http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification 720 https://escholarship.org/uc/ucla_communitylearning/rss Recent eScholarship items from Center for Community Engagement Mon, 29 Jun 2026 12:52:30 +0000 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3bm9z7vc Research has consistently shown that participation in civic engagement can yield numerous benefits for both individuals involved and the community as a whole. This research seeks to further explore the effects of youth civic engagement in specific relation to the participants of the Los Angeles community organization Changeist. The central research question asks how does participation in youth-led civic engagement programs influence empathy, self-advocacy, and the ability to understand diverse perspectives among youth ages 11-26? To answer this question, I utilized a 25-question online survey that included a mix of both 5-point Likert scales and long-form response questions, which was answered by 21 Changeist participants. The results of the survey show that participation in Changeist has led to positive results across all three outcome variables: empathy, self-advocacy, and the ability to understand diverse perspectives. The data likewise identifies Changeist’s emphasis on including... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3bm9z7vc Mon, 28 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Shaffer, Amelia https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9kx164x7 Maternal mental health is a critical component of overall well-being for mothers and their families, yet it is often influenced by a complex array of factors beyond biological and psychological considerations. Among these, sociocultural influences play a significant role in shaping maternal mental health outcomes. This paper explores the impact of sociocultural factors on maternal mental health, with a focus on how cultural values, societal expectations, and access to support systems shape the mental well-being of mothers. By examining these influences, this study aims to better understand the diverse experiences of motherhood and to identify culturally sensitive interventions that can improve maternal mental health outcomes across different populations. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9kx164x7 Mon, 23 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Thai, Andrea https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6bf3n6x7 This community-engaged research is grounded in the experiences of Los Angeles (LA) garment workers. Therefore, we affirm the principle that workers should be actively involved in shaping their own working conditions. The purpose of this research, then, is to situate a Garment Worker Center (GWC) staffing cooperative (or staffing coop) in the LA garment industry to further advance workers’ rights and leverage their skills and expertise, by conducting an initial customer exploration. Doing so allows the GWC’s staffing cooperative to pursue a business model that is competitive and feasible in the LA garment industry. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6bf3n6x7 Thu, 1 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Banerjee, Nayantara Calzada, Jonathan Du, Justine Ligaya Figueroa, Abigail Gomez, Pedro Garcia Gonzalez, Andres Gonzalez, Tomas Ortega Hernandez, Isabel Hernandez, Julia Hernandez, Juana Macavio Macario, Marta Gonzalez Morales, Bryzen Enzo Santiago, Bilma Session, Sherrod Woo, Miya https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2xg9272r Housing injustice is prevalent in Los Angeles. To determine how housing injustice differs in distinct areas of Los Angeles, six zip codes were studied: 90210/Beverly Hills, 90033/Boyle Heights, 90017/Westlake, 90036/Mid-Wilshire, 90028/Hollywood, and 90013/Skid Row. Various aspects of housing were compared between each area, and three public data sources and an interview with a representative from Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) were employed. Eviction Data from 2.2023 to 12.2023 from LA City Controller’s Eviction Data showed eviction type, cause of eviction, eviction notice type, and rent owed (LA City Controller, 2023). Los Angeles Housing Department’s ULA ERAP Workbook included data from rental assistance applicants, such as monthly rent, back rent owed, demographics, and area median income (ULA ERAP, 2024). Neighborhood Data for Social Change Platform’s Neighborhood Data for Social Change illustrated percentages of renters and of owners, housing stability, overcrowding,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2xg9272r Fri, 26 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Esses, Hailey https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8r31x5mt To assess if expanding the right to vote amongst the formerly incarcerated impacts community safety trends, we must have a better grasp of the voting behavior of the formerly incarcerated in California since the passage of Prop 17. Past research has shown that increased feelings of belonging to one’s community have reduced crime rates, making for a more cohesive and well-functioning democracy (Stuart and Taylor, 2021). In turn, this research seeks to examine: What are the effects of having the right to vote on feelings of social connectedness to one’s community for California’s formerly incarcerated population? https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8r31x5mt Mon, 24 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000 Isaacs, Hannalee https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8kk2z31d In 2016-2018, alarmingly, the opioid epidemic ravaged communities of color. Forty percent of the African American national population misused opioids, which subjected them to unjust labels of “drug user.” The pattern of racially labelling African American communities as “drug users” was not only driven by implicit discrimination, but also carried over to this community’s current abuse rates of marijuana.This pattern of bias have been shown tounderstand the prevalence of marijuana mis-use rates. However, previous studies have not unearthed how marijuana abuse education and initiative creation have contributed to marijuanaabuse prevention in CA. In partnership with South Central Prevention Coalition(SCPC), this research gap is addressed by applying a community engagement research lens to implement effective marijuana education and safe drug disposal programs that can steer marginalized individuals towards marijuana abuse prevention. Through mixed methods data collection, next steps... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8kk2z31d Wed, 18 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Sakthi, Chandni https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7zt7m5sf This research aims to discover how much the older adults in Central Los Angele have benefitted from an intergenerational community program. In addition, how intergenerational learning has successfully addressed various needs of these older adults because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The need for intergenerational programs has grown significantly over the past two years, with many older adults experiencing loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Intergenerational Programs provide a sense of comfort, relief, and a place where they can feel needed. They also help the older generations think a part of society and give them a sense of purpose and feelings of value. Through various intergenerational activities, the younger generation takes in information that will help them develop their levels of resilience and social identities. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7zt7m5sf Wed, 18 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Covarrubias, Joaquin J https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7m49w3f8 Previous program evaluation studies that assess alumni engagement are often conducted in university settings, which produce key communication strategies that optimize and enhance alumni engagement in that respective field. However, there is a discrepancy in the literature thatexamines alumni engagement in nonprofit organizations – which may contribute to the lack of alumni engagement. To address this discrepancy, a community-engaged research approach and program evaluation will be conducted in collaboration with the TELACU College Success Program to identify key communication developments and strategies to optimize alumni engagement and foster community among alumni. The next steps include developing and distributing a self-reported alumni survey that gauges their needs and interests within theorganization. The data collected from the self-reported survey will aid in the overall assessment of current communication strategies and outreach methods within the TELACU College Success... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7m49w3f8 Wed, 18 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Estrada-Vargas, Stephanie https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6g77m747 As the rate of homelessness increases across urban centers in America, vast amounts of unhoused people are being criminalized and being subjected to forced displacement by state authorities. Most of the existing literature written on homelessness services focus on formalservices that take place in an office setting rather than on-the-ground outreach. These present insightful learnings, but they do not provide a clear understanding of the process of outreach nor unhoused individuals’ experiences. To address this gap, we conducted a qualitative analysis,collecting narratives about unhoused individuals’ lived experiences with formal and informal systems of outreach in Koreatown, Los Angeles. We sought to understand what forms of outreach made unhoused individuals feel supported. We conducted semi-structured conversational interviews with volunteers and engaged in participatory ethnography duringweekly outreach. We inquired about unhoused peoples’ experiences with formal and informaloutreach... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6g77m747 Wed, 18 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Rosenstock, Chloe https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0pk1n60n California’s Central Valley communities are faced with the highest pollution burdens andhealth vulnerabilities. Specifically, San Joaquin County residents live in food deserts and are impacted by multiple health disparities, despite the county’s significant contribution to California’s economy through agriculture. To address the intersectionality of these issues, Rise Stockton Coalition developed the 2019 Sustainable Neighborhood Plan (SNP), a framework forsustainable development in Central and South Stockton to translate community concerns into projects and policy proposals. While their community engagement efforts identified community priorities and outlined potential projects to be adopted by the City of Stockton and coalition partners, there has been no evaluation of the document’s impact on sustainable development. Toaddress this gap, this community-engaged research project, in partnership with Rise Stockton, aims to evaluate the 2019 SNP’s influence on the coalition’s program... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0pk1n60n Wed, 18 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000 Colon, Alanis E. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9g7267nm The helper-victim relationship is often seen in refugee narratives in which international humanitarian organizations are the helpers and refugees are the victims. However, in parallel to this model is the neglected story of refugee leaderships who have mobilized to provide support for their own community. In this research, partnered with Tiyya Foundation, a nonprofit organization for refugees and displaced Americans, we hope to change the existing narrative by shifting the focus from the mainstream model portrayed by western media bias to the often unseen resilient-leadership narrative. We utilized a community-engaged research approach to explore active engagement from the refugee community through secondary ethnographic interviews. We also conducted a newspaper-based content analysis and we found that media, depends on their political leaning, plays a major role in influencing the refugee story by consistently portrays the harmful narratives of refugees as criminals, security... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9g7267nm Mon, 29 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Run, Kanitha https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8cq947h1 Mental health and experiences with trauma inform how people interact with the world around them and themselves. The Social Justice Learning Institute (SJLI), located in Inglewood, California, is an organization devoted to supporting “youth and communities of color by empowering them to enact social change through research, training, and community mobilization,” emphasizing the importance of system-level interventions. SJLI’s current programs are designed to support young men of color — this community-engaged research project seeks to fill the gap and widen the scope of the organization’s programming to young women of color. Literature reviews and analyses of existing programs designed to support young women of color have been conducted to collate perspectives and strategies for supporting young women; the community members will be included in these conversations. Supporting young women is critical to creating a more equitable and person-centered society, and this work will foundationally... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8cq947h1 Mon, 29 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Young, Hanna https://escholarship.org/uc/item/76w4h7dg In LA County, service providers rely on government funding to assist youth experiencing homelessness. Existing literature acknowledges the unique problems that the youth subpopulation confronts. Moreover, research notes that the most effective services for youth are youth-focused, and the availability of services is directly correlated with the supply of funding. We question whether youth funding allocations in LA County meet the reality of the youth homeless crisis. To perform an analysis, this research pursues a community engaged analysis of funding allocations from three sources—HEAP, HHAP round 1, and Measure H funded contracts—to form a representative view of the LA funding ecosystem. Further analysis occurs at the LA City Council District, County Supervisorial District, and County Service Planning Area scales. We find trends that implicate inequitable funding allocations and a concerning lack of accessible and accurate data. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/76w4h7dg Mon, 29 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Adam, Julian https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5278j6d0 Early childhood care and education centers are primary and secondary prevention for children at risk for low performance. ECCE are essential in the first three years of an individual's life; the connections one experiences in such services are crucial to brain development. The various interactions encountered at child care facilities can positively influence how a child thinks, feels, acts, and connects with others into adulthood. It additionally contributes to academic readiness and decreases the rate of school dropouts. These facilities are a valuable resource to families with toddlers, especially low-income families who may struggle to offer certain resources and skills to their young ones. However, it seems that the families who need the help the most struggle the most to access them. However, research still struggles to determine constructive ways to address systematic racial barriers within early childhood development within BIPOC families. As a consequence, children are... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5278j6d0 Mon, 29 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 Hernandez, Kimberly https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3cr7h8t5 Although homelessness, mass incarceration, and reentry to society are discussed in many different areas of research, there is little known when it comes to the effects that these issues have on elderly individuals. The barriers that elderly individuals face upon reentry to society are countless and the transition is far from smooth. This paper primarily focuses on housing, social security, and employment  policies. Public and private housing can be difficult to access due to required background checks and other factors such as loss of contact with family members due to long-term incarceration. Elderly individuals who spent most of their lives in prison may not be able to benefit from social security either. Additionally, employment could be difficult as well for those who cannot engage in physical activities and for those who do not have the technological skills necessary for non-physical jobs. Together, these findings suggest that the current policies make it incredibly difficult... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3cr7h8t5 Tue, 28 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Bae, Sarah S https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9tb4c3vg The paper discusses the armament of police in the United States. I will consider the reasons why disarmament is not a conversation in the United States. I identify that there is a problem in the United States when about 1000 people die every year due to being shot and killed by police officers. The issue of officers shooting civilians goes beyond just the general problem and is particularly an issue for communities of color and people with mental disabilities as there is a disproportionate number of deaths in both of these communities. I will also identify and discuss the policies of police in the United States and the lack of accountability of officers. I will analyze the police in other countries where they do not carry guns. Lastly, I will focus on ways of changing our current structure in a small manner so as to identify where a conversation can begin. These changes include the use of more non lethal weapons and improving officer training. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9tb4c3vg Tue, 21 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Arian, Megan https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7xj7z06f Deinstitutionalization funneled individuals with mental illnesses out of so-called asylums and into the streets with no treatment plan, medication, or access to care. Although initially it was just an easy way to reallocate government funding, it sparked a systemic change in which individuals with mental illnesses are now primarily treated by the criminal justice system. The criminal justice system does not effectively treat or rehabilitate these individuals and often does more harm than good, creating criminal sanctions, homelessness, negative medical and mental health outcomes, and isolation. As a solution, jurisdictions have begun implementing diversion programs. Two programs are implemented on a national basis: Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion and Crisis Intervention Teams International. In comparison to the criminal justice system and arrest and prosecution as is, these programs appear to have much more positive outcomes. They both have completely different structures with... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7xj7z06f Tue, 21 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Paccone, Julia C. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/59496884 Despite their growing numbers within the Los Angeles Unified School District, rarely are the academic struggles and barriers of Undocumented Central American students ever discussed. This study hopes to address the needs of undocumented Central American students as an important and urgent issue. Complexities tied to their identities, create a number of barriers that ultimately impede academic success and an eventual trajectory towards higher education. Employing an extended literature review, this study hopes to inspire schools and lawmakers to consider additional resources, support, and policy to better aid undocumented Central American Students. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/59496884 Tue, 21 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Chavez, Julio https://escholarship.org/uc/item/26m0s00c High nurse to patient ratios have been problematic across the United States for nurse and patient outcomes. Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which calls for “adequate numbers” of staffing, is ill-defined leading states to act. This research analyzes the various nurse staffing models that strive to achieve better patient outcomes. How do various state nurse staffing laws in acute care settings correlate with health outcomes regarding hospital acquired infections (HAIs)? There has been much research on the impacts of this law over time within California, and the literature is promising. This research suggests favorable patient outcomes with nurse empowered and directed staffing plans for specific units compared to laws that strictly enforced ratios for all hospitals, at all times, and under all circumstances. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/26m0s00c Tue, 21 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0000 Wong, Jasmine L. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7xf221r0 Evaluating the Normative View on Parental Involvement https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7xf221r0 Fri, 16 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Guidry, Dominic https://escholarship.org/uc/item/60c2d69x With a large population of their community facing diet-related illnesses, a non-profit organization in Pacoima, California, Meet Each Need with Dignity (MEND), attempts to alleviate the stressors of diabetes on these individuals through their educational programs. While their Diabetes Health Education seems to address the physical health component of diabetes, thisresearch was conducted to explore how MEND is addressing the psychological component to this disease. As MEND’s clients fall under the governmental poverty line, affecting their access to healthcare, MEND serves as a source of relief and hope for individuals facing hardship. Thisposition of opportunity MEND holds to leave a sustainable impact on these individuals is endless and should be utilized to create positive changes within these individuals. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/60c2d69x Fri, 16 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Feldman, Samantha R https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4g7574m3 Social Impact Through Business: A Comparative Analysis of Undergraduate Course Offerings and Perceptions of University Support https://escholarship.org/uc/item/4g7574m3 Fri, 9 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Nordstrom, Anna https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3cj3858d Como Si Nos Cerrarian Las Puertas: Exploring the Development of Critical Consciousness in a Direct Service Nonprofit https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3cj3858d Fri, 9 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Munoz, Juan A https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9204m2kx Locating “Community” in Community Gang Reduction https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9204m2kx Fri, 2 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Shabanava, Krystsina https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8964x6t9 Sexual assault in prisons is a shameful phenomenon in the United States. According to the Department of Justice, over 200,000 individuals are sexually abused in confinement annually. In response to this human rights crisis, Congress passed the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) in 2003 with the intention of creating measures to protect inmates from this abuse. Since then, PREA standards for different types of confinement facilities were passed, auditing of facilities began, and changes regarding the auditing process were made as various shortcomingsbecame apparent. In prior research, I explored if PREA audit-related reforms were successful in resulting in higher quality prison audits than had previously been conducted (specifically, in Alabama). Disappointingly, I found that they were not and that Alabama’s audits were alarmingly inadequate. This led me to my present question, which seeks to uncover whetherincreased state punitiveness is correlated with decreased PREA audit robustness.... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8964x6t9 Fri, 2 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Alves, Renee https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6p725851 Shared Responsibility: A Community Center’s Role in Children’s Character Development https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6p725851 Fri, 2 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Reyes, Anycia I. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3kf2v0g0 This paper examines the systemic racism operating behind the over-criminalization of the US immigration system, a relatively recent transformation occurring as a product of the War on Drugs. The unprecedented scale of deporting and detaining Latinx immigrants, in combinationwith the political effort to scapegoat this community as a “threat to national security,” shares commonalities with the heinous mass incarceration and criminalization of African Americans.Both processes thrive on an artificial appearance of “colorblind” impartiality, as the War on Drugs has ensured that racial bias remains implicit, not explicit, in these policies. However, as the increasingly punitive immigration system has entangled itself with the criminal justice system, the distinctive pattern of anti-Latinx racism obscures from public consciousness. Inresponse, this paper attempts to weave a comprehensive narrative that contextualizes the myth behind the so-called “illegal immigrant.” It proceeds by analyzing... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3kf2v0g0 Fri, 2 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Loharuka, Jaya https://escholarship.org/uc/item/26z1j0c6 Previous studies have outlined the importance of culturally competence practices, such as racial match between client and counselor and counselors’ knowledge of racial issues, for racial minorities who seek treatment for substance use disorders. Racial identities play a crucial role in defining social interactions in correctional facilities and homeless shelters, which have overlapping  population demographics with residents of residential facilities for publicly-funded substance use disorder treatments, suggesting that racial dynamics may also affect clients’ experiences in this setting. This study seeks to investigate the racial dynamics among clients in residential substance use treatment facilities by interviewing clients in a facility in South Los Angeles about their interracial interactions, perceptions of clients of race and ethnicity different from their own and discussing how racial dynamics might affect their progression and outcome with treatment. 9 semi-structured... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/26z1j0c6 Fri, 2 Aug 2019 00:00:00 +0000 Huang, Jo (Mulun)