15133 research outputs found
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Does Earth Feel
No full texthttps://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/iapc_picturebook_gallery/1013/thumbnail.jp
Grasshopper\u27s Song
No full texthttps://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/iapc_picturebook_gallery/1016/thumbnail.jp
Something, Someday
No full texthttps://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/iapc_picturebook_gallery/1026/thumbnail.jp
Wolves of Yellowstone
No full texthttps://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/iapc_picturebook_gallery/1033/thumbnail.jp
New Jersey\u27s Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change: An Economic Analysis of the State\u27s Societal Benefits Charge and Community Solar Energy Program
No full textUnderstanding the current trajectory of New Jersey’s emissions and the existing legislation and programs implemented to help reduce emissions, it is evident that the State requires further actions to spur heightened emission reductions to reach its goals. One known impactful policy that could significantly accelerate this process is a carbon tax, which applies to emission-intensive goods. Although this policy does not currently exist in New Jersey, the State has a Societal Benefits Charge (SBC) that applies an approximate 3% charge to electricity and gas consumption on residential and commercial utility customers’ monthly energy bills, where revenues fund programs that offer benefits to society through financial assistance and energy-related programs which indirectly reduce emissions. Literature suggests that this percentage should increase annually to achieve ample emission reductions, reaching well above 5% by 2035, with revenues recycled into programs that drive renewable energy development and reduce the welfare impact on energy-burdened households. This research investigated New Jersey residents’ willingness to pay an increased SBC, with results indicating a high preference for households with higher emissions paying the annual 0.5% increase to the SBC for ten years, with revenues applying as a subsidy for renewable energy-consuming customers. Respondents are also willing to pay an additional $100 to help offset the energy burden experienced by lower-income households. We evaluated the repercussions of modifying the State’s SBC by modeling this output in an economic model. We determined the highest emission reductions occur with the highest increase in the SBC and in cases where only gas customers undergo the increase. We next evaluate the interplay between stated preference and spatial variables impacting consumer preferences for the State’s Community Solar Energy Program, which is currently funded through the SBC. We found that the State’s recently developed Solar Siting Analysis 3.0 tool can serve as a guiding principle for policymakers when identifying key community solar customers that may not be capable of installing solar. In all, this research can help policymakers make more informed decisions on modifying current State policy and programs to align with the emission reduction goals while considering those modifications\u27 economic and social implications
Understanding the Work Lives and Career Intentions of Black Women Prekindergarten Teacher Assistants
No full textThis qualitative study investigates the work lives and career aspirations of seven Black women prekindergarten teacher assistants (BWPTAs) at Urban Flower Academy. Utilizing interviews, observations, and document analysis, the research employs intersectionality theory to explore how race, gender, and class shape these women’s professional identities and future intentions. Key research questions addressed include how BWPTAs perceive their roles, how their experiences affect career goals, and what might encourage them to pursue certification as lead teachers. Findings reveal a complex interplay between inadequate training, financial insecurity, and a strong sense of community, often rooted in ideologies of sisterhood and nurturing. BWPTAs frequently assume responsibilities akin to lead teachers but lack the formal recognition and compensation associated with such roles. Challenges such as insufficient salaries, unclear role definitions, and limited career advancement opportunities contribute to a cycle of economic disadvantage. Despite these obstacles, many BWPTAs expressed aspirations to further their education and career development. The study underscores the need for targeted professional development, financial support, and structural changes in the early childhood education sector. Recommendations include providing paid time off for educational pursuits, free or subsidized childcare, and significant salary increases for early childhood educators. Additionally, the study introduces the 3A TA ID framework, which categorizes teacher assistants into Anybody, Assistant, and Apprentice based on their career goals and potential for advancement. This framework aims to guide educational leaders in creating more supportive environments and effective teacher pipelines for marginalized educators, highlighting the broader need for equitable policies in early childhood education
Customs, Courts, and Conflict: Strengthening the Legal System in South Sudan
Get PDFThis thesis examines the dual legal system in South Sudan and how it can be strengthened as the country transitions to a democracy. It gives a brief historical account of the evolution of the South Sudanese legal system and the current challenges posed by overlapping normative frameworks. It argues that while customary law remains deeply embedded in South Sudanese society, its co-existence with statutory law has created jurisdictional ambiguities, inconsistencies in the delivery of justice and public mistrust in state institutions. Reforms such as the drafting of the Permanent Constitution of South Sudan to harmonize both legal traditions, the formal recognition and regulation of traditional authorities within the state structure, the reinforcement of judicial independence through transparent appointment processes and linguistic reforms to improve access to justice are proposed. Emphasis is laid on the need for change to be internally driven and to take into account cultural sensitivities. A balance has to be struck between the preservation of ancestral traditions and the need to modernize the justice system and protect human rights. Ultimately, a legally pluralistic yet integrated system, grounded in functional adequacy and flexible enough to be responsive to South Sudan’s socio-political realities is essential for fostering democratic governance
Ugly Place
No full texthttps://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/iapc_picturebook_gallery/1038/thumbnail.jp
The Reentry Experience of Returning Citizens from Prison
Get PDFIn 2022, over 1.2 million individuals were housed in federal or state prisons in the U.S., in addition to over 514,000 individuals housed in local jails at mid-year (Bureau of Justice, 2024). As released individuals return to their communities, they face the daunting task of re-integration into the community. The purpose of this study was to identify how returning citizens experience reentry to their communities upon release from prison, their perceptions about their reentry experience, and to learn about their unique responses to the reentry process. This study aimed to explore the experience of these individuals to better understand counseling interventions and advocacy that may support their return to the community. The primary question guiding my study was: How have recently released individuals experienced reentry into the community? The secondary questions guiding this study were 1) What are returning citizens’ perceptions about the reentry experience? and 2) How do returning citizens describe the reentry process? This study utilized a qualitative, phenomenologically based approach to address the research questions. Returning citizens who have been released from state prison within the last fourteen months were interviewed once and invited to a second, voluntary interview six weeks later. Thirteen participants engaged in the first interview, eight engaged in the second interview, and two engaged in member checking via transcript review by email. Through an intersectional theoretical framework to provide a perspective of the experience of returning citizens upon release, I found three themes: 1) Meeting Basic Human Needs, 2) Navigating Reintegration After Reentry, and 3) The Push and Pull of Identity: Retention vs. Reinvention. There are implications for counselors, counselor educators, and advocacy actions based on the results of the study