This study analyzes the bicycling community of Lexington, Kentucky. Interviews and participant observation were conducted in order to better understand the structure of Lexington’s cycling community, revealing three prominent groups/types of cyclists: (1) road cyclists, (2) underground/urban cyclists, and (3) commuters. The characteristics of each group are discussed, with particular attention devoted to the underground/urban cyclists, due to their politically-minded culture. Building from prior social movement literature, the unique framing processes of the underground/urban cycling group are analyzed in order to explore the group as a new social movement. Finally, the potential for a broader cycling movement based upon interests common to all cyclists is discussed.

<p> This research focused on three primary objectives: 1) identify barriers and facilitators to subsistence harvesters' meaningful participation in collaborative management of fish and wildlife in Western Alaska, 2) define subsistence harvesters' perceptions of a meaningful role in management, and 3) understand why subsistence harvesters' participation at collaborative management meetings has declined as indicated by a decline in applications to serve on regional advisory councils. I conducted semi-structured interviews with seventeen subsistence harvesters and three agency managers in Western Alaska. I also analyzed two public record transcripts of the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta Regional Advisory Council. Results indicate that subsistence harvesters in Western Alaska defined their meaningful role as the ability to work together and participate equally in management planning and regulatory decision making on management of fish and wildlife. Challenges to communication between subsistence harvesters and agency managers include language differences, use of technical jargon by managers at meetings, lack of flow of information between stakeholders, and the value stakeholders assign to one and others' knowledge. Interaction between stakeholders remains infrequent contributing to the lack of cultural awareness and understanding between stakeholders. Furthermore, factors which influence the timing of stakeholder engagement and where and how collaborative management occurs have affected subsistence harvesters' meaningful participation. </p><p> Subsistence harvesters' participation and applications for membership on the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta Regional Advisory Council are declining at least in part due to subsistence harvesters' perceptions that their participation is meaningless and their role does not allow for their equal participation in decision making on fish and wildlife management related issues. Secondly, the lack of informal and formal meetings between stakeholders in Western Alaskan communities has resulted in subsistence harvesters' lack of exposure to the Federal Subsistence Management Program. To better understand subsistence harvesters' meaningful participation, I recommend that managers focus on how and why the differences between stakeholders' cultures, worldviews on land and animals, approaches to management, and perceptions of a meaningful role are interrelated to and influence the observable outcomes of collaborative management in Western Alaska.</p>

<p> The current hermeneutic qualitative phenomenological study explored the impact of <i>Harambee</i> tradition of philanthropy on the philanthropic activities of Kenyan immigrants in the Twin Cities. The face to face interviews of 12 Kenyan immigrants yielded six themes which illustrated that <i>harambee;</i> skews towards social needs limited to Kenyans and other similar groups, conform to familiarity and comfort, espouse shared responsibility, enhance community participation and mobilization, maintain continuity of philanthropy and harmonizes altruistic behavior and satisfaction. Two subthemes that emerged indicate that <i>harambee</i> is for common good and is not easy to replicate in other settings. The findings of this study show that first-generation Kenyan immigrants continue to practice <i> harambee</i> years after migration. It is recommended that a Kenyan cultural community center be established in the Twin Cities to preserve the Kenyan history and culture as well as to provide avenues for research on Kenyan immigrant issues and other similar groups in the United States.</p>

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of Religious Studies, 2007. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Nov. 19, 2008). Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-03, Section: A, page: 1023. Advisers: Robert A. Orsi; Jan Nattier.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2008. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-05, Section: A, page: 1856. Adviser: Andrew Orta. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 264-281) Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-11, Section: A, page: 4754. Adviser: Nancy Abelmann. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 217-230) Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of Sociology, 2009. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Jul 7, 2010). Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-10, Section: A, page: 4077. Advisers: Bernice Pescosolido; Eliza Pavalko.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of Folklore and Ethnomusicology, 2005. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 66-01, Section: A, page: 0290. Adviser: Richard Bauman. Title from dissertation home page (viewed Oct. 11, 2006).

Thesis (Ed.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2006. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-07, Section: A, page: 2429. Adviser: Christine M. Thompson. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 139-141) Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, 2006. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-04, Section: A, page: 1245. Adviser: Bradley A. U. Levinson. "Title from dissertation home page (viewed June 19, 2007)."