 to 24 are particularly vulnerable to unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and participate in risky behaviors such as alcohol usage and illicit drug consumption which can increase the likelihood of unsafe sexual behaviors. Reproductive healthcare access is linked to academic success, improved health outcomes, and holistic well-being. The proposal utilizes a community-engaged socioecological approach to create a roadmap and implementation plan to expand reproductive services and access to …

Exploring The Benefits, Barriers, And Sustainability Of Community Stem Partnerships: A Qualitative Case Study On Stem Collaboration In Elementary Education, Katherine M. Blagden

Open Access Dissertations

In an era of increasing emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, elementary schools often face significant challenges in implementing high-quality, integrated STEM instruction. These challenges include limited resources, inconsistent professional development, and a lack of access to real-world, community-based learning experiences (Dorph et al., 2018; National Science Board, 2024). This dissertation explores how collaborative partnerships among elementary schools, community organizations, and industry professionals can overcome these barriers and foster meaningful, sustainable STEM learning opportunities for young students. Drawing on the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) model (Kretzmann & McKnight, 1993) and informed by a constructivist theoretical framework (Vygotsky, …

The Inevitable Rise And Liberation Of Bipoc Community At Cal Poly Humboldt: A Historical Storytelling Timeline, Fernando Paz

Humboldt Journal of Social Relations

"The Historical Storytelling Timeline (HST) emerged as a central initiative in Cal Poly Humboldt's efforts to support and inform the Institutional Anti-Racism Call to Action Plan (IARCAP). Guided by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI), the HST not only chronicles the university's history of activism but also digitizes these efforts to ensure accessibility for future generations. This timeline is a commitment to honoring past struggles and successes..."

Energy Transitions In Underserved Communities: Meaningful Engagement To Address Energy Burdens And Air Pollution, Nyasha Milanzi

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This report presents two connected studies focused on environmental justice and community engagement in energy transitions. The first study examines engagement practices in EPA-funded projects using interviews and public abstracts. Applying the EngageINFEWS framework, it analyses stakeholder dynamics and offers recommendations for working with underserved communities. Key insights include addressing power imbalances, securing funding, building capacity, and fostering communication. The second study centres on the REJuST project, which supports energy justice in a rural northern community impacted by public health concerns linked to a bioenergy facility burning wood, paper, plastics, and tire-derived fuels. I use survey data to explore resident …

Investigating Dimensions Of Social Vulnerability To Wildfire: A Case Study Of Western Montana, Ella Brodowski

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Communities across the US are facing increased wildfire risks due in part to historic fire suppression efforts, a warming climate, and an influx of people residing in wildland urban interface (WUI) landscapes. Because of these increasing risks, there have been growing concerns about the social factors that can increase individual and community vulnerability to wildfires. This research adds to the discussion of social vulnerability by examining how people living in a geographic area with heightened wildfire risk think about the ways in which people can be more or less vulnerable to wildfires. Using semi-structured interviews, round table discussions, and field …

World As Other, World As Self: Beyond Dualism In Environmental Narratives, Tamara Wallace Ramirez

CGU Theses & Dissertations

Stories of place matter to the way we live with the Earth. A dualistic perspective that pits "culture" against "nature" enables environmental degradation on small and large scales. Conversely, understanding humans and nonhumans as entwined allows us to think and act differently with our planetary community. This view entails integrating the "self" and the "other." Instead of being antithetical to the other, the self arises through engagement with others, human and nonhuman. Understanding our mutuality with others while respecting their alterity and agency fosters caring and dedication. Our sense of connection with the more-than-human world inspires our compassion. However, such …

Community-Led Design Thinking Facilitators Guide, Jacqueline Roebuck Sakho

Books

This guide helps facilitate community planning sessions centering your neighbors’ voices, experiences, and solutions.

Balancing Authenticity And Adaptive Reuse : Resident-Centric Conservation Strategies For Huizhou Traditional Dwellings, Weiyi Zhang, Nooriati Taib, Mariati Taib

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Amid rapid urbanization and modernization, traditional Huizhou dwellings face significant challenges in balancing the preservation of architectural authenticity with the practical needs of adaptive reuse. This study investigates the tensions between maintaining cultural and structural integrity and meeting evolving lifestyle and functional demands. Adopting a resident-centered perspective, the research employs a quantitative survey method, collecting 390 valid responses from two UNESCO-listed villages. A structural equation model (SEM) is used to examine the influence of conservation status, government policy, value recognition, and authenticity on residents’ perceptions of adaptive reuse. While findings indicate strong resident support for preserving traditional architectural styles and …

A Comparative Analysis Of 21st Century Housing Development Planning In Asian Metropolises, Montouch Maglumtong, Kundoldibya Panitchpakdi, Querida Khotcharee

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Housing development planning in the 21st century involves addressing diverse challenges and opportunities across different regions of the world. Asia is the fastest-growing economic region, with many metropolises containing vast housing and urban development, including high-density living, aging populations, economic disparities, and natural disasters. This article aims to analyze and compare the housing development in the 21st century in major Asian metropolises, including Beijing, Tokyo, Singapore, and Bangkok, specifically in terms of housing policies, housing organizations, and laws and regulations. The study used secondary data from documents, research, theses, and related articles, along with interviews of experts to synthesize the …

Dwelling With The Fault : Cultural Landscape And Spatial Formation In Kampung Batu Lonceng, Indonesia, Widjaja Martokusumo, Rr. Diah Asih Purwaningrum, Medria Shekar Rani, M. Zaini Dahlan, Budi Faisal, Izazaya Binta, Irwan Meilano, Hirohide Kobayashi

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Since UNESCO formalized the concept of cultural landscapes in 1992, heritage discourse has shifted from monument-centric approaches toward values-based perspectives that foreground the dynamic interplay among people, place, and ecology. Within this framework, cultural landscapes offer a critical lens for understanding rural settlements not only as spatial configurations but also as embodiments of intangible knowledge and ecological adaptation.  This study investigates Kampung Batu Lonceng, a vernacular settlement situated along the active Lembang Fault in West Java, Indonesia. With historical traces dating back to the Neolithic period, the kampung exemplifies how spatial formation is shaped simultaneously by geomorphological vulnerabilities and long-standing …

An Educational Framework For The Disruptive Technologies And Their Integration In The Un Sdgs Curriculum, Tulsi Pawan Fowdur, Aishani Radhakeesoon

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Disruptive technologies such as 5G, AI, IoT, cloud computing, and blockchain are revolutionizing life on our planet and at the same time contributing immensely towards sustainable development and the achievement of the UN SDGs. Nowadays, optimizing the management of resources in various fields such as manufacturing, education, health, transportation etc. in a much more efficient way is possible. This can be achieved by capturing a wealth of real-time data via IoT sensors with the ultra-reliable and low latency connections provided by 5G. Additionally, with cloud computing, blockchain, and AI, these real-time systems can securely transmit, store, and analyze a massive …

The Impacts Of Technology-Led Event Sustainability Consumption Values On Personal Social Responsibility And Collective Psychological Outcomes, Man Fung, Stephanie Lee

Department of Hospitality and Business Management

This study investigates how technology-led event sustainability consumption values (TESCVs) influence attendees’ attitudes toward sustainable music events, personal social responsibility, and collective psychological outcomes. Surveying 450 participants at technologically advanced music events in South Korea, it identifies technology-led accessibility, emotional, epistemic, and social values significantly influencing attitudes toward sustainable events. These positive attitudes correlate with increased social well-being, global identity, and civic engagement through personal social responsibility. Environmental activism partially moderated effects, but collectivism orientation did not significantly affect the outcomes. Findings highlight TESCVs’ role in promoting a sustainable event culture, offering insights for researchers, event organizers, and destination marketers.

From Choice To Justice: Examining The Intertwined Oppression Of Abortion Restriction And Family Policing, Casey Callahan

Public Interest Law Reporter

No abstract provided.

When Coalitions Do Not Form: The Disability Movement And The Sustainability Movement In Congressional Hearings, Samantha Lavenhagen

American Studies Honors Papers

This thesis examines why and how the disability issue network has traditionally been excluded from the legislative process. The integration of the disability issue network into congressional hearings demonstrates larger themes of power and respect in politics and society. Whether through quotes, statements for the record, or testifying as a witness, issue networks influence lawmakers and lawmaking, building and maintaining relationships with Congress Members and other issue networks. This integration of the disability issue network into congressional hearings reveals larger themes of power and respect in politics and society. More specifically, this thesis investigates the absence of disability organizations from …

Navigating Acculturation: Opportunities, Challenges, And Community Support For African Immigrants In The U.S., Sharitah Nalule

Theses and Dissertations

African immigrants in the United States encounter complex acculturation challenges that are often shaped by systemic barriers such as language exclusion, financial insecurity, limited employment access, and time-restricted support services. This qualitative study explores how African immigrants experience the acculturation process and how community-based programs support or fall short in supporting their acculturation. Semi-structured individual interviews with Somali immigrants and community practitioners in the Midwest. While most African immigrant narratives reflect the experiences of Somali immigrants, practitioners provide insight into the broader African immigrant population based on their work with diverse African immigrant clients. Findings revealed three central themes: (1) …

Reimagining Public Art In Thailand : Policy, Practice And Sustainability, Pawinee Boonserm, Nantida Chandransu

Journal of Urban Culture Research

This research examines how governments promote public art through funding, mandate spaces and research support using international case studies. However, challenges such as centralized funding and restrictions on artistic expression persist. The study proposes a framework for "public art" within fine arts, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and sustainable practices in Thailand. It underscores the importance of collaborative creativity, community engagement, and policy advocacy for a thriving public art landscape. Findings reveal the potential of public art to address societal challenges, foster social healing, and contribute to cultural preservation and economic development. Recommendations include promoting decentralized, community-led initiatives, establishing supportive policies, and …

Bridging Gaps With Occupational Therapy: The Unique Role Of Occupational Therapy In Women’S Day Shelters, Alex Sato

Doctoral Projects

Homelessness is a multifaceted, complex issue that we face as a society. Mainstream services provided to homeless or vulnerable populations tend to focus on housing and basic services. While these are essential and meaningful, literature suggests there is a lack in trauma and self-care support (Marzana et al., 2023; Milaney et al., 2020). Looking through an Occupational Therapy (OT) lens, there are a multitude of ways the profession can provide holistic care. Current OT service provision within this population most commonly focuses on obtaining and maintaining housing and addressing the survival occupations these individuals may be engaging in (Cunningham & …

The Effects Of Calcium Availability On Growth And Calcium Content Of Hydroponic Daikon Radish Microgreens, Cory Michael Reichmuth

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Microgreens are young, edible seedlings harvested upon emergence of the first true leaf. Their popularity is growing as a nutritionally dense food source that can be grown quickly in space-efficient systems. However, little is known about optimal cultivation practices and the effects of fertilization on growth and nutrition of microgreens. This study investigates the role of calcium (Ca) fertilization in optimizing the growth, yield, and nutrient content of daikon radish (Raphanus sativus) microgreens. A hydroponic system was designed to consistently deliver nutrient solution to microgreens grown in a closed-environment chamber. This study tested different Ca fertilization rates of 0, 5, …

Studentification And Off-Campus Housing: A Case Study Of Grand Forks Near-Campus Neighborhoods, Alva Lindstroem

Theses and Dissertations

With national trends in higher education experiencing dwindling enrollments and personal economies increasingly strained, the University of North Dakota (UND) has grown to become the biggest public higher education institution in North Dakota, having effectively bounced back from the COVID-19 pandemic drop in enrollment. Grand Forks, North Dakota, is the host of UND and home to a student body of over 14,000 as of 2023 fall semester. This study focuses on; to what extent is studentification taking place in Grand Forks, ND; and how the observed housing- and demographic patterns in Grand Forks align with, or diverge from, the broader …

Digital Transformation: The Need For A Sustainable Green Culture In African Higher Education Institutions, Cheryl Akinyi Genga, Sunday Samson Babalola

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Digital transformation (DT) continuously affects individuals and organisations. African Higher Education Institutions (AHEIs) must prioritise robust IT infrastructure to enhance research, modernise teaching, and improve learning experiences in the digital era. Despite policies and programs promoting digital education, AHEIs face challenges in fully implementing DT because of unimplemented policies and the persistent digital divide. DT, driven by technological progress, is crucial for achieving environmental, economic, and social sustainability goals. This includes integrating sustainability into curricula, assessing institutional leaders' commitment to sustainability, and adopting eco-friendly campus practices. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are strategic concerns affecting institutional culture, research, teaching, and …

Collections As Data: A Data Literacy Tool For Community Engagement, Daria Orlowska, Lynn Houghton

University Libraries Faculty & Staff Publications

The Collections as Data initiative begun by Thomas Padilla strives to reframe digital objects as data that is community-oriented, contextualized for easy reusability, and empowering reimagination in creative ways. In an effort to increase the accessibility of University Libraries archival collections to researchers and students, we began investigating the feasibility of this initiative on our campus using the digitized South Haven Lighthouse Log Collection as a starting point. The lighthouse logs are a series of digitized journals originally compiled at South Pierhead Light in South Haven, Michigan, recording passing vessels, weather remarks and lighthouse expenditures between 1878-1892. A collection assessment …