Black-crowned night herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) share the same niche with various competitor species, influencing and effecting their behavior accordingly. Recent studies show that black-crowned night herons are mainly active during dusk and dawn due to the decreased presence of competitor species at these times, suggesting there nocturnal behavior is an adaption. During my study, I observed the proportion of high and low activity of black crowned night herons in relationship to presence of competitor species and the time of day. My data suggest greater numbers of black-crowned night herons with high presence of competitors, and higher activity level with less competiton.

The Advocates for Indigenous California Language Survival held its first Breath of Life Workshop in 1996. The Breath of Life Workshop connects tribal participants with Native American language archival collections at the University of California at Berkeley for the purpose of bringing back into use languages with no living fluent speakers. During Breath of Life, participants use archives to complete a research project that can be completed in a week. Participants finish the workshop prepared to conduct archival research independently at any archive, including Humboldt State University's Humboldt Room, home of the Center for Indian Community Development Collection.

A wide range of environmental, social, and economic factors contribute to the issue of food insecurity. Despite being overwhelmingly agriculturally based economies, rural communities are some of the areas most at risk for high levels of food insecurity. This work addresses why the unequal distribution of food within an area of relative food abundance cannot be understood through the same lens as urban food deserts, but must be analyzed from the bottom up: following the supply chain of food throughout the social, environmental, and economic structures of the rural community.

This fall Open Door Community Health Centers (ODCHC) experienced a extremely high number of patients whose anxiety and agoraphobia made it difficult for them to engage in valued life activities. I was asked to assist with developing and implementing a therapeutic group to support these individuals because clinicians at this organization were experiencing such large caseloads that it was difficult for them to effectively serve all the clients who needed support. The goal of this project was to create a group therapy setting where clients could be treated in a sustainable and time effective way.

The LSEE 380 pilot class has been working in South Fortuna the past semester, working with 3rd and 4th graders on the concepts of Social Justice. We have asked the classes to help us determine the problems they see around their selves, community, and world. We asked "what would you do to change the problems around you?" This is the outcome...

This project fulfills the requirements for the Masters degree in Social Work. The design of the project is informed by a relational worldview, specifically the work of Terry Cross who suggests that a circular experience of the world intersects with more linear representations of reality. It is at the places of intersection that opportunities for dialogue occur and the intent of the project is to make the experiences of first responders visible to those who do not have access to this knowledge and experience. The creative work is the construction of an empathic bridge between the community and first responders through poetry in honor of the belief that we are all connected.

In conjunction with the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology(AT), for my service learning project, I sought to share intersectional knowledge with the HSU community and beyond of self-resiliency, while being mindful of one’s impact upon the earth through appropriate technology and food sovereignty. Students and community members worked together to construct a communal garden that included AT construction techniques and promoted ecologically sound sustainable food systems that are beneficial to the entire community. It was my goal to empower individuals to become agents of change within our global community and invoke values that promoted the well being of the environment and people.

This report summarizes the experience working with Humboldt County Office of Education at the Eureka Community School. The goal of this project is to enhance visibility of the education system at court schools and improve upon each individual’s learning experience. This was accomplished through in-depth interviews with staff faculty at the Eureka Community School alongside 30+ volunteer hours as an aid in the classroom.

What support do survivors turn to after environmental disasters? This research examines how survivors of the Camp Fire, one of the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in California’s history, draw upon religion in the aftermath of disaster. Specifically, this research asks: What role does religion play in rebuilding a community post-disaster? During the summer of 2019, I conducted ethnographic observations, interviews and surveys with individuals affected by the Camp Fire. I documented material, social and spiritual forms of support that religions organizations offered to residents of Paradise and consider how these factors relate to building the town.

Previous studies have examined the outcomes of different career development strategies for Environmental Studies students across the country and have found that programs with strong career preparation also utilize the curriculum and community when advising their students. Cal Poly Humboldt’s ENST department has yet to contribute to this research and implement all of these strategies. We conducted research, funded by the LAEP Program (including student surveys, interviews, peer-reviewed journals, and comparative analysis) to determine best practices to support our students in achieving their career goals.