California State University, Monterey Bay
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“A Bright Spot of Community”: Finding Joy and Creating Connections in a Landscape of Crises
No full textIn this dissertation, I examine the Sofa Singers, an online choir formed at the start of the pandemic. Through twice-weekly meetings over Zoom and daily interactions on a private Facebook group, individuals actively work to create their community. Using sensory engagement, technological materials, and monetary fees, participants in the community come to understand their place through affective memories and social relationships. From inside the community, members are able to make sense of the multiple crises they are experiencing; as elderly and retired, my interlocutors struggle to feel included in a space and time built to exclude them. The constancy of regular sessions and events allows participants to endure the uncertainty of overlapping crises. Investigating this group and its members illuminates the formation of community as a conscious process, which in turn reflects the reason for its creation
More Than Words: A Parent-Led Approach to Triqui Language Revitalization at Home
No full textPreserving indigenous languages is crucial for maintaining cultural identity, strengthening family bonds, and promoting the healthy development of children. For many immigrant Triqui families, the shift to using dominant languages like English or Spanish can lead to language attrition, a gradual loss of their native language when it is no longer spoken regularly at home (McCarty, 2003). To help Triqui parents actively preserve and promote their heritage language, I conducted a workshop specifically for a group of Triqui mothers at the Greenfield Community Center. The workshop provided practical strategies to engage children in everyday Triqui conversations, strengthen intergenerational connections, foster a positive cultural identity, and create a supportive home environment where the indigenous Triqui language can thrive
The Price of Health: Income Disparities, Chronic Disease and Nutritional Inequity.
Get PDFChronic disease has notably increased among children and adults. The alarming trend is especially pronounced in low-income communities. Everyone’s Harvest is a non-profit organization founded in 2002. They work to improve access to affordable fruits and vegetables through farmers\u27 markets, targeting lower-income individuals. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate one of Everyone’s Harvest’s community food programs, Fresh Rx. Fresh Rx is a collaboration with healthcare providers in which doctors prescribe $35 worth of fruits and vegetables weekly for 19 weeks to patients with chronic diet-related illnesses. It was essential to learn if patients coming to the market and selecting their produce is more beneficial than picking up a produce box with produce chosen by an Everyone’s Harvest employee. The evaluation consisted of three focus groups—East Salinas and Seaside were the chosen locations for the focus groups due to their high enrollment. The outcomes of this project showed that patients would prefer to come to the market and select their produce; however, it also revealed improvements moving forward. The Results presented Fresh Rx’s impact on improving health and nutrition education. They also reinforced our expected outcomes. Communities that live in low-income neighborhoods are more prone to chronic disease. However, it is also essential to consider the most significant barrier, economic hardships, which prevent community members from eating healthily. Moving forward, Everyone’s Harvest should continue working with Fresh Rx and provide more nutritional education that connects cultural food to new produce in the market
Operation S.P.O.C.
Get PDFThis capstone project revolves around the fact that there are too many homeless veterans here in Monterey. The primary site for this project is the Veterans Resource Office, where the primary community they serve is active duty service members, veterans, and their families. The purpose of this capstone is twofold. The initial purpose is to bring to light that homeless veteran students are attending CSUMB, as well as offering a solution to the problem. This capstone involves implementing a safety analysis for the Vet Rep at CSUMB. It is a safety analysis of the “Safe Parking Program” coordinated through the Veterans Resource Office. It is a program that provides a safe place for homeless veterans sleeping in their vehicles to park overnight. For this capstone, veterans who utilize this program will be interviewed to get a feel on how they view the program. After gathering this information, there will be a comparison to other programs in different locations to estimate the value of the proposed program. With this information, the findings will be presented to the CSUMB Vet Rep to create a similar program for homeless CSUMB students. To create an alternative solution for homeless veteran students living in their vehicles
Optimizing Client Retention in Mental Health Diversion
Get PDFThis qualitative study at the Monterey County Public Defender’s Office explored client experiences within the mental health diversion program. The research was prompted by a noticeable discrepancy of high case dismissal rates that appeared to be linked to declining client engagement rather than successful program completion. Twelve clients were interviewed and categorized into two groups: active participants and program graduates. Additionally, two lead attorneys overseeing diversion cases were interviewed to provide further insight into the program’s impact and potential strategies to strengthen client engagement. Through analysis, six key recommendations emerged: (1) a participant checklist packet, (2) Employment Connect partnerships, (3) transportation assistance via bus passes, (4) an emergency support kit, (5) court and appointment reminders, and (6) sealed record training. These recommendations were presented to key stakeholders, including attorneys, a psychiatric social worker, and the Prop 47 grant manager, who identified their top priorities for implementation This research achieved its purpose, as clients\u27 voices shared through interviews successfully persuaded attorneys to adopt three of the six recommendations and to propose further research to identify additional contributing factors affecting client engagement
Increasing Awareness of Imposter Syndrome for High School Students
Get PDFImposter syndrome(IS) is a psychological pattern in which individuals experience self-doubt and fear of being exposed as unqualified, even if they have the skills or achievements to prove otherwise. Many high school students are not aware of IS and its effects and may perform poorly in school due to chronic self-doubt and a poor sense of belonging. However, when students learn coping strategies to overcome IS, they can improve their well-being and academic growth. To address this issue, I created a two-day lesson for sophomore and junior students who are part of the GEAR-UP program at Seaside High School in Seaside, California
Teaching Social Emotional Skills in Early Childhood
Get PDFChildren in early childhood may not have yet fully developed social-emotional skills around self-regulation. Without the ability to self-regulate, children will act out or misbehave in order to communicate their needs or express their feelings. Children that are taught social-emotional skills may be able to express their feelings in developmentally appropriate ways, exhibit fewer externalized behaviors, develop stronger social relationships, experience decreased emotional stress, and present better self-confidence. In order to promote social-emotional development, I created a three-day lesson for preschoolers at the Monterey Peninsula College Early Childhood Education Lab School in Monterey, California
Meeting Student Needs: Exploring Social Workers Perspectives Through Maslow\u27s Lens
Get PDFThis capstone project was focused on the lack of adequate access to basic needs and resources for students in the Salinas Union High School District (SUHSD), which impacts their behavior and contributes to behavioral challenges. The project was implemented in collaboration with the district’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Coordinator and was carried out through interviews with eight social workers from four middle schools and three high schools within the school district. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs was used as the guiding framework to assess the social workers\u27 understanding and their capacity to address students’ basic needs. The expected outcome was defined as the identification of trends, resource gaps, and potential solutions to improve student access to basic needs. The interviews revealed that, while a strong commitment to addressing student needs was expressed by social workers, significant gaps in resources and accessibility were identified. The expected outcome was partially met, as the identification of these gaps was achieved; however, the availability of resources was not fully addressed. It was recommended that the next steps include increased collaboration with local community organizations, the securing of additional resources, and the expansion of access to basic needs support services to ensure that all students are adequately supported both academically and personally
Impact of Parental Involvement on Elementary School Student Development in Pursuit of Higher Education
Get PDFThe purpose of this senior capstone is to examine the relationship between parental involvement and elementary school students\u27 academic trajectories, with a focus on their pursuit of higher education. Through a comprehensive analysis of existing literature and through the use of literature reviews, interviews, and surveys with college students, teachers, and parents, the results revealed that parental involvement is a big part of students\u27 educational performance and mental well-being in many aspects. This research investigates how parental involvement in elementary education influences students\u27 academic achievement, motivation, and aspirations for higher education. The findings highlight the significance of parental involvement in shaping students\u27 educational outcomes and provide insights into the specific parental behaviors and attitudes that contribute to students\u27 success
[2025 Honorable Mention] ICE: Trauma, and the War on Immigrant Families
Get PDFThis paper exposes how immigration enforcement under the Trump administration’s second term has crossed the line from policy to persecution. ICE is operating like a secret police force, using fear tactics and legal loopholes to tear families apart without cause or due process. The impact is not theoretical. It is real, measurable, and devastating. Children are being taken from schools. Parents are disappearing without explanation. Communities are being pushed into silence and survival mode. This paper focuses on the trauma being inflicted, especially on immigrant youth, and the way outdated laws like the Alien Enemies Act are being twisted to justify actions that are unconstitutional and inhumane. It also examines the role of language and media in normalizing this cruelty. But it is not just about the damage. It is about the resistance. From organizers on the ground to leaders like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, there are people fighting back. This is a call to pay attention, to stay loud, and to remember that the cruelty is not a mistake. It is the point.https://digitalcommons.csumb.edu/esa_submissions/1173/thumbnail.jp