Social Justice Commons^™

Talking About Writing: Scenes Of Writing Workshops In History And Practice, Erika Luckert

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation envisions the writing workshop as a space where we do essential political and social work—where we can reimagine writing, and the teaching of writing, in more interdependent and inclusive ways. This research responds to the work of BIPOC writers and scholars who have urged those of us in Writing Studies to address the homogeneity of the workshop’s history, and to revise its exclusionary logics. Drawing on interviews and observations of teachers in undergraduate creative writing and composition classrooms across the United States, the author examines what actually happens when students talk together about their in-progress writing. This dissertation …

Cultural And Structural Barriers Of Utilizing Mental Health Services In A School-Based Setting For Latinx Populations, Silvia Lozano, Bridgette Guadalupe Calderon

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This qualitative research study aimed to reduce mental health service disparities in Latinx communities and helps fill in the gap by addressing cultural and structural barriers to utilizing MHS in a school-based setting for Latinx youth. There is limited research regarding Latinx parents’ perspectives and the reservations they have on utilizing school-based mental health services (MHS) for their children. This study identified six important themes: cultural factors, trust and rapport, reservations, access and awareness, parental involvement and challenges, and school-based resources. Implications for school districts are that they can use these findings to increase early intervention mental behavioral health programs …

Developing More Useful Equity Measurements For Flood-Risk Management, Adam Pollack, Casey Helgeson, Carolyn Kousky, Klaus Keller

Dartmouth Scholarship

Decision-makers increasingly invoke equity to motivate, design, implement and evaluate strategies for managing flood risks. Unfortunately, there is little guidance on how analysts can develop measurements that support these tasks. Here we analyse how equity can be defined and measured by surveying 167 peer-reviewed publications that explicitly state an interest in equity in the context of flood-risk management. Our main result is a taxonomy that systematizes how equity has been, and can be, defined and measured in flood-risk research. The taxonomy embodies how equity is a pluralistic and unavoidably ethical concept. Despite this, we find that most quantitative studies fail …

Did Fellows, Aliyat Adeboye '24, Rachel Medeiros '25, Bryn Morgan '24, Alexandra Delano '25, Amari Mims '25, Johandalys Montas '25, Sofia Lamas '24, Ella Mcintire '24

Global Studies Student Scholarship

DID Fellows (27)

Alexandra Delano ’25, Biology major
Amari Mims ’25, Biology major
Daniel Singh ’26, Psychology major
Connor Flynn ’25, Political Science major
Aliyat Adeboye ’24, Health Policy and Management major
Johandalys Montas ’25, Economics and Global Studies major
Sofia Lamas ’24, Health Policy and Management major
Ella McIntire ’24, History major
Rachel Medeiros ’25, Marketing and Sociology major
Bryn Morgan  ’24, Marketing major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Nicholas Longo, Global Studies

The Social Contract And Feminism, Grace A. Albertson

Helm's School of Government Conference - 2021-2024

This paper seeks to prove the value placed on women in society, and disprove the claim that the social contract is inherently patriarchal. Radical feminists claim that society as a whole is irreparably flawed and operates patriarchally. Therefore, they call for a systematic shift and condemn the current fabric of our society and nation. The social contract, an idea centered around the philosophical works of John Locke and Thomas Hobbes served as the primary way that the founders of the United States justified the formation of American democracy and had immense influence on American political thought. However, feminists seek to …

"'What The Suffering Was Like': Digital Affect In The Act Up Oral History Project, Margaret Sullivan

Remembrance: A Journal of Queer Culture, Information, and Preservation

This article considers The ACT UP Oral History Project as an affective site that renders visible the impact of loss and suffering. Focusing on the archive’s filmic and computer-mediated interviews, and placing both in conversation with memory and queer identity studies, I demonstrate that the Oral History Project, as a discursive space, invites its audience into a felt physical contact with grief, loss, anger, and rage.

"There Is Power In Being Out": A Three Article Approach Celebrating The Experiences Of Queer University Leaders, Andrew R. E. Lorenzana

Dissertations

Institutions of higher education were historically built to serve a wealthy, White, straight male student population and the leaders of these institutions still largely reflect these demographics. This project specifically aims to celebrate and amplify the life and career of university administrators who identify within the LGBTQ community. Mainly through the use of a portraiture methodology, this three-article study attempts to examine the ways in which LGBTQ identity and career influence one another.

Worldmaking and narrative will be used as a theoretical frame to help analyze the ways in which the telling of a queer individual’s story makes the world …

The Contributions Of Nuevomexicanas To New Mexico Lowrider Culture, Traditions, And Rituals: The Significance Of Young Chicana Cultural Pachuca And Chola Aesthetics And Identity Expression In The Albuquerque Lowrider Community, Valerie J. Chavez

Chicana and Chicano Studies ETDs

The lowrider community in Albuquerque creates a space for families and individuals to gather and express themselves within Chicana/o/x culture. Nuevomexicanas have played a significant role in the teaching and preservation of the New Mexican traditions and rituals of lowriding. This research project is a visual and plática-based study. It explores how young Nuevomexicanas express their Chicana identity through la pachuca and chola cultural aesthetics and identity while actively participating in lowrider culture. This project utilizes the research methods of la resolana, querencia, and plática to understand, discover, and document the roles of young Nuevomexicanas in the Albuquerque …

Education For Sustainable Development Competencies In A Community-Engaged Art Workshop, Amy J. Schmierbach

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Arts participation can expand empathy and cognitive growth capacity while creating a social bond and communal meaning (McCarthy et al., 2004). As an art instructor for over twenty years, I have witnessed the bonds that can be created through collaborative art experiences. These bonds are nurtured from a space of equity and inclusion. Teaching a community-engaged art course can bring these qualities into the community, allowing university students to use their art skills in real-world applications to impact society through experiential learning art practices. Making art with others will enable us to help others build empathy and social bonds that …

Promoting Sustainability At The Branch Of Nashville Through Volunteer Training Visuals, Ainsley P. Foster, Nick Wilson, Sophia Vickers

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

The Branch of Nashville is a nonprofit organization that aims to provide comprehensive care to the diverse neighborhoods of Nashville, TN through food, ELL services, and individualized support. The services and resources that this organization provides are essential to the acclimation and thriving of vulnerable groups in their new communities. The volunteers at The Branch play a pivotal role in ensuring that each client is welcomed into the community and has their needs appropriately addressed. Thus, there is a need for volunteers to undergo adequate training to feel confident in performing these roles. The Branch, however, currently lacks training materials …

Educación Superior Y Construcción De La Memoria Política: Estudio De Caso Vertical En El Instituto De Historia De La Pontificia Universidad Católica De Valparaíso, Anastacia L. Tremper

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Fifty years later, Chilean society still continues to struggle with underlying political cleavages resulting from the complex historical effects of the Pinochet dictatorship (1973-1989) which can be seen in educational curricula that address this historical period of Chilean History. Studies conducted on primary educational systems note the lack of discussion or full disclosure of the events that transpired during the military government, emphasizing a type of ‘memory regime’ based on omission and silence about aspects of this period, yet there is a lack in post-secondary studies of this same phenomenon. This paper aims to bridge the inherent lack by conducting …

Thomas Merton: The Connection Between Contemplation And Activism, Leslea Linebarger

Religious & Theological Studies Student Work

Thomas Merton believed that there was a necessary connection between our inner lives and our outer presence in the world. As a cloistered monk, he became known as a major voice for contemplation, perhaps his greatest gift to spirituality. But in the 1960’s as national and international tensions were becoming increasingly volatile, Thomas Merton began some of his most challenging writing, boldly speaking out against war and violence. This paper will examine his path from cloistered monk to political activist as visible in his own spiritual journey and throughout his writings. It will also ask what lessons his life and …

On Fire And Water: The Intersection Of Wetlands And Burning Strategies In Managing The Anthropogenic Plant Communities Of Yosemite National Park, Douglas Deur, Rochelle Bloom

Anthropology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The existing literature confirms that Native American tribes historically enhanced culturally preferred plant communities through periodic burning in what is today Yosemite National Park; in turn, beginning with nineteenth-century park development, fire suppression contributed to conifer and shrub encroachment on anthropogenic meadows and other culturally significant habitats. However, we contend that traditional burning practices cannot be understood without considering the pronounced cultural role of wetland habitats and species, and the intersection between burning practices and wetland plant communities among tribes of the Sierra Nevada Range. Our ethnographic investigations revealed that a majority of culturally important plants identified by tribal members …

Analyzing The Intersectionality Of Race And Socioeconomics In Foster Care And Child Welfare, Isabella Gallardo

Political Science Theses and Capstones

Racial disparities continue to persist in the child welfare system, resulting in disproportionate representation and differential treatment for children from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. Understanding the root causes, systemic factors, biases, and consequences of these disparities is vital for discovering solutions to ensure fair and equitable treatment for all children. I synthesize existing research conducted on racial disparities in child welfare, delving into systemic factors, biases, and their consequences. The dataset I most utilized is from the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect (NDACAN). Correlation analysis was used to show the relationship between racial disproportionality and systematic …

Cops/Metro Alliance - Stmu Oral Histories With Sister Gabriella Lohan, Gabriella Parra

COPS/Metro

Sister Gabriella Lohan discusses her background in education. She explains how she became involved with COPS and some initiatives she has worked on. She discusses what she has experienced in her time with COPS.

Cops/Metro Alliance - Stmu Oral Histories With Lizzy Gore, Gabriella Parra

COPS/Metro

Lizzy Gore discusses her time with COPS and the extended network of social organizations as well as her background in education. She explores how her education has affected her role as an organizer and what she has learned through organizing. She also discusses her personal background and future hopes for COPS initiatives.

Cops/Metro Alliance - Stmu Oral Histories With Sister Rita Nealon, Barbara Ortiz

COPS/Metro

Rita Nealon shares her experiences with COPS/Metro over her years in San Antonio. She talked about COPS success and the key role women played in challenging the status quo and advocating for the needs of their community. She talked about actively working within her community for affordable housing, gun control and voter turnout. She hopes the organization will continue to focus on local issues and empower marginalized communities.

Cops/Metro Alliance-Stmu Oral Histories With Rose Araujo-Iracheta, Barbara Ortiz

COPS/Metro

Rose Araujo-Iracheta shared some of her experiences with COPS/Metro advocating for community needs, focusing on persistence, collaboration and resilience. She emphasized the role that social justice plays in her motivation to assist co-workers, neighbors, school districts and all communities of San Antonio.

Cops/Metro Alliance-Stmu Oral Histories With Sister Gabriella Lohan, Kensley Dieckow

COPS/Metro

In the oral history interview of Sr. Gabriella Lohan, she discusses San Antonio’s social and political history, as well as the role COPS / Metro Alliance has played in reaching marginalized communities across the city. Over time, COPS / Metro has adapted to new issues like education and fair banking, reflecting changing community needs while staying true to its core mission of empowering citizens and promoting democracy. Throughout the interview, Sr. Lohan explored the role her faith has played throughout her life’s work in social justice.

Cops/Metro Alliance - Stmu Oral Histories With Linda Davila, Kensley Dieckow

COPS/Metro

In the oral history interview of Linda Davila, she reflects on her involvement with COPS, starting from its early days in 1974 when the organization tackled issues like flooding, to her recent efforts, as a leader from St. Timothy Parish, in advocating for affordable housing. Linda discusses the importance of community listening sessions and the role personal stories played in her passion for social justice. Despite changes in community support and expansion of COPS / Metro's reach across San Antonio, the organization remains dedicated to listening to community needs and relationship building. Looking ahead, Linda sees COPS / Metro continuing …

Cops/Metro Alliance-Stmu Oral Histories With Sister Bernadette Barrett, Qiuying Chen

COPS/Metro

Sister Bernadette Barrett shared her thoughts about the racial shift and demographic change in COPS/Metro and San Antonio. Furthermore, she discusses how COPS/Metro uses diverse voices in its decision-making process and empowers young people and minority groups to come to the table with high-ranking city executives. Lastly, Sr. Bernadette reflects on her takeaways from her work in community organizing with COPS/Metro.

Cops/Metro Alliance-Stmu Oral Histories With Rose Araujo-Iracheta, Gabriella Parra

COPS/Metro

Rose Araujo-Iracheta shared some of her experiences with COPS/Metro advocating for community needs, focusing on persistence, collaboration and resilience. She emphasized the role that social justice plays in her motivation to assist co-workers, neighbors, school districts and all communities of San Antonio.

Cops/Metro Alliance-Stmu Oral Histories With Christina Castro, Theresa Pohl

COPS/Metro

Christina Castro spoke about the impact that COPS has had on the city of San Antonio and the surrounding neighborhood. The topics included; housing, corporate meetings, flood control, community impact, and more.

Cops/Metro Alliance-Stmu Oral Histories With Christina Castro, Sarah Neal

COPS/Metro

Christina talks about a man who died in a house fire because he had no city services (water, electricity, etc.) She mentioned how sewers would back up into people's kitchens during major rain events. Christina talks about how COPS mentored one woman, Julia Sanchez, in particular so that she could present at City Hall. This lady told her story which helped pass a bond to get the flooding and sewers fixed. Christina also talked about the need for Senior Housing and the building of “market rate” apartments which did not help the seniors because they could not afford the market …

Cops/Metro Alliance-Stmu Oral Histories With Linda Davila, Theresa Pohl

COPS/Metro

Linda Davila spoke about the impact that COPS has had on the city of San Antonio and the surrounding neighborhood. The topics included storytelling, involvement, disagreements, community impact, and more.

The Future Is Here, Kazi Uzayr Razin

Audre Lorde Prize

This essay explores the devastating impacts that global warming currently has on women living in the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest globally, located in South Asia. Womanist ideas are employed to identify the underlying injustices within environmental policies like the Paris Agreement, which undermine the effects of climate change in the global south. Initiatives led by women in vulnerable regions are then shared to offer ideas for improvement.

Naturalist Thomas Hardy's Inadvertent Support Of The Gospel Narrative When Portraying Sexual Abuse And Shame In Tess Of The D'Urbervilles, Hannah Carmichael

Master of Arts in Classical Studies

In his novel Tess of the D’Urbervilles, the naturalist author Thomas Hardy attempts to critique the 19th-century Christian perspective on sexual abuse. Instead, he inadvertently critiques legalism, exposing it as the antithesis of true Christianity. Secular scholars believe that Hardy’s novel is blaming the Victorian era’s sexual ignorance for the stigma and shame surrounding sexual abuse. Christian scholars believe that Hardy’s naturalistic worldview simply lacks a moral standard. However, I believe that Hardy’s novel exposes an issue far deeper than sexual ignorance and lacks something far more substantive than a moral standard; his novel addresses the devastating consequences of …

Between Pages And Politics: An Interdisciplinary Exploration Of Book Bans, Hannah Morrison

Department of English: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Across the United States, school boards are being inundated with requests to ban books. While these conversations are often localized, what the rise in censorship across the country suggests is that there is a fierce movement behind censoring young adult literature. What is frequently erased in these campaigns are stories of people of color and queer communities, alongside topics such as sexuality, drugs, or violence. The presiding conclusion within childhood studies on how we have reached a point where censorship is abundantly common in American schools is that public discourse views children as less than or not fully formed, thus …

Lessons On Racism: The Senior Prom At The Elks Club, Donna M. Hughes

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

No abstract provided.

Cops/Metro Alliance - Stmu Oral Histories With Christina Castro, Barbara Ortiz

COPS/Metro

Christina Castro shared some of her experiences with COPS/Metro advocating for resources and addressing substandard living conditions. She discussed her involvement in various social justice initiatives, including advocating for affordable housing, school tax abatements, and accessible neighborhood libraries. She spoke of the importance faith has in driving her activism. Christina also shared some memorable moments of empowerment, delivering community wins for educational partnerships scholarships, after-school programs, and economic development projects.