California State University, Monterey Bay
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Exploring the Perception of Spanish-Speaking Students on Language and Cultural Identity
No full textThis senior capstone research project explores the perceptions of Spanish-speaking students regarding the intersection of language and cultural identity within educational settings in Monterey County, California. Spanish speakers represent a significant portion of the student population, therefore understanding their cultural/language experiences is essential for fostering inclusive and culturally responsive educational environments. Drawing on literature about bilingual education, cultural identity, and educational equity, interviews with teachers and surveys of students, the findings revealed how language and cultural identity shape students’ sense of belonging, self-perception, academic engagement, attitudes toward bilingualism, and their cultural expression. In addition, there are challenges these students face in English-dominant classrooms. This project also aims to find effective strategies to support Spanish-speaking students in maintaining their cultural and linguistic heritage while achieving academic success
Effects of Agricultural and Urban Land on Microplastic Concentrations in Rivers
Full text linkMicroplastics are a harmful pollutant found in most ecosystems due to the breakdown of plastic products (e.g. clothes and tires). While plastics can be used to create a wide range of goods, exposure to them can cause significant health problems in all living beings. Because of this, it is important to understand how microplastic concentrations vary in each ecosystem type, especially freshwater systems. Microplastics in freshwater systems have not been studied to a similar extent as marine ecosystems. It is important to establish their properties in freshwater environments because rivers are the main pathway for microplastics to enter the ocean. In addition, rivers are impacted by agricultural and urban activities that could change the amount and types of microplastics found in each system. To address this, we sampled 12 rivers in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties with agricultural or urban dominant watersheds during the dry and wet seasons. We determined each rivers’ microplastic concentrations and the polymer types of 33 samples to identify how they vary between seasons and watersheds with different land uses. We found relatively similar microplastic concentrations (p \u3e 0.05; mean = 0.60 MPs/L) over the dry and wet seasons in agricultural and urban sites. We also identified that polyolefins occur more than any other polymer in both site types. We think these results can be used to support the objectives of the Statewide Microplastics Strategy to better manage microplastics in rivers
[2025 Honorable Mention] Pedagogies in the Flesh and Recovery of Historical Memory From the Perspective of a Salvadoreña
Full text linkMy submission is a praxis paper. First, I explore the concepts and theories I would like to put into praxis, which are pedagogies in the flesh and recovery of historical memory. I then explain how and why I put them into praxis.https://digitalcommons.csumb.edu/esa_submissions/1174/thumbnail.jp
College Students’ Activism: The Usage of Social Media Ads
Full text linkIn a world where social media is at its optimal peak, social movements can use the ceaseless platform to mobilize, spread awareness, and promote activism. With climate change and environmental damages being a crucial societal issue, the Environmental Justice Movement must advance their mobilization towards the next collective of civilization. For this study, I focus on college students, and how social media ads influence internet activism within them. In doing so, I highlight characteristics like an individual’s perception and their social networks, mixed with advert engagement factors like vividness, content of post, and call to action
The Truth Behind Accessing Care for Underserved Populations
Full text linkA large number of patients are using the emergency department for non-urgent care. The Visiting Nurse Association, known as VNA & Hospice, offers services to residents in Monterey County through two major programs: hospice and home health. In partnership with Central California Alliance for Health (CCAH), VNA’s home health patients who meet the criteria for preventable emergency department visits are enrolled in the Enhanced Care Management (ECM) program to serve Monterey County residents facing challenges when trying to access healthcare services. The purpose of this project is to learn from patients based on their experiences. A quantitative survey was administered with social workers\u27 support to collect data on patient challenges and experiences when accessing healthcare services. The project met the expected outcomes, and findings revealed that significant challenges faced by patients include financial problems, language barriers, and transportation. It is recommended that data collection continue as patient enrollment increases, in addition to incorporating qualitative analysis to gather patient opinions on this matter. Addressing these challenges can help increase preventative care, maximize resource utilization, and achieve cost efficiency
Small But Mighty: Strengthening the Value of Local Pocket Parks
Full text linkIn Monterey County, youth obesity rates are climbing at an alarming rate. Ventana Wildlife Society, and Wellness Through Nature program seek to help lower these rates. Ventana looks to achieve this through outdoor education and family trips with migrant farm working families in the cities of Soledad and Salinas. These trips attempt to increase environmental stewardship and improve community health. The project aims to evaluate the effectiveness and community engagement in regards to pocket parks. The parks visited were Bataan Memorial Park, Harden Neighborhood Park, Cesar Chavez Park, Joe Ledesma Park and San Antonio Park. The research seeks to increase community use of these parks and propose a program that follows their mission. The evaluation was completed through observation at local pocket parks and surveying of youth. The project did not meet the expected outcomes, but collected sufficient data. The original project proposal involved creating a program plan but did not gather the data to build a strong proposal. This project did find that many of the parks surveyed had the potential for holding programs with 60% having sufficient shade and 80% having tables and benches. The project found that youth do spend a large chunk of time outdoors and it can improve how healthy they feel after being outside, which was reported by the majority in the survey. I recommended that Ventana Wildlife Society continue this research in order to gather more specific data to build a stronger proposal for a program to take place in these green spaces
Sugary drinks, Will CSUMB Students Rethink?
No full textSugary drinks are a problem when you are at risk of developing type two diabetes, but are people aware of how much sugar is hiding in their drink? At Aspire Health, the Population Health division developed the Don’t Feed The Diabetes program in preventing type two diabetes, serving Monterey County. This project follows CSUMB students over a three week period to evaluate whether students reevaluate their drink choices when given the amount of sugar in their drink. The implementation includes surveying students. The expected outcomes are college students recognize how much sugar is in their drinks. The majority of the results reflected CSUMB students were willing to reevaluate their drink choices. The most important results would be making a difference in the health of students. The recommendations for the learning site to address the problem would be continuing research and developing new strategies such as a new poster design
Silent Struggles: The Prevalence & Impact of Family Caregiver Burnout in Monterey County
No full textCentral Coast Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) & Hospice is a nonprofit organization that has provided an extensive range of home healthcare-related services since 1951. The VNA & Hospice Mission states they are “dedicated to providing the highest quality health care to residents of the Central Coast by meeting their individual needs in a caring, effective, honorable, and accessible manner” (VNA & Hospice, 2024). Within the organization, VNA comprises different services and programs covered primarily by insurance, which provides many community services, including flu shots and vaccines. They also offer “key specialty programs, including cardiac, connections, diabetic, orthopedic, and palliative care” (VNA & Hospice, 2024). Practice clinicians and program experts manage each program. These services are designed for individuals facing advanced illness and bereavement. A focus is placed on skilled home health care, hospice services, community wellness, and immunization for their patients.
Hospice care at VNA is offered in various settings, including patients\u27 homes, nursing homes, residential care facilities, and through contracted hospital arrangements. The philosophy of VNA’s Hospice Program is to help patients live as fully and comfortably as possible. The focus is on the patient\u27s physical, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being, ensuring that the remaining time is spent with dignity, comfort, and meaningful connection (VNA & Hospice, 2024). Their care team is composed of professionals and experts, including physicians, social workers, volunteers, and other support providers, to provide the best care possible to patients and their loved ones
Improving Teamwork in Young Athletes
No full textYoung athletes benefit from learning about commitment, trust in others, and developing social and communicative skills to work effectively as a team. Learning about commitment, developing confidence in others, and acquiring social and communicative skills can enhance athletic performance, strengthen relationships, and foster a sense of accomplishment in Children. Young athletes who lack commitment, trust, and social and communication skills may struggle to work together, experience interpersonal conflicts, and perform poorly in athletic competitions. To address the lack of commitment, trust, and social and communicative skills, I have prepared a three-hour workshop for 10 to 14-year-olds attending the Clubhouse Bridge Foundation in Salinas, California