Welcome to UCLA Undergraduate Research Week 2024!
Thank you for visiting the 2024 Undergraduate Research and Creativity Showcase. This Showcase features student research and creative projects across all disciplines. As a university campus, free expression is encouraged, and some content may not be appropriate for all ages. Visitors under the age of 18 are encouraged to explore these presentations with a parent or guardian. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect UCLA or any policy or position of UCLA. As a visitor, you agree not to record, copy, or reproduce any of the material featured here. By clicking on the "Agree" button below, you understand and agree to these terms.
Sociology and Public Affairs: Prerecorded Presentation - Panel 4
Monday, May 20 12:00AM – 11:59PM
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Location: Prerecorded: Online -- Prerecorded
Sociology and Public Affairs: Prerecorded Presentation - Panel 4, Presentation 1
CAMILLE WHITE, Silvia R. González, Vinit Mukhija
Pacoima is a majority working-class, Latinx neighborhood in Los Angeles with many first-generation immigrant families. Rooftop solar is a financially sustainable renewable energy source for low-income and working-class residents. Pacoima Beautiful has partnered with nonprofit organization GRID LA to provide subsidized solar panels to low-income residents in Pacoima. My research group investigated why working-class residents have remained reluctant to solar installation, assessing the financial and environmental successes and failures of current solar initiatives. I qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed a dataset of households in Pacoima designated by GRID LA as a “Lead” or a “Project” in the solar installation process. Current challenges to solar installation in each household were evaluated concerning roof durability and integrity, professional service need, home ownership status, languages spoken, type of building (duplex, single-family home, etc.), annual income, and number of people in each household. These analyses demonstrate critical correlations between solar installation reluctance, income inequality, poor housing conditions, and widespread concerns over housing displacement in Pacoima. My research group seeks to understand how state policy should be redeveloped to more inclusively incentivize low-income participation in solar programs in Los Angeles. We anticipate that many discussed trends are a result of systemic distrust toward the American government by immigrant and historically marginalized communities.
Sociology and Public Affairs: Prerecorded Presentation - Panel 4, Presentation 2
ASANTE SPENCER, LAILA WHEELER, Domonique Henderson
Existing literature exploring maltreatment of Black girls in academic spaces places a large emphasis on criminalization, discipline, and achievement gaps (Apugo et al., 2023; Ibrahim et al., 2022) and some literature examines how Black girls can feel unheard or silenced in education spaces (Evans, 2019; Opara et al., 2022). However, there is no known qualitative research focused on the dual experience of invisibility and hypervisibility (DIH) for Black girls in high school settings. This paper will use data from a study using grounded theory to illuminate how these opposing struggles operate simultaneously and are not isolated experiences for Black girls, which is essential to deepening our knowledge about the complexities of their daily experiences in high school settings. With the use of the intersectionality framework, we aim to thread these contrasting experiences to understand how these oppressive social forces influence the wellness of Black girls, along with providing evidence that schools employ harmful mistreatment rooted in gendered racial stereotypes. Findings unveiled that DIH is a nuanced experience where Black girls face impossible expectations to align with negative stereotypes assigned to Black girls leading to excessive visibility and exceeding standards of educators without the same acknowledgment or recognition as their peers. Results from this study can strengthen researchers, educators, and practitioners’ ability to combat gendered racial mistreatment and support Black girls in school settings.
Sociology and Public Affairs: Prerecorded Presentation - Panel 4, Presentation 4
Arjuna Thiagarajan
Media has become a catalyst in our discussion of difficult subjects such as men's mental health. The Sopranos is a pioneering example of a drama series that challenges important issues in our society. The series delves into the challenges the characters face when confronting their mental health issues while attempting to maintain traditional Italian American masculine values. The show excels in highlighting the intricate balance between societal expectations and personal well-being. Through the analysis of peer-reviewed articles, cultural studies, and scenes from the show, this research highlights how The Sopranos challenges stereotypes and harmful Italian American cultural norms. By emphasizing mental health, yet portraying it in a nuanced and realistic lens, the show resonated deeply with its viewers. Contributing to a broader understanding of men's mental health issues in the context of Italian American culture, media representations like this are significant in fostering meaningful conversations about men's mental health and toxic masculinity. Ultimately shows like this contribute to greater awareness and destigmatization within society. Further research will focus on broader forms of media. This would allow for greater understanding of how ethnic cultural values impact attitudes towards mental health.
Sociology and Public Affairs: Prerecorded Presentation - Panel 4, Presentation 5
ANGELICA SAC TZEP
In this paper I will weave together the insights of esteemed scholars and members of multicultural communities,
such as Raul, Jonathan Solares, Mildred Montesflores, and Adriana Ceron, who delve into the intricate dynamics
of the Central American diaspora within Westlake, Los Angeles. I embark on a path to shed light on its origins,
people, and complexities. To achieve this, I delve into a comprehensive exploration of literature, ethnographic
studies, and personal anecdotes of the youth of the community. Through literature and the experiences of these
students, I uncover layers of cultural preservation, economic resilience, and social cohesion within this
community. Additionally, I critically examine the challenges and obstacles encountered by Central American
migrants and youth, raging from socioeconomic disparities to issues of identity and belonging. The significance
of these findings extends beyond mere academic inquiry. They serve as a call to policymakers, community
leaders, and advocates to recognize and address the unique needs and aspirations of the Central American
diaspora. By amplifying their voices and understanding their lived realities, we can foster more inclusive and
equitable societies. We can create spaces for younger generations to learn more about themselves and what
they contribute to the world, such as the ones found at UCLA. Ultimately, the importance of this research lies in
its potential to inspire tangible change and empower marginalized communities to thrive in an ever evolving global
landscape.
Sociology and Public Affairs: Prerecorded Presentation - Panel 4, Presentation 5
ISABELLA SHARP, Michael Manville
The built environment of Los Angeles remains relatively consistent throughout years of development in the city, even as the populations and demographics of the individual neighborhoods fluctuate. This consistency is partially connected, on a broader scale, to zoning and development laws, which can sometimes prevent the city’s buildings from expanding to match population growth. Residents are forced into certain areas with more affordability and availability, thus altering the demographics of these areas. Here, we document changes in neighborhoods in order to evaluate association between restrictive development in LA and housing inequality as well as inefficient land use. We explored neighborhood shifts through an analysis of census tract data from 1960-2020 for three LA neighborhoods–Venice, Fairfax, and Historic South Central–in conjunction with a literature review of texts providing detailed descriptions of and residents’ perspectives on how the neighborhoods change over time. Metrics studied included population, housing units, and proportion of detached single family homes in order to reveal neighborhood change patterns. The supplemental literature reviews provide background information from the development of Los Angeles and population flow in the early 20th century in order to explain current census demographics and distributions. We hope that an understanding of long-term neighborhood fluctuations can provide perspective on changes that can support more sustainable and affordable housing.
Sociology and Public Affairs: Prerecorded Presentation - Panel 4, Presentation 6
JASON SUTEDJA and Megan Mullin
This paper investigates community engagement (CE) within policy and academic spheres, comparing how it is defined and implemented in the two different contexts. Highlighting the disparity between theoretical ideals and practical realities, it introduces 3 typologies of CE based on how decision making power is distributed and community agency. Through a lens of accountability, power, and resource/funding constraints, it examines the challenges faced by policymakers and universities in fostering CE in which the community is given both genuine agency and decision making power. Drawing on both literature and interviews with university professors, community stakeholders, and policymakers, the paper finds that despite hurdles, emerging initiatives within academia offer promising pathways towards better means of community engagement in policy.
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