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Beats, Bars, and Belonging: The Role of Hip-Hop Affinity Groups in Black Students’ Sense of Belonging at a PWI
No full textA student’s sense of belonging is critical for success in college (Strayhorn, 2018). Sense of place can significantly influence a student’s academic adjustment, achievement, and persistence (Strayhorn, 2018). Belonging and connection to the campus community are vital for students’ well-being and performance (Tinto, 1993, 2001). Despite strategies to promote belonging, disparities remain for certain populations, especially at Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) (Hausmann et al., 2009). Affinity groups, particularly cultural and identity-based groups, have emerged to enhance students\u27 sense of belonging (Bowman & Park, 2017). Although many campus programs aim to ensure student retention and success for all students, cultural affinity groups have been incredibly effective in supporting Black students (Zhang et al., 2019). Notwithstanding their recognized value, minimal literature focuses on the value of collegiate hiphop affinity groups (Cokley et al., 2017). Thus, this qualitative descriptive study aimed to explore how hip-hop affinity groups cultivate a sense of belonging among Black students at a PWI, guided by an overarching research question: How do Black college students perceive the contribution of hip-hop affinity groups to their sense of belonging on campus? Three data sources supported this exploration: (1) semi-structured interviews with Black alumni participants (N=8), (2) a semi-structured interview with an expert participant (N=1), and (3) a reflective questionnaire sent to primary participants (N=8) and the expert participant (N=1). Findings reveal that hip-hop affinity groups support Black students by fostering belonging and combating racial isolation, but institutional neglect and bias limit their impact
Decreasing Food Waste in Home Kitchens by Increasing Food Literacy
No full textIn a world that produces enough food for all of its occupants, a staggering amount of it bypasses empty stomachs and goes into landfills every day. There it sits in a plastic bag, which delays decomposition and increases the harmful greenhouse gas emissions. There are numerous reasons for the inequitable distribution of food ranging from politics to logistics, but the fact is that each person can make a dent in reducing their carbon footprint by simply reducing the amount of food they place in the trash each week. Food waste reduction is a small goal that requires no additional spending, only conscious efforts. This action research project proves that consumers are interested in doing their part to reduce food waste and maximize their grocery budget, but the education surrounding these topics is severely lacking. Furthermore, food date labels tend to confuse consumers and cause them to prematurely throw out food that is still safe to eat. From the toolkit of professionally-trained chefs, food literacy focused on reducing waste can be spread using the powers of social media. This study uses the social media platform Instagram to collect data on consumer interest in reducing food waste, modifying food habits, and sustainable food practices to develop actionable steps that can be contributed to slowing climate change through the habits of cooks in their home kitchens
Say yes and take the scenic route: President Bernardo-Sousa shares gratitude and words of advice upon JWU retirement
No full text“Be realistic and fill your cup – time management is key”: advice from graduating Wildcat
No full textHow internship, faculty mentorship, and athletics shaped one Wildcat’s experience. It’s This Week at JWU, the podcast.
Guest:
Darian Shepherd \u2725
Links:
-Disney College Program virtual chat: https://link.jwu.edu/events/247067
SI & Processing on Student Occupational Engagement
Full text linkSensory Integration (SI) is defined as the brain\u27s ability to organize and respond to information within the body and environment. School-aged children begin school with varying difficulties in SI and processing, which affects their social and academic performances. The field of occupational therapy (OT) promotes engagement in meaningful activities, in which going to school and participating in activities is vital to a child\u27s development and wellbeing. The school setting is the second-largest employer of occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) in the United States. Children with SI and processing difficulties have decreased participation in the classroom compared to their peers with typical sensory processing. A scoping review was conducted to investigate if elementary school students\u27 SI and processing affects their occupational engagement in school. The aim is to further explore the barriers between SI and children\u27s level of involvement in meaningful activities during the school day. There is currently a lack of capturing of teacher perspectives in the literature. By gathering evidence of teachers\u27 perceptions through this project, OTPs will have additional evidence to advocate for service delivery locally, nationally, and internationally. The end goal of this project is to develop and implement educational materials for teachers to facilitate their learning to better understand students\u27 sensory processing
Medicaid Expansion and Black Maternal Mortality
Full text linkMaternal mortality is a national health crisis, disproportionately affecting Black women. The Medicaid expansion program, an optional program at the state level, is responsible for providing coverage for nearly half of all live births in the United States. This research addressed if Medicaid expansion has reduced maternal mortality rates, especially for Black women, when compared to non-expansion states. Multiple literature searches yielded a set of peer-reviewed journal articles and government reports that were used to answer this question. Medicaid expansion has resulted in a significant decline in maternal deaths, with 7.01 fewer casualties per 100,000 births in expansion states as compared to non-expansion states. The most significant decline was found amongst Back mothers, and the studies indicated the importance of healthcare coverage for longer periods of time postpartum. The improved care afforded by Medicaid expansion also resulted in lower maternal mortality caused by cardiovascular issues. Undoubtedly, Medicaid expansion has proven an important program for combating the remarkably high maternal mortality rates in the United States. With respect to clinical practice, this thesis highlights the importance of healthcare coverage and health literacy in addressing the maternal mortality crisis
Sensory Intervention for Bereaved Children
Full text linkBereaved children have unique sensory needs due to unregulated bodily experiences impacting one’s sensory modulation. There is a lack of evidence-based sensory strategies used with children receiving bereavement services in Rhode Island, and little understanding of how sensory strategies can impact client\u27s regulation. The purpose of this scoping review was to explore the sensory interventions currently being applied with children who are experiencing bereavement
Bear Claw – An Assistive Grip Device
Full text linkGlobally, there are over one million spinal cord injuries (SCI) every year. Out of all trauma patients admitted to US hospitals in that time frame, 3.7% suffer from an SCI with the highest at-risk demographic being males aged 20 to 29. Low-cervical spinal injuries (C5 to C8) make up a large portion of these injuries, which can vastly affect motor control throughout the whole arm in addition to the total functionality of body control below the chest. These patients are wheelchair users and many live with limited control of their arms.
The Bear Claw addresses the daily challenges of gross motor control activities without relying on the digits. It is specifically designed to support a wheelchair user with pulling up their pants or reaching for and lifting a bag on the ground. This assistive grip device is a low-tech solution that combines a common wheelchair glove and an array of customizable hook attachments. The leather glove is worn with a Velcro strap that allows users to secure it around the wrist. Anchor points, integrated into an inside layer of fabric, are located on the lateral sides of the glove that allow a hook attachment to be easily locked in and removed with no fine motor control movements. Current designs on the grip allow greater independence for a user experiencing difficulties with fine motor control or limitations on their ability to reach. Customizable hooks enable a wide range of scoping and gripping capabilities personalizing the experience for every user
Exercise Programming for Individuals with SCI
Full text linkThe purpose of this capstone project was to discover if engagement in virtual exercise programs can increase psychological and physical well-being, along with the potential ability to decrease pain while enhancing overall quality of life for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Research currently exists pertaining to the benefits of incorporation of physical activity for individuals with SCI, but limited studies exist addressing the specifics involved in the incorporation of exercise programs and how it impacts the individual on a holistic level which is a key component of the Occupational Therapy practice