Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Bridging Arab American Diaspora: A Case For Social Support Programming, Elham Sliman

School of Public Policy Capstones

Berry (1980) refers to acculturation as a model for adaptation, and states that there are different levels of acculturation “moving with or toward, moving against and moving away from a stimulus” (p. 13). Arab immigrants have been coming to America on a small scale since the beginning of the twentieth century; however, immigration has steadily increased due to the political developments in the Middle East. Stereotypes of Arabs and post-September 11th sentiments have led to heightened discrimination and racism toward Arab Americans. Studies indicate that racial and ethnic discrimination lead to psychological distress. Of thirty-seven nonprofit organizations identified; twelve senior …

Cost-Benefit Analysis Of The Biochar Application In The U.S. Cereal Crop Cultivation, Nataliya Kulyk

School of Public Policy Capstones

Increasing global warming and food insecurity give ample rationale for research on biochar in view of its properties: enhancement of soil fertility and crop productivity, soil water retention and carbon sequestration. As a new technology the introduction of biochar into farming faces challenges and uncertainties, which are highlighted in the report along with the policy implications. Biochar is a type of charcoal created through pyrolysis of biomass. It is a carbonaceous substance produced with the intent to apply to soil for agricultural and environmental management. Biochar use and production can be deemed a mere business activity that should be ruled …

Upgrading The American Labor Relations System: An Analysis Of Several Alternatives, Zane Farr

School of Public Policy Capstones

The American labor relations system does not adequately provide employee representation to the degree demanded by employee preferences. Moving to a nonexclusive representation system would extend the right to organize and collectively bargain to many workers who cannot practically exercise their rights, but should be implemented incrementally by allowing minority unions where a majority representative is not already certified. This change to the interpretation of labor law would undoubtedly increase union membership and density, but may also reduce the conflictual nature of American labor relations and lead to labor force that is more productive for employers and more stable for …

Outsmart Invasive Species, Evan Piche

School of Public Policy Capstones

This paper asserts that social media may be an effective supplement to traditional media in a volunteer recruitment campaign. I conduct a detailed study to assess the impact of various social media interventions, and offer a detailed analysis of the findings. I conclude with recommendations for organizations interested in using social media to promote a cause. The results of this study support the idea that social media outlets, like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blogs can be used to supplement – but not supplant – traditional forms of marketing in a volunteer recruitment campaign.

Partnerstat? Performance Measurementand Management Forinter-Municipal Partnerships, Christina Mills

School of Public Policy Capstones

In April of 2010, the Massachusetts Regionalization Advisory Commission issued its findings advocating for inter-local partnerships in eleven specific areas. The study found that “as the costs of government services rise faster than available revenues and cities and towns struggle to provide essential services, regionalization and collaboration become more palatable to municipalities wishing to deliver essential local services more economically and efficiently” (Massachusetts Regionalization Advisory Commission, 2010, p. 43).

This research seeks to assess in what ways, to what extent and for what reason could and should a municipal performance measurement and management model, like the ‘Stat’ model, be adopted …

Chief Jolly Project: Creatingan Arts And Culture Nonprofit/Social Enterprise, Kristin Neville

School of Public Policy Capstones

The Chief Jolly Project seeks to use music and cultural arts to improve the opportunities for youth growing up amidst poverty and violence in the city of New Orleans; supporting personal expression and empowerment, skill development, intergenerational connection, and community building and transformation. The Project will also share the living history of this musical culture in order to preserve this heritage and promote it to broader audiences. This study explores the significance of culture in the life and economy of New Orleans, social needs that especially pertain to youth, examples and insights from other organizations and community members, and the …

Small Town Libraries And The Challenges Of Ada Compliance: Can A Small Town Create A Better Community Through Ada Compliance?, Charlene M. Coleman

School of Public Policy Capstones

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 was signed into legislation by President George Bush. This was in response to claims that earlier protections left a void for persons with disabilities. ADA is a federal law that mandates compliance and is administered through the U.S. Department of Justice. There are five Titles of the ADA: Title I, the focus is employment protections; Title II, the focus is public services and transportation; Title III, the focus is public accommodations, Title IV, the focus is telecommunications, and Title V, miscellaneous provisions. This paper addresses Title II, public services in reference to …

How Does A Socially-Driven For-Profit Balance Mission And Profit?: The Case Of Joya Bride, Marcelia Muehlke

School of Public Policy Capstones

Socially-driven businesses straddle the line between non-profits and for-profits with their dual goals of mission and profit. These goals will sometimes come into conflict—therefore a social enterprise must have policies in place to ensure a balance between profit and mission. This paper explores this topic through the case of Joya Bride, a socially-driven for-profit wedding dress company. The paper begins with a description of Joya Bride and then introduces the key research question: How does a socially-driven for-profit balance mission and profit? Next is a literature review on social enterprise, problems in the clothing industry, and women and development. A …

Toward An Electric Vehicle Policy For The University Of Massachusetts Amherst, Noeleen Nuñez

School of Public Policy Capstones

Electric vehicles (EVs) are vehicles that use electric motors for propulsion and have the potential for significant environmental impact with regard to reducing Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions, the largest contributor to global warming. With a heightened attention on “energy independence” and awareness of the effects of transportation on global warming, demand for electric vehicles is projected to rise rapidly over the next several decades. Researchers have found various ways to understand the “well-to-wheels” impact, which despite involving emissions at the source of electricity generation, still show environmental advantages over conventional fuel vehicles. Given the early lifecycle stage of this technology, …

Funding General Education Classes: Alternatives To Meet Current Umass Needs, Holly Fitzpatrick

School of Public Policy Capstones

The University of Massachusetts has identified general education requirements as being an important component of undergraduate student education. These requirements prepare them for their undergraduate education experience but perhaps more importantly for their lives beyond their university experience. UMass currently provides additional funding for teaching assistants for certain schools and colleges to aid in delivery of general education classes. Unfortunately, the funding model has not been reexamined in light of changes to general education requirements that were implemented starting with the incoming freshman class in the fall of 2010. An organizational problem exists because of the failure to examine the …

Desegregating Our Schools: Litigation Proposal, Peter Vickery

School of Public Policy Capstones

Springfield’s students of color are experiencing something that the Constitution and laws of Massachusetts have long proclaimed intolerable: racially segregated schools. The schools are segregated because the Commonwealth requires students to attend school in the communities where they reside, and those communities are segregated. The state has a duty to remedy the ongoing denial of equal educational opportunity to Springfield’s students of color, and this proposal aims to hold it accountable for that duty.

Devising policies that will produce integrated communities and schools is a task best suited for a diverse body of people with differing areas of expertise, rather …

Civic Engagement And Motivation Factors Of Participants In Snapshot, An Online Anti-Human Trafficking Initiative In China, Yan Wang

School of Public Policy Capstones

Human trafficking is a serious crime that consists of slavery in modern forms all over the world. Despite the rapid economic growth in China during the past few decades, the situation of human trafficking in China remains serious. The clandestine and secretive nature of human trafficking makes the crime hard to combat. However, in January 2011, an online anti-­‐child trafficking activism initiative named SNAPSHOT was initiated on Weibo, the Chinese version of Twitter. SNAPHOT encourages citizens to take picture of child beggars, children that are trafficked and forced to beg on the street, and upload their pictures online. The goal …

Finding A Place To Call Home: An Analysis Of Mortgage Lending In Springfield, Ma, Kyle Andrejczyk

School of Public Policy Capstones

This study proposes the research question: are banks lending in such a way that under serves the residents of Springfield, resulting in low rates of homeownership? The study finds that empirical differences in lending patterns exists between Springfield and the neighboring communities, between local and non-local banks, and between applicants of different racial and ethnic groups. Statistical analyses at the Census tract level suggest that factors like race and ethnicity do have a negative effect on rates of owner occupancy and loan originations, even when controlling for income. Models measuring the effect of the same variables on loan denials yield …