Human Geography Commons^™

The Danger Of A Single Story: Affrilachian Experiences In West Virginia Policy, Economy, And Resilience, Kyleigh Edwards, Cameron G. Rishworth

CRC Research Symposium

This research project sought to understand the various issues facing Black communities in West Virginia and the efforts being made by Affrilachian (African Americans in Appalachia) people and communities to address the issues that they face and to build spaces and initiatives that support Affrilachian communities to survive and thrive. The contributions of Black West Virginians to the region have often gone ignored in mainstream histories and continue to be ignored by mainstream media. However, this project seeks highlight the significant organizing that is being done by Affrilachians, illustrating that although Black people only make up 3.8% of West Virginia’s …

No. 39: Considering The Migration And Food Security Nexus In African Cities, Jonathan Crush, Zack Ahmed

Migration and Food Security (MiFOOD) Network

International migration and food security are still treated as separate policy and research domains, yet they are deeply intertwined in the African urban context. This paper unbundles the nexus between migration and urban food security by examining how migrants and refugees navigate food systems, cope with vulnerabilities, and deploy resilience strategies to mitigate food insecurity. As rapid urbanization reshapes African cities, migrants are becoming actors in informal food economies, both as consumers and vendors. However, economic exclusion, weak social protection, and precarity often expose them to heightened food insecurity. The paper explores how migrant food security is shaped by urban …

No. 38: Informal Female Food Vendors, Covid-19, And Post-Pandemic Recovery In Kisumu, Kenya, Silvia A. Odhiambo, Patrick Mbullo Owuor, Doreen Obondo, Janet Anyango Onyango, Joyce Kiplagat, Elizabeth Onyango

Migration and Food Security (MiFOOD) Network

While there is substantial literature on the effects of COVID-19 on formal businesses, limited evidence exists on the impacts of the pandemic on informal female-owned enterprises. Additionally, no studies have explored the role of post-pandemic recovery strategies in meeting the unique challenges experienced by the informal food vendors in secondary cities in the Global South. In this paper, we explore the impacts of COVID-19 and the post-pandemic recovery strategies on female informal food vendors in Kisumu, the third largest city in the western region of Kenya. The study adopted qualitative methods – in-depth and key informant interviews and focus group …

No. 37: Harnessing Diaspora Finance For Climate Resilience In Africa, Eunice Annan-Aggrey

Migration and Food Security (MiFOOD) Network

As climate change accelerates, the costs of adaptation are rising sharply. This escalation comes at a time when financial inflows to developing countries – such as official development assistance and foreign direct investment – are declining. Meanwhile, the global political climate is becoming unfavourable to sustained climate financing commitments. In this context, the role of remittances in supporting climate adaptation and mitigation in developing countries has attracted growing interest. This paper broadens the lens to examine diaspora finance more holistically, encompassing not only remittances but also diaspora investments and knowledge transfer. It explores the potential of these various diaspora finance …

Climate And Crop Modeling For New England Agricultural Climate Change Adaptation, Madeline K. Wolfe

Geography Undergraduate Senior Theses

As climate change brings increased temperatures and precipitation variability to New England, it is imperative to understand the ways that farmers make decisions about agricultural climate change adaptation for their corn farms. Dairy farming is the largest agricultural industry in New England, with corn being a primary crop to feed these cattle. This project seeks to understand how climate modeling and crop modeling are and are not useful for these corn farm decisions, and contributes research about what types of information are useful and available to farmers making adaptation decisions. Crop modeling over New England reveals that corn farming in …

Suspended Agency And The Habitus Of Waiting In A Migrant Shelter In Tijuana, Liam K. Ogden Iii

Senior Theses

This thesis explores idea of suspended agency and the development of a habitus of waiting within a women and children’s migrant shelter in Tijuana, Mexico. Relying on ten days of participant observation and an interview with a shelter director, I examine the lived experiences of residents, workers, and myself as a researcher navigating humanitarian space. Shelters are designed to be short term spaces, but migrants are often forced into long-term, uncertain stays due to restrictive border policies and structural barriers, resulting in a social stasis defined by boredom, anxiety, and monotony within the shelter. Drawing on Bourdieu’s concept of habitus …

Between Borders And Belief: Perspectives Of Aid Workers On Religion In A Migrant Shelter In Mexico, Kendall O. Roy

Senior Theses

This thesis seeks to understand the significance of religion in the Central American migration context through the eyes of humanitarian aid workers. It is based on interviews that I conducted in May of 2024 with staff members at a migrant shelter in Mexico, analysis of prior scholarship, and building upon an understanding of relevant religious history in Latin America. I will delve into trends that the aid workers observed in areas such as religious practices and beliefs of migrants, shelter functions that addressed and nurtured spiritual well-being, and the influence of the Church as an institution on humanitarian aid work. …

Woven By Culture: A Comparative Study Of Traditional Dress Across Regions And The Societal Forces Behind Fashion, James T. Granger

Senior Theses

This study attempts to examine how societal influences that different countries have obtained from years past affect their traditional fashion. By sketching 200 traditional female dresses from every sovereign country in the world, I have taken the time to analyze and create depictions of their sociological and stylistic choices. I have chosen to examine the countries of Cambodia, Republic of Congo, Croatia, Cuba, Finland, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Panama, and Tonga as they all represent different regions of the globe. Breaking down each of their dresses into their specific garments and accessories is essential to better understand the culture and the …

Moderating Effect Of Fantasy Football Participation And Location On Team Identification And Nfl Fandom, Devon Hudson

Masters Theses

This study explores how fantasy football participation in varying geographic proximities to NFL teams has altered traditional fan allegiances (i.e. team loyalty or fandom) as an alternate consumer product for the game of football. After utilizing survey data to quantify concepts of fandom and team identification amongst respondents, respondent groups were sorted into various groups based on both fantasy participation and location relevant to NFL teams. A series of hypotheses describing relationships between proximity, fantasy football participation, and fan perceptions are analyzed using a series of statistical tests. No statistical significance was found when comparing strength of team identification amongst …

The Role Of Affordable Housing In Enhancing Tenants' Economic Stability In Connecticut: A Focus On Income, Employment, And Housing Stability, Osaid Zubi

Dissertations

This study examined the role of affordable housing in promoting economic stability among low- and moderate-income households in Connecticut. Focusing on income security, employment opportunities, and housing retention, this research highlighted the significance of affordable housing as a means to alleviate financial strain, support job retention, and foster community resilience. Utilizing a phenomenological approach, the study gathered insights from tenants, policymakers, and developers through conducting interviews and a focus group. Connecticut was chosen as the study site due to its high cost of living and affordable housing shortage, exacerbated by its proximity to New York City. Findings underscore the economic …

Advancing Methods For Comparative Urban Research: A City-Centric Protocol And Longitudinal Dataset For Us Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Jason R. Jurjevich, Katie Meehan, Nicholas M. J. W. Chun, Greg Schrock

Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Publications and Presentations

Comparative urban research in the USA has an unacknowledged data and methodological problem at the metropolitan scale, rooted in geographic and definitional boundary changes of urban areas across time. In this article, we introduce a new spatial dataset, decision criteria, and methodological protocol for longitudinal and comparative research with US metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs)—known as ‘metros’—in a way that centers a ‘city-centric’ approach to comparison while significantly reducing spatial error and bias. First, we review gaps and limitations of existing approaches and identify three major but previously unacknowledged sources of error, including a new source of bias we call ‘spanning …

Inter-Prefectural Migration Of Older Adults In The Tokyo Metropolitan Area, Katsuyoshi Nakazawa, Shinji Komatsu

Japanese Society and Culture

This study uses population migration data from the 2020 National Census to examine the migration of older adults within the Tokyo metropolitan area and between the Tokyo metropolitan area and other areas. The main results are as follows: In the Tokyo metropolitan area, both older adults aged 65–74 and those aged 75 and over move out of Tokyo to the three surrounding prefectures. This tendency was more prevalent in those aged 75 and over than those aged 65–74. Regarding migration between the Tokyo metropolitan area and other areas, the results show the opposite trend, with those aged 65–74 outflowing from …

No. 36: ‘Going To The Supermarket Was Hard’: Pandemic Foodscapes And Unsettled Food Practices Of Refugees In The Waterloo Region, Sujata Ramachandran, Elizabeth Onyango, Zhenzhong Si, Zack Ahmed, Mercedes Eguiguren, Jonathan Crush, Neil Arya

Migration and Food Security (MiFOOD) Network

In this paper, we examine how the ‘new normal’ of pandemic-living transformed the local food environment in Ontario as pandemic foodscapes. Using selected findings from mixed methods research with a small sample of recently resettled refugees in the Waterloo region, we evaluated how these changes affected their grocery shopping and food-sourcing habits. We identify the distinctive ways the pandemic-related restrictions altered our participants’ interactions with their local food environment and influenced their food availability and accessibility. Our study found that participants spent more time acquiring food from a reduced number of food sources and experienced an overall weakening of their …

No. 35: Venezuelan Migration And Covid-19 Response Measures In Urban Areas Of Ecuador, Cheryl Martens, Taymi Milán

Migration and Food Security (MiFOOD) Network

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted Venezuelan migrants in Ecuador, exacerbating their vulnerabilities due to restrictive containment measures, socioeconomic instability, and barriers to healthcare and basic services. This paper examines the intersection of pandemic-related restrictions, migrant precarity, and state responses, highlighting the disproportionate effects on urban Venezuelan migrants. Key challenges included irregular migration pathways, increased food and housing insecurity, exclusion from early vaccination programs, and heightened exposure to gender-based violence. Despite Ecuador’s early adoption of an inclusive vaccination strategy, systemic inequalities persisted, limiting migrants’ social and economic integration. The findings contribute to broader discussions on migration governance, humanitarian responses, and the …

Promoting Equity: Embracing Food Justice In The Transformation Of The Food Systems For Bipoc Communities, Frank Yeboah Adusei

Journal of Extension

The food justice movement addresses systemic food inequities impacting BIPOC communities, rooted in civil rights and environmental justice movements. It advocates for fair access to culturally relevant food, combating food deserts, and promoting food sovereignty. Recognizing intersectionality, it emphasizes collaboration to dismantle systemic barriers. This study aims to understand BIPOC communities' challenges and effective strategies, stressing the importance of collaborative efforts for lasting systemic change. Extension professionals face challenges but can contribute through equity-focused strategies, community engagement, and partnerships, advancing food justice and fostering inclusive food systems.

No. 34: Food Insecurity And The Coping Strategies Of West African Migrants In Accra, Ghana, Ralph Armah, Mary B. Setrana, Peter Quartey, Aba Crentsil, Cynthia Addoquaye Tagoe, Innocent Agbelie

Migration and Food Security (MiFOOD) Network

This paper examines the food insecurity experiences and coping strategies of West African migrants in Accra, Ghana, across three periods: pre-COVID-19, during the pandemic, and post-COVID-19. Utilizing a survey of 420 migrants, the study explores the interplay between remittances, socioeconomic factors, and food security. The findings reveal that food insecurity was most severe during the pandemic, with remittances—especially food remittances—offering limited mitigation due to underlying vulnerabilities. Coping strategies employed by migrants included reducing meal frequency, relying on less preferred foods, borrowing food, and seeking social support. The study highlights the need for targeted policies to strengthen urban food systems, provide …

Frameworks For Measuring Regenerative Tourism: Supply And Demand Indicators With A Dynamic And Holistic Approach, Asif Hussain

Journal of Sustainability and Resilience

This paper examines regenerative tourism as a holistic approach that goes beyond sustainability by actively restoring and enhancing social-ecological systems. Recognizing tourism’s interconnectedness with economic, social, cultural, and environmental systems, it presents regenerative tourism as a dynamic model integrating supply and demand perspectives to promote innovation, resilience, and renewal. On the supply side, regenerative tourism emphasizes ecological restoration, sustainable practices, economic stability with minimal environmental harm, and authentic experiences. On the demand side, it aligns with the rising preference for ethical, participatory, and immersive tourism, involving tourists as active contributors to destination well-being. The paper highlights the importance of multidimensional …

Virginia Heat Watch: Collaboration To Assess Climate Vulnerability At Local To Regional Scales, Todd R. Lookingbill, Karin P. Warren, J. Christopher Haley, Elizabeth G. Malcolm, Lisa Jordan Powell, Scott M. Starr, Srarah Melissa Witiak, Michael J. Wolyniak, Beth Zizzamia

Geography and the Environment Faculty Publications

Systematic studies of temperature using consistent, field-validated methods are needed to make inter- and intra-urban heat comparisons and to prioritize resources and mitigation strategies. This study investigated spatial patterns of heat hazard across 10 small- to medium- sized cities in Virginia, USA, using a community science approach. Air temperature data were collected on a high-heat day in July 2021, employing a network of 213 volunteers. Geolocated one-second temperature and humidity measurements were used to create and validate 10-m resolution temperature models for each locality. Results indicate substantial intra-urban temperature differentials even in the smallest localities, averaging 3.2 °C for …

Synchronizing Work And Teaching Practices With The Spatial Dna Of Distributed Work And Learning, Manju Aishwarya Adikesavan

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Phygitality, the seamless and synergistic integration of physical and digital realms, is an indispensable and irrevocable part of contemporary office-based work. Phygitality facilitates spatially and temporally distributed or multi-local working where employees work from diverse locations such as their home, office, and third places at any time of day or night. It also makes nonterritorial working at temporary workspaces accessed on a session-by-session basis possible.

This dissertation examines how phygital, multi-local, and nonterritorial working reshape individual and group work behaviors, organizational spatial practices, work-centric settings, non-work-centric settings, neighborhoods, cities, and regions. The Spatial DNA of Distributed Work encapsulates a conceptual …

Access, Community Capacity, And Socio-Economic Impacts On The Implementation Of Social Forestry Programs In The Perum Perhutani Kph Telawa Working Area, Esa Jati Manunggal Sukma Adhi, Trisni Utami

Masyarakat: Jurnal Sosiologi

Despite increasing interest in social forestry, limited research has explored the interplay between community capacity and access within Indonesia’s Social Forestry Utilization Permit (IPHPS) scheme. This study examines the relationship between community capacity, access, and socio-economic impacts to inform effective policy implementation. Employing a qualitative case study approach, it focuses on a community granted an IPHPS Decree within the Perum Perhutani Forest Management Unit (KPH) Telawa. The findings identify three key dimensions of community capacity: technical capacity (local knowledge and skills), networking capacity (social capital and relationships), and cultural capacity (local wisdom and practices). While legal access to forest permits …