Civic and Community Engagement Commons^™

Community Engagement Newsletter, May 2025, University Of Northern Iowa. Office Of Community Engagement.

Community Engagement Newsletter

Contents:

--- Celebrating Award Recipients
--- Cedar Valley Leadership Institute
--- Fall Volunteer Fair
--- Civic Action Committee
--- Veggie Vouchers
--- UNI Engaged Podcast

Examining The Perceptions Of Restorative Practices In A Non-Profit Organization: A Comparative Analysis Of Staff And Youth Attitudes, Autumn N. Alicea, Anne Hobbs Dr

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

This study examines the attitudes toward restorative justice (RJ) among staff and youth at a non-profit residential organization. Using the Restorative Justice Attitude Scale, data was collected from 14 staff members and 14 youth participants (N=28). Results indicated that staff members reported significantly higher mean scores (M = 84.50, SD = 8.38) on the Total Restorative Justice Attitude Scale than youth participants (M = 67.93, SD = 15.81). ANOVA results revealed statistically significant differences between the two groups on attitudes toward restorative justice, F (1, 26) = 12.007, p = .002. Effect size analysis (η² = .316) indicates that approximately …

Administrator Reflections On Youth Sport Programming: Moving Forward After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Alysha Matthews, Meredith Wekesser, Karl Erickson, Scott Pierce, Adam L. Kelly

Journal of Youth Development

AbstractYouth sport has been a context where positive youth development (PYD) can be promoted (Fraser-Thomas et al., 2005). However, for youth sport to effectively foster PYD, all adult leaders need to understand and invest in the approach. The youth sport context is a large system that encompasses multiple stakeholders across the developmental lifespan of athletes (Dorsch et al., 2022). Much of PYD research reflects the contributions of parents and coaches (e.g., Harwood et al., 2019; Vella et al., 2011), yet often overlooked is the administrator role in PYD. Administrators are tasked with communicating and reinforcing organizational missions across stakeholders for …

How A College Course Benefits Under-Resourced High Schoolers Interested In Veterinary Medicine, Gwendolyn R. Svenson, Olivia Arnold, Patricia Vigil, Naomi Nishi, Christianne Magee

Journal of Youth Development

The Veterinary Perspectives Institute (VPI) was designed to address the challenges faced by underrepresented youth who are interested in veterinary medicine. This study examines the VPI, a tuition-free program that introduces students from under-resourced high schools to veterinary medicine and One Health through a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach. The VPI integrates One Health concepts by linking human, animal, and environmental health in the context of veterinary medicine. The program’s aim is to foster college readiness and career exploration in veterinary and biomedical fields, while also addressing barriers to diversity in veterinary medicine. Through hands-on learning and case studies in One Health, …

Full Issue, Volume 20, Issue 2

Journal of Youth Development

No abstract provided.

Critical Race Historical Examination Of Summer Programs: Impact On African American Youth, Megan Lee, June Hopps, Deryl Bailey

Journal of Youth Development

No abstract provided.

Do Voters Shake Off Policy Stances? A Look Into The Impact Of Celebrities On Policy Recall, Alyssa A. Noe

Department of Political Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Celebrities try to influence politics by leveraging their ability to command attention. But does a celebrity’s endorsement of a policy impact citizens’ ability to recall the policy? This paper examines if people’s information processing, specifically policy recall, is impacted by a celebrity’s endorsements. Data was collected at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln during the fall 2024 semester using a student sample. Participants were randomly assigned into three experimental groups. I hypothesize that the more recognizable a celebrity is the more likely people are to be able to recall the policy they posted. By using Taylor Swift as the well-known celebrity and …

Understanding The Underrepresented: A Descriptive Deep-Dive Into The Impact Of Young Legislators, Eric T. Meade Jr.

Honors Scholar Theses

This project explores youth members (thirty-five years old or younger) from the first Congress up until the present Congress by examining and analyzing the ideology, career trajectory, and accomplishments of these members. This project also analyzes the voting records of Congress members on topics that are highly salient to young voters to see how they align with young voters’ preferences and highlights multiple members of note to provide more detail on their backgrounds and unique circumstances. This study aims to demonstrate how young people have been represented historically and why it is so important for the U.S. to have youth …

Parent-Child Contact In Family-Focused Programs For Incarcerated Individuals, Carol Marie Nettie Mcdonald

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The following research study will evaluate family-focused programs offered to incarcerated individuals and determine if these programs are hindered when there is little to no contact between parents and children during incarceration. Family-focused programs include parent/child bonding, and/or parenting classes and other similar programs. The research method that will be used in this study is a qualitative design and will gather data through interviews of formerly incarcerated individuals as well as former children (now adults) who have been involved in family programming. The study will also gather data from licensed clinical staff who have been involved in related programming while …

A First-Generation 4-H Youth Member Intervention Framework To Support Members To Enter, Engage, And Persist In The Program, Jeremy Elliott-Engel, Nicholas A. A Morris

Journal of Youth Development

The First-Generation 4-H Youth Member (FG4-HYM) Intervention Framework is an organizational management perspective for preparing 4-H youth programs that supports the welcoming of youth and families that have no previous experience with the organization. Using the Bronfenbrenner ecological model, we explore the multiple layers of 4-H program management that support the participation of FG4-HYM in the 4-H club program. This framework provides a tool for 4-H professionals to use when assessing their program’s readiness to provide high-quality programming to all audiences, regardless of their families’ previous experience with the organization. This framework represents the foundational requirements that an organization must …

Table Of Contents

Journal of Youth Development

No abstract provided.

4-H Camps: Complexities In Adult-Youth Dynamics, Stephanie Femrite, Rebecca Mott, Steven Krauss

Journal of Youth Development

Summer camp programs provide adolescent counselors with opportunities to work alongside adult staff, aiming to develop critical skills such as communication, responsibility, independence, and teamwork. Growing research supports the value of camp-based developmental relationships through youth-adult partnerships. However, tensions often arise as adults struggle to share power while youth question their roles as partners. Few studies have investigated the role of expectations and realities in camps that promote a youth-adult partnership approach. To address this gap, a qualitative study was conducted to explore the role perceptions of 14- to 18-year-old camp counselors and program directors’ expectations of counselors’ roles in …

Community Voices, Climate Action Choices: Working Towards A Resilient Monterey County, Lesley A. Solano Alonso

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Vulnerable communities in Monterey County face disproportionate environmental and health impacts due to climate change, yet many residents remain unaware of the tools and resources available to support local action. This capstone project was implemented in partnership with Ecology Action (EA) and the Resilient Central Coast (RCC) campaign to increase awareness and engagement with the RCC platform. Serving diverse communities across Monterey County, the project included bilingual outreach efforts, community tabling, educational presentations, and a climate action survey. Over 650 residents were engaged directly, resulting in 99 new household sign-ups on the RCC website, a major milestone for the agency. …

Penggunaan Peraga Visual Pada Program Pengabdian Masyarakat Di Wilayah Pesisir Dan Kepulauan Rawan Bencana, Abellia Anggi Wardani Dr., Anin N. Kumala, Caroline A. Windah, Shintya Shintya

Bhakti: Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat

Indonesia’s coastal and archipelagic regions are vulnerable to disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods. In this context, community service activities require participatory and educational approaches that are easily understood by people of various ages and backgrounds. This article discusses the use of visual aids—such as infographics, leaflets, animated videos, illustrations, and x-banners—as tools for disaster education. Through a literature review of four articles on community service programs, this study finds that visual aids are effective in increasing disaster risk awareness, reinforcing visual memory of mitigation procedures, and engaging vulnerable groups such as children and indigenous communities. This approach also …

Revitalisasi Kearifan Lokal Tentang Mata Air Bagi Siswa Sma Kristen Waibakul, Kabupaten Sumba Tengah, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Diah Kartini Lasman

Bhakti: Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat

Springs are a natural resource with significant ecological and cultural value for the people of Central Sumba Regency, particularly within the Marapu belief system. However, modernization and environmental changes threaten their sustainability. To revive local wisdom related to springs, the Community Service Team of FIB UI conducted a revitalization program at SMA Kristen Waibakul, Central Sumba. One of the main activities was an art competition themed "Springs in Sumbanese Culture," engaging students in interpreting the cultural and ecological values of springs through art. The competition received great enthusiasm, with 40 participants expressing their experiences and cultural identities through their artwork. …

Disemaniasi Hasil Penelitian Potensi Dan Manfaat Wisata Budaya Suku Anak Dalam Air Hitam Bukit Dua Belas Provinsi Jambi, Asyhadi Mufsi Sadzali

Bhakti: Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat

The expansion of oil palm plantations around Bukit Dua Belas National Park in Jambi over the past few decades has not only contributed to climate change but has also significantly impacted the socio-cultural and economic life of the indigenous Suku Anak Dalam community, who have inhabited the forest as their settlement for hundreds of years. Jambi, with its vast tropical forest potential, is not only rich in biodiversity but also holds important cultural value, particularly from the Suku Anak Dalam Air Hitam community. In recent decades, this community has faced agrarian, social, and economic conflicts as a result of palm …

Upaya Peningkatan Pengetahuan Siswa Sekolah Dasar Mengenai Warisan Budaya Sebagai Usaha Pelestarian Budaya Kampung Tugu, Isman Pratama Nasution

Bhakti: Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat

This community service program aims to enhance the understanding of elementary school students in Kampung Tugu Portugis regarding the importance of Cultural Heritage and Intangible Cultural Heritage in their environment. Kampung Tugu is a historic area shaped by the cultural fusion of Portuguese Mardijkers and the Betawi community. Based on interviews with local sources, it was found that there is a lack of cultural heritage education among the younger generation, particularly at SDN Semper Barat 01. The program activities included educational sessions, site visits, the creation of pocketbooks, a performance of Tugu keroncong music, and the development of a wall …

Sosialisasi Tradisi Purnama Di Karangrejo, Desa Wisata Borobudur Magelang, Turita Indah Setyani, Lily Tjahjandari

Bhakti: Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat

The development of digital technology, while offering many conveniences, has also led the younger generation to become overly absorbed in their gadgets. Many young people today find it difficult to detach themselves from their devices. This situation can have negative effects on children's psychological development, as they need both motor and social stimulation. Traditional children's games offer significant benefits for physical and mental growth. Coinciding with the Summer Solstice event in Borobudur—when the Moon is positioned directly above Borobudur's coordinates—the Summer Solstice Festival was held in Karangrejo Tourism Village, Magelang. In support of this festival, a community service program was …

Campus Exploration, Kacie Lingle

2025 Student Academic Showcase

Having available and sufficient study and community spaces on a college campus can impact the productivity and happiness of the students who attend. A survey was used to identify the locations where Lindenwood students perform certain activities such as studying alone and spending time with a group as well as to collect students’ thoughts on the current spaces on campus including optional suggestions. Students were asked if the spaces fit their purpose, if they feel satisfied with these spaces, and if they believe these spaces could impact their college experience. Preliminary common themes include satisfaction with the types of spaces, …

Psychological Treatment Behind The Walls:Insights From The Inside, Rogelio Serrano

Psychology Division Scholarship

Repeated eras of mass incarceration, criminalization of marginalized communities, and substance use policies have created a revolving door of justice involved populations. The ever-increasing prison population has repeatedly become the largest contingency of mental health clientele for an overburdened mental health system. Those who work with formerly incarcerated individuals in the community often don’t know the unique set of challenges faced by practitioners within the system. Increased understanding and coordination of care can offer opportunities for sustained recovery and reduced levels of recidivism. In this presentation participants will learn about the unique insights on mental health treatment that can be …