Inner-city neighborhoods are being recognized for their potential to contribute visually, economically, and culturally to the urban core. Efforts to revitalize these neighborhoods will need to address the economic, cultural, and social structure of the neighborhood. Resident groups, in particular long-time and newer residents, will likely be affected by the cultural changes that inevitably accompany revitalization. This project explores the processes of community life and place attachment, and their role in fostering healthy communities. Residents, depending on their length of time in the neighborhood, will be at different stages of these processes. Design and planning may support community life and place attachment by understanding this continuum and providing for the processes that engender them. This project began with a review of literature on the subject of inner-city neighborhoods, gentrification, community life, and place attachment. From this literature design and planning criteria were extracted. These criteria were then applied to the Belmont-Fallon neighborhood in Roanoke, Virginia, and were evaluated based on the conditions of the neighborhood and levels of attachment of long-time and newer residents. Design implications were developed that may support the process of place attachment within this community. These implications were then illustrated and tested through design. / Master of Landscape Architecture

Sense of community (SoC) positively promotes persistence and graduation rates of college students by helping them to feel cared about by others, accepted as members of the campus community, and that they matter to their peers and other community members (Cheng, 2004; Harris, 2007a; Schlossberg, 1989). The college union is one of the most influential settings in developing SoC (Barrett, 2014; Janisz, 2014; Maxwell, 2016; Smyth, 2016) and improving student persistence (Tierno, 2013). However, scholars and educators lack understanding of the ways in which the physical and organizational environments of college unions contribute to SoC development among students. The purpose of this narrative study (Clandinin, 2013) was to understand the role of the college union in developing SoC among college students. Anchored in a modified version of Strange and Banning's (2015) campus ecology framework, the study explored how physical and organizational environments within a college union influenced the community conditions necessary for supporting the educational purposes of student engagement and learning. To understand the role of the physical and organizational environments of the college union in students' SoC development, this study used photo-elicitation methods and semi-structured interviews with seven participants from one large, public, historically White university with high research activity. Students' stories revealed a College Union Sense of Community (CU-SoC) Actualization Model in which students progressed through developmental stages: feeling overwhelmed initially, connecting with campus sub-communities, building localized community, and deepening connections and strengthening bonds with administrators and peers. By progressing through these stages, students developed a SoC toward the institution. The data also highlighted how the college union's physical and organizational environments advanced the SoC development process by creating a home-like feeling, encouraging and enhancing interactions through design, cultivating lasting memories, and nurturing a student-centered culture. These findings represent a narrative account describing the students' personal experiences in relation to how the college union shaped their SoC. / Ph. D.

Newspapers have been shown to have positive correlations with their readers, sense of community, political participation, and civic engagement. Using McMillan and Chavis, Sense of Community Theory and its accompanying SCI-2 as well as questions on demographics and media use, political participation, and civic engagement, this thesis conducts a survey study of two community newspaper readerships in differing locations within the continental United States. This study aims to discover and develop further understanding of the social, political, and community-building effects of community dailies and their mirrored-content news websites. First, it examines media consumption preferences and measure the sense of community (SOC) felt by readers of print-edition newspapers and their mirrored-content websites. Second, it examines the differences in SOC felt by print and website readers. Third, it examines the influence of SOC and print-news website-reading on political participation, and fourth, it examines the influence of SOC and print newspaper-website reading on civic engagement, both with the intent of discovering how SOC might mediate this relationship. This thesis will provide contextual information and build a case for the relevance of community dailies in an ever-increasingly fast-paced, technocentric society. Findings include a significant relationship between SOC and both print and online readers, and the question of whether readers of both print and online community news feel a stronger SOC than either on its own is answered. Further findings include newspaper website-reading shares a significant relationship with both political participation and civic engagement, and print does not. Implications and limitations are discussed. / Master of Arts

The current study examined the impact of a recently restarted football program and a new on-campus stadium on the alumni and students of a Division I FCS commuter school. Results showed that alumni felt more connected to the university because of the new football program, they were more satisfied with their overall game-day experience, and the new football stadium was more likely to increase their game attendance when compared to students. Supplementary analysis highlights key differences in how each group rated individual elements of the game-day experience and the mediums used by each group for obtaining team-related information.

Esta tese tem como objetivo geral analisar o impacto da pobreza no bem estar de indivíduos pobres dos estados do Rio Grande do Sul e do Ceará a partir de diferentes dimensões psicossociais (bem estar pessoal, vergonha, humilhação e senso de comunidade). Foram realizados quatro estudos com objetivos específicos. O primeiro estudo tem como objetivo analisar os artigos científicos que focalizaram na relação entre pobreza e bem estar subjetivo de pessoas em situação de pobreza, entre janeiro de 2010 até março de 2014 nas bases de dados Scopus, Web of Science e Sage. Assim, foi realizada uma revisão sistemática com 585 artigos, sendo analisadas de forma aprofundada 21 produções que contemplavam os critérios elaborados. De uma forma geral, averigua-se que a pobreza tem um impacto negativo no Bem Estar Subjetivo (BES), mas há paradoxos específicos que apontam tendências contrastantes. No segundo estudo, o objetivo foi analisar o impacto de diferentes formas de mensuração da pobreza no Bem Estar Pessoal (BEP) de indivíduos pobres dos dois estados pesquisados. Foram realizadas diferentes Análises de Regressão Múltipla, Testes T e Análises Multivariadas de Variância em uma perspectiva comparativa de regiões e de diferentes formas de mensuração da pobreza com 731 pessoas participantes da pesquisa. Novamente, percebe-se que a pobreza independente da forma de mensuração tem um impacto negativo no BEP, porém se observa que a utilização da perspectiva multidimensional tem uma maior capacidade de identificação dos impactos psicossociais da pobreza. O terceiro estudo tem como objetivo analisar os impactos da humilhação contra os mais pobres a partir de diferentes dimensões psicossociais. Foram realizadas Análises Fatoriais Confirmatórias e Modelagem de Equações Estruturais com os mesmos participantes do estudo anterior. Verifica-se que a humilhação pode gerar vergonha, causando isolamento social a partir da diminuição da relação positiva com a comunidade e do bem estar pessoal. As relações comunitárias com os vizinhos não tem uma diminuição expressiva nas pessoas com pobreza multidimensional, podendo este resultado ser entendido como a presença de relações de solidariedade entre os mais pobres. Por fim, o último estudo tem como objetivo analisar o processo de estigmatização da pobreza e suas consequências a partir de relatos de pessoas pobres de Fortaleza e de Porto Alegre. Este estudo de natureza qualitativa realizou dez Entrevistas Episódicas com residentes nas duas cidades mencionadas. Este estudo acrescenta aos resultados da tese considerações referentes a uma atuação de resistência dos indivíduos em situação de pobreza frente esse panorama discriminatório por meio de indignação e de agência a partir do apoio social e da existência de oportunidades concretas. Conclui-se que a pobreza independente da forma de mensuração tem um impacto negativo. Assim, devem-se criar oportunidades reais para as pessoas em situação de pobreza com base no apoio social como mecanismos de superação dessa situação. Igualmente, indica-se a necessidade de desenvolver estudos longitudinais e a validação de instrumentos específicos para esse público. / This thesis has as main objective to analyze the impact of poverty on the well being of poor people in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Ceara from different psychosocial dimensions (personal well-being, shame, humiliation and sense of community). Four studies with specific objectives have been realized. The first study aims to analyze the scientific articles that focus on the relationship between poverty and subjective well-being of persons in poverty situation, from January 2010 until March 2014 in Scopus, Web of Science and Sage databases. Thus, it was realized a systematic review with 585 articles, being examined in detail 21 productions that contemplated the elaborated criteria. In general, it ascertains that poverty has a negative impact on the Subjective Well-Being (SWB), but there are specific paradoxes that link contrasting trends. Specifically, the second study aims to analyze the impact of different forms of measurement of poverty in the Personal Well Being (BEP) of poor people of the two states surveyed. Multiple Regression Analysis, T test, Multivariate Analysis of Variance and Structural Equation Modeling were used in comparative perspective between regions and different ways of measuring poverty. The sample has 731 persons. It is identified that, independent of the form of poverty measurement, there is a negative impact of the poverty on BEP, but is observed the use of multidimensional perspective has a greater ability to identify the psychosocial impacts of poverty. The third article aims to analyze the impacts of humiliation against the poorest from different psychosocial dimensions. Confirmatory Factor Analyses and Structural Equation Model were conducted with the same participants of the previous study. It appears that the humiliation can lead to shame, causing social isolation as from the reduction of positive relationship with the community and the personal well-being. Community relations with neighbors do not have a significant decreasing in people with multidimensional poverty, which this result may be understood as the presence of relationships of solidarity among the poorest. Finally, the last study aims to analyze the process of stigmatization of poverty and its consequences from discourses of poor people of Fortaleza and Porto Alegre. This qualitative article held ten Episodic Interviews with residents in the two mentioned cities. This study adds to the results of the thesis considerations referring to an act of resistance of poor individuals facing discrimination through indignation and agency starting from the social support and the existence of real opportunities. It concludes that poverty has a negative impact regardless of the form of the measurement of this phenomenon. Thus, the real opportunities must be created for people living in poverty based on social support as coping mechanisms.

Urban violence has become common in lower-income communities that have high rates of shootings and African-American victims. Urban violence causes victims and their family and friends to experience trauma and puts them at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) injuries. However, there is a gap in knowledge in the framework of urban communities and their range of needs to address PTSD. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine whether a relationship exists between reinforcement of needs, membership, influence, shared emotional connection, and post-traumatic stress symptomology (PTSS) of urban violence victims in a large metropolitan city. Albert Bandura's self-efficacy theory and social conflict theory comprised the theoretical framework for this research. A correlational design was employed with a convenience sample of 83 respondents drawn from urban violence victims using an internet-based survey instrument designed to assess the elements of sense of community. The research questions examined participants' perceptions of reinforcement of needs, membership, influence, shared emotional connection, and PTSS. Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression analyses were performed on the collected data to test the hypotheses. The findings did not show a statistically significant relationship between participants' perceptions of sense of community and PTSD. However, victims of urban violence can use the results of this study to expand understanding of PTSD to address the realities of living in lower-income geographical locations, therefore leading to positive social change.

Community coalitions are prime vehicles for fostering social support within communities and prominent mechanisms for building local capacities to address health and social concerns. However, sustaining these entities beyond initial efforts and funding is difficult. What has kept members participating in and committed to the work of the Clarkston (Georgia) Health Collaborative, a community coalition, nearly 15 years after its inception? Prior research has examined several variables that predict overall participation and commitment in community-based coalitions, however, the literature has largely focused on coalitions that are topic driven (e.g., diabetes, gang violence, drugs, or obesity). These studies fail to identify those factors that are important in sustaining efforts in non-topic-based (i.e., there is no singular focus, but topics are community generated and vary), non-grant-funded community coalitions. This cross-sectional study examines member engagement as a sustaining factor of coalitions. Members of the Clarkston Health Collaborative (N = 93), ages 21 to 70 years and representing various sectors of the community, as well as racial and ethnic backgrounds, were surveyed as part of a coalition assessment in 2007 and 2008 in Clarkston, Georgia. Predictors that influence their participation and commitment, key components of engagement, are analyzed. These components were: leadership, social resources, sense of community, empowerment, member satisfaction, communication, decision making, and participation benefits. Based on the review of the literature, specific mediating relationships are hypothesized. A mixed-methods approach is employed, including path analysis that tests how well process models fit the coalition data, as well as key informant interviews by coalition members. Toward a conceptual model of engagement, findings supported the hypothesis that effective leadership increases member participation through increased social resources. Findings also supported the hypotheses that shared decision making and effective leadership increases member commitment through increased member satisfaction. Clear communication and sense of community were also factors that contributed to increased participation and commitment. These findings have implications for intervention, policy, and research, including a need for interventions that recognize the contexts of influence that foster member engagement in community-based coalitions. In addition, insight is gained for the planning and implementation of other coalitions to help ensure coalition sustainability.

The study analyzes the speech of people from marginal urban areas of Lima for the meanings and their assessment of organizational processes and participation in their localities. Twenty two in-depth interviews were conducted in 3 settlements in the southern cone of Lima. The results show that family and community networks are valued as resources that can face the challenges of living in an environment perceived as precarious. The organization and community participation are important strategies to overcome their difficulties. Interviewees identify a number of weaknesses in the strategies, like the lack of recent positive experiences and the wear from over-use of these local resources to answer collective problems. / Se analizan los significados y las valoraciones de pobladores de zonas marginales de Lima Metropolitana respecto a los procesos de organización y participación en sus comunidades. Se realizaron 22 entrevistas en profundidad en 3 asentamientos del cono sur. Los resultados evidencian que las redes familiares y comunitarias son valoradas como recursos para afrontar los desafíos de un contexto percibido como precario y lleno de limitaciones. La organización y la participación comunitaria ocupan un lugar importante en el discurso como estrategias para la superación de las dificultades y se valoran positivamente, a pesar de la falta de experiencias positivas recientes y de un probable desgaste debido a la sobreutilización de estos recursos locales en la resolución de problemas colectivos.

Esta tese tem como objetivo geral analisar o impacto da pobreza no bem estar de indivíduos pobres dos estados do Rio Grande do Sul e do Ceará a partir de diferentes dimensões psicossociais (bem estar pessoal, vergonha, humilhação e senso de comunidade). Foram realizados quatro estudos com objetivos específicos. O primeiro estudo tem como objetivo analisar os artigos científicos que focalizaram na relação entre pobreza e bem estar subjetivo de pessoas em situação de pobreza, entre janeiro de 2010 até março de 2014 nas bases de dados Scopus, Web of Science e Sage. Assim, foi realizada uma revisão sistemática com 585 artigos, sendo analisadas de forma aprofundada 21 produções que contemplavam os critérios elaborados. De uma forma geral, averigua-se que a pobreza tem um impacto negativo no Bem Estar Subjetivo (BES), mas há paradoxos específicos que apontam tendências contrastantes. No segundo estudo, o objetivo foi analisar o impacto de diferentes formas de mensuração da pobreza no Bem Estar Pessoal (BEP) de indivíduos pobres dos dois estados pesquisados. Foram realizadas diferentes Análises de Regressão Múltipla, Testes T e Análises Multivariadas de Variância em uma perspectiva comparativa de regiões e de diferentes formas de mensuração da pobreza com 731 pessoas participantes da pesquisa. Novamente, percebe-se que a pobreza independente da forma de mensuração tem um impacto negativo no BEP, porém se observa que a utilização da perspectiva multidimensional tem uma maior capacidade de identificação dos impactos psicossociais da pobreza. O terceiro estudo tem como objetivo analisar os impactos da humilhação contra os mais pobres a partir de diferentes dimensões psicossociais. Foram realizadas Análises Fatoriais Confirmatórias e Modelagem de Equações Estruturais com os mesmos participantes do estudo anterior. Verifica-se que a humilhação pode gerar vergonha, causando isolamento social a partir da diminuição da relação positiva com a comunidade e do bem estar pessoal. As relações comunitárias com os vizinhos não tem uma diminuição expressiva nas pessoas com pobreza multidimensional, podendo este resultado ser entendido como a presença de relações de solidariedade entre os mais pobres. Por fim, o último estudo tem como objetivo analisar o processo de estigmatização da pobreza e suas consequências a partir de relatos de pessoas pobres de Fortaleza e de Porto Alegre. Este estudo de natureza qualitativa realizou dez Entrevistas Episódicas com residentes nas duas cidades mencionadas. Este estudo acrescenta aos resultados da tese considerações referentes a uma atuação de resistência dos indivíduos em situação de pobreza frente esse panorama discriminatório por meio de indignação e de agência a partir do apoio social e da existência de oportunidades concretas. Conclui-se que a pobreza independente da forma de mensuração tem um impacto negativo. Assim, devem-se criar oportunidades reais para as pessoas em situação de pobreza com base no apoio social como mecanismos de superação dessa situação. Igualmente, indica-se a necessidade de desenvolver estudos longitudinais e a validação de instrumentos específicos para esse público. / This thesis has as main objective to analyze the impact of poverty on the well being of poor people in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Ceara from different psychosocial dimensions (personal well-being, shame, humiliation and sense of community). Four studies with specific objectives have been realized. The first study aims to analyze the scientific articles that focus on the relationship between poverty and subjective well-being of persons in poverty situation, from January 2010 until March 2014 in Scopus, Web of Science and Sage databases. Thus, it was realized a systematic review with 585 articles, being examined in detail 21 productions that contemplated the elaborated criteria. In general, it ascertains that poverty has a negative impact on the Subjective Well-Being (SWB), but there are specific paradoxes that link contrasting trends. Specifically, the second study aims to analyze the impact of different forms of measurement of poverty in the Personal Well Being (BEP) of poor people of the two states surveyed. Multiple Regression Analysis, T test, Multivariate Analysis of Variance and Structural Equation Modeling were used in comparative perspective between regions and different ways of measuring poverty. The sample has 731 persons. It is identified that, independent of the form of poverty measurement, there is a negative impact of the poverty on BEP, but is observed the use of multidimensional perspective has a greater ability to identify the psychosocial impacts of poverty. The third article aims to analyze the impacts of humiliation against the poorest from different psychosocial dimensions. Confirmatory Factor Analyses and Structural Equation Model were conducted with the same participants of the previous study. It appears that the humiliation can lead to shame, causing social isolation as from the reduction of positive relationship with the community and the personal well-being. Community relations with neighbors do not have a significant decreasing in people with multidimensional poverty, which this result may be understood as the presence of relationships of solidarity among the poorest. Finally, the last study aims to analyze the process of stigmatization of poverty and its consequences from discourses of poor people of Fortaleza and Porto Alegre. This qualitative article held ten Episodic Interviews with residents in the two mentioned cities. This study adds to the results of the thesis considerations referring to an act of resistance of poor individuals facing discrimination through indignation and agency starting from the social support and the existence of real opportunities. It concludes that poverty has a negative impact regardless of the form of the measurement of this phenomenon. Thus, the real opportunities must be created for people living in poverty based on social support as coping mechanisms.

Esta tese tem como objetivo geral analisar o impacto da pobreza no bem estar de indivíduos pobres dos estados do Rio Grande do Sul e do Ceará a partir de diferentes dimensões psicossociais (bem estar pessoal, vergonha, humilhação e senso de comunidade). Foram realizados quatro estudos com objetivos específicos. O primeiro estudo tem como objetivo analisar os artigos científicos que focalizaram na relação entre pobreza e bem estar subjetivo de pessoas em situação de pobreza, entre janeiro de 2010 até março de 2014 nas bases de dados Scopus, Web of Science e Sage. Assim, foi realizada uma revisão sistemática com 585 artigos, sendo analisadas de forma aprofundada 21 produções que contemplavam os critérios elaborados. De uma forma geral, averigua-se que a pobreza tem um impacto negativo no Bem Estar Subjetivo (BES), mas há paradoxos específicos que apontam tendências contrastantes. No segundo estudo, o objetivo foi analisar o impacto de diferentes formas de mensuração da pobreza no Bem Estar Pessoal (BEP) de indivíduos pobres dos dois estados pesquisados. Foram realizadas diferentes Análises de Regressão Múltipla, Testes T e Análises Multivariadas de Variância em uma perspectiva comparativa de regiões e de diferentes formas de mensuração da pobreza com 731 pessoas participantes da pesquisa. Novamente, percebe-se que a pobreza independente da forma de mensuração tem um impacto negativo no BEP, porém se observa que a utilização da perspectiva multidimensional tem uma maior capacidade de identificação dos impactos psicossociais da pobreza. O terceiro estudo tem como objetivo analisar os impactos da humilhação contra os mais pobres a partir de diferentes dimensões psicossociais. Foram realizadas Análises Fatoriais Confirmatórias e Modelagem de Equações Estruturais com os mesmos participantes do estudo anterior. Verifica-se que a humilhação pode gerar vergonha, causando isolamento social a partir da diminuição da relação positiva com a comunidade e do bem estar pessoal. As relações comunitárias com os vizinhos não tem uma diminuição expressiva nas pessoas com pobreza multidimensional, podendo este resultado ser entendido como a presença de relações de solidariedade entre os mais pobres. Por fim, o último estudo tem como objetivo analisar o processo de estigmatização da pobreza e suas consequências a partir de relatos de pessoas pobres de Fortaleza e de Porto Alegre. Este estudo de natureza qualitativa realizou dez Entrevistas Episódicas com residentes nas duas cidades mencionadas. Este estudo acrescenta aos resultados da tese considerações referentes a uma atuação de resistência dos indivíduos em situação de pobreza frente esse panorama discriminatório por meio de indignação e de agência a partir do apoio social e da existência de oportunidades concretas. Conclui-se que a pobreza independente da forma de mensuração tem um impacto negativo. Assim, devem-se criar oportunidades reais para as pessoas em situação de pobreza com base no apoio social como mecanismos de superação dessa situação. Igualmente, indica-se a necessidade de desenvolver estudos longitudinais e a validação de instrumentos específicos para esse público. / This thesis has as main objective to analyze the impact of poverty on the well being of poor people in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Ceara from different psychosocial dimensions (personal well-being, shame, humiliation and sense of community). Four studies with specific objectives have been realized. The first study aims to analyze the scientific articles that focus on the relationship between poverty and subjective well-being of persons in poverty situation, from January 2010 until March 2014 in Scopus, Web of Science and Sage databases. Thus, it was realized a systematic review with 585 articles, being examined in detail 21 productions that contemplated the elaborated criteria. In general, it ascertains that poverty has a negative impact on the Subjective Well-Being (SWB), but there are specific paradoxes that link contrasting trends. Specifically, the second study aims to analyze the impact of different forms of measurement of poverty in the Personal Well Being (BEP) of poor people of the two states surveyed. Multiple Regression Analysis, T test, Multivariate Analysis of Variance and Structural Equation Modeling were used in comparative perspective between regions and different ways of measuring poverty. The sample has 731 persons. It is identified that, independent of the form of poverty measurement, there is a negative impact of the poverty on BEP, but is observed the use of multidimensional perspective has a greater ability to identify the psychosocial impacts of poverty. The third article aims to analyze the impacts of humiliation against the poorest from different psychosocial dimensions. Confirmatory Factor Analyses and Structural Equation Model were conducted with the same participants of the previous study. It appears that the humiliation can lead to shame, causing social isolation as from the reduction of positive relationship with the community and the personal well-being. Community relations with neighbors do not have a significant decreasing in people with multidimensional poverty, which this result may be understood as the presence of relationships of solidarity among the poorest. Finally, the last study aims to analyze the process of stigmatization of poverty and its consequences from discourses of poor people of Fortaleza and Porto Alegre. This qualitative article held ten Episodic Interviews with residents in the two mentioned cities. This study adds to the results of the thesis considerations referring to an act of resistance of poor individuals facing discrimination through indignation and agency starting from the social support and the existence of real opportunities. It concludes that poverty has a negative impact regardless of the form of the measurement of this phenomenon. Thus, the real opportunities must be created for people living in poverty based on social support as coping mechanisms.