Demography, Population, and Ecology Commons^™

Cooling Deserts For Renters: Heat Equity Inside The Nyc Housing System, Tahreem Ashraf

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This study introduces the Cooling Desert Index (CDI), a composite spatial measure designed to identify census tracts in New York City where extreme heat vulnerability and structural barriers to adaptive cooling converge. Drawing on five publicly available datasets and a seven phase statistical pipeline, the CDI scores all 2,231 NYC census tracts on a continuous 0 to 100 scale by integrating heat exposure, severe rent burden, household income, racial composition, language access, disability status, and housing crowding. The analysis identifies 557 cooling deserts, defined as tracts where environmental heat risk is high and financial constraints make effective cooling structurally inaccessible, …

War Photography & The Limits Of Empathy, Andrea Shi

Student Theses and Dissertations

The proliferation of photography, particularly war and poverty photography, has had massive implications for the level of vividness with which Americans are able to picture suffering beyond their doors. The mass atrocities that have occurred since the advent of photography – that is to say, the last 200 years – are so relentlessly circulated that they feel, sometimes, as an inevitable byproduct of human nature. It’s not surprising, then, that a lot of media theory and analysis reduce the dilemma of atrocity photographs to a psychological level. Do they numb us, or do they incite empathy? Are they a call …

Typeface: Machine-Viewing Gentrification On Storefront Imagery In Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, Alexander Mcquilkin

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Gentrification—broadly, the replacement of a less powerful group by a more powerful one in an urban context—is oft-discussed in the popular press, but its definition is much-debated in the urban planning literature. Furthermore, academic treatments of displacement understandably focus on measurable yet fairly abstract indicators like changes in rent or income, whereas neighborhood change is often registered by residents on the ground using visual, but difficult-to-quantify markers like retail turnover. This project uses image recognition technology on a set of storefront photos to index the visual streetscape of a neighborhood, as well as to track changes to that portrait over …

Where Do Latinos Live In The New York City Metropolitan Area? Changing Settlement Patterns, 2000 - 2024, Laird W. Bergad

Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies

This report shows that between 2000 and 2024, the Latino population of the New York metropolitan area increased by 48% from 3,592,542 to 5,316,472 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Along with population expansion, there was a decisive change in settlement patterns among all Latinos, which, in fact, began before 2000. This was the decline of New York City as the major area of the Latino population concentration, although there were differentiations by nationality.

In 2000, 60% of all Latinos in the region lived in the City. By 2024, this had declined to 46%. And while the City’s Latino population …

Latino Economic Inequality In New York City: Income And Snap Recipiency, 2013–2023, Oswaldo A. Mena Aguilar

Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies

This Latino Data Project Report analyzes trends in the economic well-being of Latino households in New York City between 2013 and 2023, focusing on household income and participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The findings reveal a paradoxical pattern: although median Latino household income increased over the decade, economic inequality within the Latino community widened substantially. Income gains were unevenly distributed, with higher-income households pulling further ahead while the lowest-income households experienced stagnation or decline. Over the same period, Latino households fell further behind all other racial and ethnic groups in the city. Additionally, Latinos consistently exhibited the …

The State Of The Unions 2025: A Profile Of Organized Labor In New York City, New York State, And The United States, Ruth Milkman, Joseph Van Der Naald

Publications and Research

Organized labor has taken center stage in the 2020s, with workers leading successful organizing drives at Amazon, Starbucks, Apple, and across a range of industries from health care to higher education. Public approval of unions has reached its highest level in decades, and a new generation of workers is stepping forward as leaders in the movement. The State of the Unions 2025 provides the most comprehensive profile of organized labor in New York City, New York State, and the United States, highlighting where unions are growing, who is leading the charge, and how labor is shaping the future of work …

Introduction To Sociology: Deviance And Crime, Dr. Marcia Morrison Ph.D.

Open Educational Resources

Abstract

This paper explores the multifaceted concepts of deviance and crime by synthesizing major theoretical perspectives and contemporary research findings. Beginning with the fluid and culturally contingent nature of deviance, the discussion highlights how social norms, historical context, and power structures define what is considered deviant behavior. It examines the influence of economic elites on moral and legal standards, drawing on Marxist analyses, and considers the impact of societal labeling on personal identity through Lemert’s labeling theory.

The paper then delves into biological foundations of criminality, reviewing Lombroso’s atavism theory and modern research on genetic predispositions, including twin, adoption, and …

Introduction To Sociology: Race And Ethnicity, Dr. Marcia Morrison Ph.D.

Open Educational Resources

Abstract: This paper critically examines the phrase "one nation, indivisible" from the Pledge of Allegiance in light of the complex realities of race, ethnicity, and immigration in the United States. While the pledge asserts a unified national identity, this ideal is frequently undermined by systemic social, economic, and political divisions. Drawing from multicultural and sociopolitical frameworks, the paper explores how the lived experiences of marginalized groups—particularly racial and ethnic minorities and immigrant communities—reveal a fragmented national reality. The analysis engages with the implications of the 1965 Immigration Act, which, despite dismantling explicitly racist immigration quotas, restructured racial inequalities through new …

Introduction To Sociology: Socialization, Dr. Marcia Morrison Ph.D.

Open Educational Resources

Abstract

This paper offers a comprehensive examination of socialization and identity development through a comparative lens, focusing on American, Chinese, and Japanese cultures. It explores how distinct cultural values—individualism, loyalty, and cooperation—shape personal and collective identities from childhood through old age. Utilizing the life course perspective, the analysis considers how factors such as generation, socioeconomic status, race, and gender influence the trajectory of human development. The evolution of childhood is traced across historical and cultural contexts, highlighting shifting perceptions, the impact of industrialization on children's roles, and the persistent influence of class and ethnicity on access to education and well-being. …

Introduction To Sociology: Sex And Gender, Dr. Marcia Morrison Ph.D.

Open Educational Resources

Abstract

This paper explores the complex interplay between sex and gender, focusing on how societal structures, historical contexts, and cultural norms shape gender roles and expectations. Drawing on the works of influential theorists such as Margaret Mead and researchers like Maccoby and Jacklin, the discussion distinguishes between biological sex differences and socially constructed gender distinctions. The analysis highlights the pervasive influence of gender socialization through agents such as family, peers, educational institutions, and media, which collectively reinforce stereotypes and stratify opportunities for individuals. The evolution of gender stratification is traced from the post-World War II era to the present, documenting …

Introduction To Sociology: The Family, Dr. Marcia Morrison Ph.D.

Open Educational Resources

Abstract

This paper explores the evolving landscape of modern family structures, analyzing their diverse forms, core functions, and the challenges they face within contemporary society. Drawing on recent research and theoretical frameworks, it examines the transformation of parenthood—especially single fatherhood—the shifting definitions of family and kinship, and the influence of family structure on emotional security, socialization, and reproductive roles. The discussion highlights the rise of dual-career households, increased grandparental involvement, the complexities of blended and single-parent families, as well as the growing acceptance of cohabitation and child-free couples. Special attention is given to persistent social problems, such as the cycles …

Introduction To Sociology: Interaction And Social Structure, Dr. Marcia Morrison Ph.D.

Open Educational Resources

Abstract

This paper explores the intricate interplay between micro- and macro-sociological perspectives on social interaction, identity, and structure. Through an examination of theoretical approaches such as symbolic interactionism, dramaturgy, and social exchange, it highlights how individuals construct and perform identities within complex webs of social expectations—particularly shaped by factors like race, status, and role dynamics. The discussion extends to the function of social networks in influencing opportunities, notably in the context of employment, underscoring the nuanced role of weak ties. The analysis further delves into the significance of social status, distinguishing between ascribed, achieved, master, and salient statuses, and examines …

Introduction To Sociology: Culture, Dr. Marcia Morrison Ph.D.

Open Educational Resources

Abstract

A Synthesis of Sociological Perspectives on Culture and Social Evolution This paper provides an in-depth exploration of culture as a foundational element in the study of sociology, dissecting its central components—knowledge, language, symbols, values, norms, and material objects—and their profound impact on society. Through the examination of cultural integration and diversity, the analysis foregrounds the dynamic tensions between assimilation and the preservation of subcultures, illustrating how these forces shape identities, relationships, and social cohesion in contemporary contexts. The discussion offers nuanced insights into the processes by which dominant and minority cultures interact, negotiate power, and navigate the challenges of …

Introduction To Sociology: Class And Stratification, Dr. Marcia Morrison Ph.D.

Open Educational Resources

Abstract

This paper explores the intricate dynamics of class, stratification, and social inequality, emphasizing the interplay of wealth, power, and prestige in shaping individual opportunities and societal outcomes. Drawing on foundational theories from Marxist and functionalist perspectives, it examines the mechanisms by which economic and social structures reinforce or challenge class divisions. The analysis extends to the evolution of American economic disparity, particularly during the transformative 1980s, and examines policies aimed at addressing poverty, such as those articulated by Sar Levitan and the implementation of the Social Security Act. Through a nuanced discussion of cultural capital, the role of …

The Origins Of German Industrialization: The Transition To Capitalism In Prussian Agriculture, Daniel C. Colligan

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation seeks to explain the origins of German industrialization. Historical accounts of German industrialization often chronicle the process of its development but leave reasons for its initiation unexplained. Theories that have attempted to locate the roots of rapid German economic growth have been found to be empirically unsatisfactory, and thus the accepted story has defaulted to a gradualist narrative which conceptualizes economic behavior as fundamentally unchanging throughout German history. This dissertation challenges this reigning view, attempting to provide an explanation for why Germany embarked on a rapid economic growth trajectory in the nineteenth century whereas many other similarly situated …

Poverty Among New York City’S Most Vulnerable: 2000-2022, Juan Dolores Cerna, Suleyma Vergara-Tapia

Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies

This report examines the trends of poverty in New York City between the years 2000 and 2022, focusing on economically vulnerable groups such as women, children, and older adults

Methods

This report uses data for the years 2000, 2012, and 2022 released by the U.S. Census Bureau and harmonized for public use by IPUMS USA at the University of Minnesota. See Steven Ruggles, Sarah Flood, Ma hew Sobek, Daniel Backman, Annie Chen, Grace Cooper, Stephanie Richards, Renae Rodgers, and Megan Schouweiler. IPUMS USA: Version 15.0 [dataset]. Minneapolis, MN: IPUMS, 2024. https://www.ipums.org/projects/ipums-usa/d010.V15.0

Discussion

From 2000 to 2022, New York City experienced …

Using Spatial Network Analysis To Explore Migration Of Extended Families In Historical Research, Rock Miller

Theses and Dissertations

This project proposes a geoinformatics approach for understanding the migration of extended families in historical contexts. It uses full-count longitudinal census data (developed by the Minnesota Population Center) and graph methods to define multi-generational extended family relationships and to model the locational structures of these families as a spatial network. Graph algorithms and mapping methods are used to interrogate these structures as reflections of the patterns of family outmigration and extension over time. The study is based on a set of extended families resident in a 15-county study area in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky in 1870, and their evolution …

Climate Change And Parenthood: Impact On Family Size Decision-Making, Minha Hossain, Jennifer Lai, Mindy Engle-Friedman

Publications and Research

This study explores how parental status relates to childbearing decisions in the context of climate change and builds on prior research linking climate anxiety to reduced family size intentions. A survey of 114 participants revealed that non-parents were significantly more likely than parents to plan to have fewer children and to express concerns about climate change. These findings underscore differences in how parents and non-parents approach future reproductive decisions and highlight the role of climate-related concerns in shaping family planning intentions.

Identifying Intangible And Biocultural Heritage Elements Toward Environmental Understanding: Engaging Stakeholders Through Art, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Grounded in a case study in Barbuda in the Caribbean, this research examines sustainability from the perspective of what arts and heritage can contribute to community engagement and local and broader understandings about the environment. This article documents a growing body of literature recognizing the role of arts and culture, including local knowledge and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), in climate change endeavors. Art and TEK present expansive world views. Contextual information situates research done on the island of Barbuda pre- and post-Hurricane Irma. Visual arts workshops engaged community members in mixed methods research. Results documented cultural elements, particularly intangible and …

Puerto Ricans In New Jersey 2023, Center For Puerto Rican Studies

CUNY Centro, The Center for Puerto Rican Studies

Centro’s Infographics are visual representation of the most-up-to-date socio-demographic information about the Puerto Rican population in the United States. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau is summarized through a series of charts, tables and maps to illustrate major points and changes within the Puerto Rican population. The infographics below use U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-year and 5-year estimates data.

Centro’s infographics are recurrent projects that are released by our Data Hub in response to the release of data by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Puerto Ricans In Wisconsin 2023, Center For Puerto Rican Studies

CUNY Centro, The Center for Puerto Rican Studies

Centro’s Infographics are visual representation of the most-up-to-date socio-demographic information about the Puerto Rican population in the United States. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau is summarized through a series of charts, tables and maps to illustrate major points and changes within the Puerto Rican population. The infographics below use U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-year and 5-year estimates data.

Centro’s infographics are recurrent projects that are released by our Data Hub in response to the release of data by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Puerto Ricans In Texas 2023, Center For Puerto Rican Studies

CUNY Centro, The Center for Puerto Rican Studies

Centro’s Infographics are visual representation of the most-up-to-date socio-demographic information about the Puerto Rican population in the United States. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau is summarized through a series of charts, tables and maps to illustrate major points and changes within the Puerto Rican population. The infographics below use U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-year and 5-year estimates data.

Centro’s infographics are recurrent projects that are released by our Data Hub in response to the release of data by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Puerto Ricans In Chicago 2023, Center For Puerto Rican Studies

CUNY Centro, The Center for Puerto Rican Studies

Centro’s Infographics are visual representation of the most-up-to-date socio-demographic information about the Puerto Rican population in the United States. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau is summarized through a series of charts, tables and maps to illustrate major points and changes within the Puerto Rican population. The infographics below use U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-year and 5-year estimates data.

Centro’s infographics are recurrent projects that are released by our Data Hub in response to the release of data by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Puerto Ricans In Massachusetts 2023, Center For Puerto Rican Studies

CUNY Centro, The Center for Puerto Rican Studies

Centro’s Infographics are visual representation of the most-up-to-date socio-demographic information about the Puerto Rican population in the United States. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau is summarized through a series of charts, tables and maps to illustrate major points and changes within the Puerto Rican population. The infographics below use U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-year and 5-year estimates data.

Centro’s infographics are recurrent projects that are released by our Data Hub in response to the release of data by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Puerto Ricans In Philadelphia 2023, Center For Puerto Rican Studies

CUNY Centro, The Center for Puerto Rican Studies

Centro’s Infographics are visual representation of the most-up-to-date socio-demographic information about the Puerto Rican population in the United States. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau is summarized through a series of charts, tables and maps to illustrate major points and changes within the Puerto Rican population. The infographics below use U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-year and 5-year estimates data.

Centro’s infographics are recurrent projects that are released by our Data Hub in response to the release of data by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Puerto Ricans In Florida 2023, Center For Puerto Rican Studies

CUNY Centro, The Center for Puerto Rican Studies

Centro’s Infographics are visual representation of the most-up-to-date socio-demographic information about the Puerto Rican population in the United States. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau is summarized through a series of charts, tables and maps to illustrate major points and changes within the Puerto Rican population. The infographics below use U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-year and 5-year estimates data.

Centro’s infographics are recurrent projects that are released by our Data Hub in response to the release of data by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Puerto Ricans In Illinois 2023, Center For Puerto Rican Studies

CUNY Centro, The Center for Puerto Rican Studies

Centro’s Infographics are visual representation of the most-up-to-date socio-demographic information about the Puerto Rican population in the United States. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau is summarized through a series of charts, tables and maps to illustrate major points and changes within the Puerto Rican population. The infographics below use U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-year and 5-year estimates data.

Centro’s infographics are recurrent projects that are released by our Data Hub in response to the release of data by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Puerto Ricans In Virginia 2023, Center For Puerto Rican Studies

CUNY Centro, The Center for Puerto Rican Studies

Centro’s Infographics are visual representation of the most-up-to-date socio-demographic information about the Puerto Rican population in the United States. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau is summarized through a series of charts, tables and maps to illustrate major points and changes within the Puerto Rican population. The infographics below use U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-year and 5-year estimates data.

Centro’s infographics are recurrent projects that are released by our Data Hub in response to the release of data by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Puerto Ricans In Connecticut 2023, Center For Puerto Rican Studies

CUNY Centro, The Center for Puerto Rican Studies

Centro’s Infographics are visual representation of the most-up-to-date socio-demographic information about the Puerto Rican population in the United States. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau is summarized through a series of charts, tables and maps to illustrate major points and changes within the Puerto Rican population. The infographics below use U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-year and 5-year estimates data.

Centro’s infographics are recurrent projects that are released by our Data Hub in response to the release of data by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Puerto Ricans In Ohio 2023, Center For Puerto Rican Studies

CUNY Centro, The Center for Puerto Rican Studies

Centro’s Infographics are visual representation of the most-up-to-date socio-demographic information about the Puerto Rican population in the United States. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau is summarized through a series of charts, tables and maps to illustrate major points and changes within the Puerto Rican population. The infographics below use U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-year and 5-year estimates data.

Centro’s infographics are recurrent projects that are released by our Data Hub in response to the release of data by the U.S. Census Bureau.