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EXPLORING THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO COLLEGE COMPLETION AMONG CSEC FORMER FOSTER YOUTH
Get PDFBackground: While 33% of the general population earns a college degree, only 3% of foster youth who age out of the child welfare system achieve this milestone. This percentage may be even lower among former foster youths who were commercially sexually exploited. Understanding the factors contributing to the lower educational attainment in this population is a critical step toward addressing this disparity. Objective: The purpose of this exploratory study is to determine whether social capital is a contributing factor to college completion among former foster youths who were commercially sexually exploited in San Bernardino County. Methods: This study proposes to use a phenomenological qualitative design to conduct in-depth interviews with Social Welfare Agency workers in the city of San Bernardino who have extensive experience working with youths that previously experienced sexual exploitation while in foster care. Participants will be recruited using snowball sampling and interviewed using a semi-structured interview protocol that focuses on the role of social capital as a factor in the educational outcomes of former foster youths who were commercially sexually exploited
GEOMETRY, KINEMATICS, AND SLIP HISTORY OF THE ELSINORE FAULT IN THE NORTHERN SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Get PDFThe Glen Ivy fault segment of the Elsinore fault zone bifurcates into the Whittier fault and Chino fault in Corona, California. Geologic slip rates for the Elsinore fault zone range from 1-9 mm/yr, with limited slip rate studies on this portion of the fault. Access to new airborne LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) datasets and improvements in Quaternary dating methods have motivated a re-examination of the previously mapped fault, with objectives to: (1) differentiate the geologic units, (2) establish the geometry and kinematics of the faults, and (3) establish slip magnitudes and rates. The high-resolution (1.0 m2) LiDAR topographic data are paired with NAIP (National Agriculture Imagery Program) data and historical aerial photography to produce a detailed (1:10,000-scale) geologic map of the Glen Ivy fault segment of the Elsinore fault zone in Corona, California, focusing on portions of the Corona South, Corona North, Black Star Canyon, and Prado Dam 7.5-minute quadrangles. Furthermore, the use of LiDAR allows for detailed surface analysis to improve surface visualization and derive topographic information through terrain ruggedness index and topographic surface roughness analysis. Mapping shows that the southern portion of the Glen Ivy fault segment is primarily a single stranded fault. As the fault progresses northward, it becomes a complex, multi-stranded fault zone with some dip-slip component. While the Whittier fault segment is thought to be the primary extension of the Elsinore fault zone, mapping shows that paleochannels of the Santa Ana River have been displaced along the fault, with the farthest channel offset approximately ~13 km. The magnitude of the displacement is consistent with offsets recorded by a range of markers in the bedrock, suggesting the total lateral slip for this portion of the fault is 13-15 km. The results also suggest that the Chino fault segment is the primary extension of the Elsinore fault. On-going efforts focus on obtaining new geochronological constraints for Pliocene to Quaternary deposits in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains for slip rate analysis
The Effectiveness of Services in California for Youth who have Experienced Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC)
Get PDFCommercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) remains a pervasive issue with profound consequences for affected youth, yet research on effective service interventions remains limited. This study examines the perceived effectiveness of existing services in California for youth who have experienced CSEC, providing critical insights to inform best practices. Seventeen professional service providers participated in one-hour, semi-structured interviews, sharing their expertise on service strengths, challenges, and areas for improvement. Using thematic analysis, ten key themes emerged as central to effective service provision, including individualized interventions, the therapeutic value of relationships, trauma-informed providers, opportunities for healing experiences, multi-agency collaboration, and access to specialized resources. Findings highlight the successes and persistent gaps in current services, underscoring the importance of survivor-centered, adaptable interventions. Strengthening service delivery in these areas may enhance mental health outcomes, reduce risks of re-exploitation, and improve long-term well-being for CSEC survivors. These insights contribute to social work practice, inform program and policy development, and guide future research to improve outcomes for this vulnerable population
FRAMEWORK FOR ENHANCED INTERGENERATIONAL CONNECTIVITY (EIC): A PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT REPORT
Get PDFThis program development report documents the implementation and facilitation of the Sages and Seekers pilot program at California State University, San Bernardino (Palm Desert Campus) from 2022 to 2025. Grounded in communication theory, intergroup contact principles, and instructional design, the report outlines a structured intergenerational intervention aimed at enhancing empathy, connection, and understanding between older and younger adults. Drawing from facilitator observations and program implementation experiences, this work led to the creation of the Framework for Enhanced Intergenerational Connectivity (EIC), a five-point planning model emphasizing leadership, facilitation, administrative support, participant continuity, and structured program design.
The EIC framework is accompanied by practical tools, including planning checklists and role assignment forms, designed to support educators, organizational leaders, corporate trainers, and community facilitators in delivering effective intergenerational programming. This report contributes to the fields of communication studies, leadership development, instructional design, inclusive leadership, and applied communication by presenting an adaptable, practice-based approach to fostering intergenerational connection and knowledge exchange across educational, workplace, and community settings
Functional Mocktails
Get PDFBackground and Aims: Mocktails are alcohol-free beverages that emulate alcohol-containing cocktails. Americans are increasingly seeking these non-alcoholic beverage alternatives. As mocktails have increased in popularity, so have anecdotal health claims. Research has shown that the consumption of teas, herbs, roots, and juices provide health benefits. However, these have not been studied as a mocktail beverage. Functional mocktails may provide various health benefits due to their antioxidant properties, serving as an enjoyable alternative to alcoholic beverages.
Methods: A recipe book of 20 functional mocktails were created. The recipe book includes referenced research on the health benefits, antioxidative properties, recommended dosing, and potential risks of the ingredients used in each mocktail. The participants were recruited through professors requesting permission to conduct mocktail recipe trials during their class times, using a convenience sample method. Participants were selected using a convenience sample method. Participants were asked to taste 1-4 prepared mocktails and rank the recipe based on a Likert scale using an anonymous online survey (Google Forms, Mountain View, CA).
Results: Each recipe was sampled 1-9 times by 52 different participants, producing 105 survey responses. Data was analyzed using median scores generated by MS Excel to determine the likability of each mocktail’s flavor, appearance, and recipe instructions. A sum of averages of 13 was required to determine the recipe enjoyable. Of the 20 mocktails tested, 20 met the criteria.
Conclusion: This study successfully produced 20 delicious mocktail recipes that can serve as alternatives to alcoholic beverages with the potential to provide disease-fighting dietary antioxidants.
Word count: 250 word
BARRIERS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCE UTILIZING ANTI-POVERTY PROGRAMS
Get PDFThis proposed study aims to explore the barriers experienced by residents of the High Desert communities. Using a quantitative method approach, the proposed research will employ surveys to provide a comprehensive understanding of the outcomes experienced by the High Desert residents. Participants will be selected within the High Desert communities, aged 18 years or older, who have or are currently experiencing poverty. The findings from this proposed study would contribute to bridging gaps in understanding the barriers residents of the High Desert experience. By identifying factors that suppress successfully utilizing anti-poverty programs, this research proposal would aim to inform the community and it’s representatives hindering aspects in hopes to bridge the gap in poverty experienced by residents of the High Desert
Voicing the Margins: Contemporary Chicana Autobiographical Writing
Get PDFChicana literature\u27s emphasis on personal and collective narratives provides an essential critique of societal norms and injustices, illustrating how the intersections of gender, ethnicity, and class shape the lived experiences of Mexican American women in a rapidly changing world. This study analyzes nonfiction autobiographical narratives by three Chicana writers—Ana Castillo, Cherrie Moraga, and Sandra Cisneros—and the historical contexts of their production and reception. These texts focus on different aspects of Chicanismo, and when placed in conversation with each other they illuminate the multifaceted experiences of Chicanas from diverse backgrounds. All three writers have become well established in Chicana studies and have largely contributed to English literature more broadly. Although it may be tempting to examine these writers’ works solely through a traditional literary critique, I propose that analyzing their autobiographies and memoirs warrants an intersectional framework—one that highlights the interplay between the writers\u27 lives and the circumstances that shaped their contributions to literature. By exploring how writing served as an outlet for them, this approach seeks to reveal what this creative outlet offered both personally and in the larger context of literary discourse. At the crossroads of cultural expression and social activism, Chicana literature not only chronicles the unique narratives of Chicana women but also makes possible a transformative experience that challenges patriarchal and colonial structures, fostering a deeper understanding of identity and belonging
IMPACT OF WATER QUALITY ON THE NUTRITIONAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF CULINARY HERBS
Get PDFWater quality significantly affected food safety, especially since contaminated water impacted crop growth and the nutrient composition of foods. Nitrates occur naturally in vegetables. However, when introduced into the food supply through water contamination, excessive levels disrupted the natural physiological processes of vegetables and other agricultural plants. These excessive levels eventually led to nutrient imbalances, decreased phytochemical concentrations, and potential health risks such as the formation of carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds in humans. This study evaluated the effects of nitrates on the nutritional outcomes of food crops, focusing on commonly used culinary herbs. While synthesizing findings from relevant peer-reviewed articles, I conducted an experiment focusing on plant growth parameters and plant health indicators among culinary herbs. These herbs were irrigated with different nitrate concentrations (distilled, tap, and private well waters), and growth metrics (height, leaf count, biomass, and root length) were measured. Any color changes on the leaves, wilting, and nutrient stress symptoms were recorded. Regression models were used to determine the relationship between nitrate exposure and plant growth outcomes. These findings highlighted critical knowledge gaps regarding how nitrate-contaminated water affected the nutritional and phytochemical properties of culinary herbs. They also emphasized the need for research-driven policy measures to safeguard food safety and public health
Historical Preservation
Get PDFMuseums and archives alike, provide a public service to anyone who holds a yearning of knowledge. This public service can help aid this thirst for knowledge, art, and fulfillment of the many characteristics that make us human. People from all walks of life can attend a museum, or archive. Whether in a military museum, or an archive the mission remains the same. Historical preservation is what is being done behind closed doors. Whether you are looking for a certain document, book, or more information on a certain artifact. It all involves some sort of historical preservation. That being said, its main focus on any front is to convey the stories of the past. In a personal, and yet non-biased direction.
Furthermore, it can vary depending on the methods used to preserve a certain object. The most commonly thought process that I have witnessed when on the topic of preservation would be placing the object in a box and storing it away in a garage. Preservation isn’t a miniscule act of spring cleaning, but a calculated science handled by professionals whose goal is to at all cost, save the
desired artifact. Whether at the March Field Air Museum, or the Dorothy Ramon Learning Center. The goal remains the same, to preserve the physical object, and its legacy. Thankfully with modern technology such as the internet, which provides us with database softwares that makes the task easier than, say, 50 years ago. This makes preservation a lot smoother, and more efficient. Digital preservation allows the collections personnel, or archivist the ability to create a digital footprint of what is being collected. This ensures that no artifact, or document is lost, within the confines of an ever-growing collection. Thus creates an easier method of finding what needs to be found.
Digital preservation is what is mostly explained within this project. The physical act of preservation in regards to protecting an artifact from weathering, or deterioration is also prevalent in this project. Which is the bulk of work in a museum, or archive setting. It is a task long overlooked, and deserves great respect. In addition, its main focus is public history, and historical preservation. Which work in unison, has long since been delved into being practical, rather than theoretical. Its grasp on the community is physical. Physical such as an artifact, or like an old document, hiding secrets of the past. The importance of public history has long been ignored in the realm of scholarship.
Lastly, the work shown in this project is what has been accumulated over a year of service to historical preservation. Both in the March Field Air Musuem and the Dorothy Ramon Learning Center. Of course there will be no theoretical takes on anything that I have done. As I said before, public history takes the practical route when in discussion of any historical idea. In addition, this project will also showcase the importance of events such as the Dragonfly Gala. Wherein non-profit organizations such as the Dorothy Ramon Learning Center, rely on for funding