<p> The Chicano Movement in the Catholic Church initiated dialogue with the Catholic hierarchy through grassroots activism that ranged from the prophetic to the quotidian. Chicano organizations were led by Catholics whose experiences of the Church gave rise to their advocacy for racial justice, equal representation, and culturally appropriate ministries. Visions for the Church originating in the fields and barrios grew into a movement that challenged racism against Mexican Americans at local, diocesan, and national levels. Many Chicanos held that there was an inseparable connection between their cultural and spiritual lives. They asserted their place within the faith community and demanded the pastoral care that Anglo Catholic leadership denied them. Chicano Catholics pressured the Church with strategies they learned from community organizing, the Chicano and Black Liberation Movements, and the Feminist Movement. They did so in a way that made Catholic doctrine, rhetoric, and rituals central to their campaign and set them apart from secular branches of <i>movimiento </i> activism. Chicano Catholics valued the social, economic, and spiritual power held by the Church and were determined to redistribute it among Mexican American communities. </p><p> Decades after the peak of the Chicano Movement, its history in the Church is ripe for theological reflection. As a historical study, this work augments secular histories that have neglected the religious, theological, and ecclesiological foundations of the Chicano Movement. Theologically, this dissertation will encourage existing ecclesiologies to take seriously grassroots perspectives of the Church that animate dialogue, including the unconventional, controversial, and often provocative means that the Chicano Movement used to instigate dialogue between the center and peripheries of the US Catholic Church. Lessons from the Chicano Movement are invaluable for a Church within a political, social, and ecclesial milieu that continues to exclude vulnerable communities.</p><p>

<p> This qualitative study explores the experience of eight Mexican immigrant DACAmented students who have studied abroad in their country of origin in a study abroad program taking place through a California State University. Using a Latina/o critical race theory framework, the study explores the journey of participants navigating the immigration process, traveling, and studying abroad in their native country and finally returning back to the United States. Through Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, students petitioned for Advance Parole for educational purposes to participate in a program that allowed them to have an educational experience. Studying abroad would only be a dream for students until they were granted Advance Parole. There, participants took courses in Spanish, immersed and learned about Mexico&rsquo;s history and culture. Additionally, participants were able to return to visit and reconnect with family members. In doing so, students reconnected with their Mexican identity, but by returning to the country, they were able to access their heritage and roots.</p><p>

xii, 206 p. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / This project examines reader reception of U.S. Latino-authored narratives that engage in varying degrees of textual code switching and bicultural belonging. The analysis builds on the argument that these narratives, as part of a larger body of minor literatures, play a role in revolutionizing traditional Anglo-American discourses of knowledge by marginalizing the monolingual and monocultural reader historically positioned as the prototype of cultural literacy in the United States. This project further proposes that marginalization is achieved by a textual appropriation and structural weakening of the dominant language and culture via the creation of a narrative space that privileges code switching to articulate bicultural identities. U.S. Latino texts that alternate between English and Spanish mirror the misunderstandings and failures of intelligibility in the multicultural situations they depict, thereby requiring the monolingual and monocultural reader to experience this unintelligibility first-hand. In order to tackle broader questions about how these literary texts and their reception reflect what is at stake politically, nationally, and culturally for Latinos in the United States today, this interdisciplinary project draws upon a diversity of perspectives originating from linguistics, literary analysis, sociology, and history to identify how literary texts mirror bicultural identity for Latinos. As a part of this analysis, the project examines the history of Spanish language use in the United States, Latino immigration history, the standard language ideology privileging English monolingualism, the persistence of bilingualism, oral and written code switching, the publishing industry, and analyses of reader responses to bilingual texts based on survey data. In situating these histories within discussions about the bilingual, bicultural nature and reception of the U.S. Latino narrative, this project shows how the linguistic makeup and the subsequent receptivity of these texts minor the bicultural identity and changing social positioning of the Latino population in the United States. / Committee in charge: Robert Davis, Chairperson, Romance Languages; Analisa Taylor, Member, Romance Languages; Monique Balbuena, Member, Honors College; Holly Cashman, Member, Not from U of O; David Vazquez, Outside Member, English

<p> This research focused on addressing high attrition rate of Latino students at U.S. post-secondary institutions. National data reports that Hispanics hold the lowest degree completion rate (16%) of post-secondary degrees (NCES, 2015). The study was guided by Clark and Estes (2008) analytic framework, which required the validation of knowledge, motivation, and organizational influences that could potentially be barriers to reach organizational goals. A qualitative case study approach with an emphasis on evaluation was done at a small private college that transitioned from being a predominantly White institution to become a certified Hispanic Serving Institution with more than 25% Latino enrollment in 2014 and almost 50% in 2017. The implications of the case study to the educational community are immense, first, institutions need to treat each individual with much value and respect, each student that is enrolled and paying tuition deserves the highest quality in educational practice. Thus, higher education institutions must assess performance and provide the highest level of training and professional development in areas that need improvement. Second, even with the many different responsibilities and distractions administrators and institutions have on a daily basis, in order to increase student retention (or to improve in any other area), institutions must cultivate a healthy sense of urgency and eagerness to participate in the change process. Moreover, a strategic model of Hispanic retention emerged from the research and it is presented in the discussion section of Chapter Five.</p><p>

<p> Advocates of market-based reform strategies such as school choice claim they will offer families better options to obtain a high-quality education for their child, yet empirical studies offer inconclusive evidence of gains in student achievement and point to the growing trends of racial and economic segregation emanating from increased schooling options. Furthermore, research indicates numerous contextual factors affecting families&rsquo; participation and benefit from the expanded marketplace, with marginalized populations facing considerably more barriers in their search for high-quality education. This is particularly true for Latinx families, whose unique cultural, linguistic, social, and economic backgrounds influence their schooling decisions in ways that vary from the normative expectations of choice policies. Although their enrollment in public schools across the United States is steadily increasing, their participation in choice schools is often limited and impedes equitable access to high-quality schools. Because few empirical studies focus on this sector of the population, there is a great need for more comprehensive understanding of the behaviors and decisions of Latinx families across various nationalities, generations, and social classes. </p><p> This study aims to begin to fill this void in the literature, using a descriptive case study design to examine the ways in which Latinxs are and are not participating in the school choice process in Mecklenburg County. Data was triangulated among interviews of 17 immigrant Latinx families and four school personnel, public documents providing school data and county demographics, and participant observations of school choice related events. Findings revealed a trend in the timing of families&rsquo; participation: a majority did not engage in the educational marketplace until the middle or high school levels. A second notable trend was in the sectors of their participation: a majority of families applied to public magnet schools; the home school option was not mentioned; private schools were out of reach for the one family who looked into them; and charter schools were unfamiliar options to all but one family. Though parents sought to utilize their individual and cultural assets to obtain improved educational opportunities beyond their traditional public school, they faced numerous constraints in their participation due to their social stratification as immigrants with limited financial resources. These findings suggest implications for policy and practice particularly in resolving theoretical contradictions emanating from economic applications to democratic education.</p><p>

abstract: ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate physical activity (PA) program characteristics preferred by low-income childbearing age Latinas and the relationship with the participants’ personal characteristics, cultural values, and acculturation. This was an exploratory study guided by the Preferences and Health Behavior Model (PaHBM), developed by this investigator. Recruitment occurred at three sites; two sites were located in Phoenix, AZ and one site was located in Houston, TX. Non pregnant Latinas between 18 to 35 years old were included (N=275). Latinas were excluded if they were pregnant, incarcerated, physically or mentally disabled, or had chronic diseases (e.g. cardiovascular disease). Quantitative data were collected using the Predictors and Preferences of Physical Activity Research Intervention Participation in an Underserved Latina Community Questionnaire, developed by this author, along with the Brief Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans, and the Mexican American Cultural Values Scale. The hypotheses were tested utilizing Chi-square, Pearson correlation and logistic regression. Annual family income, parity, country of origin, BMI and acculturation were the personal characteristics significantly associated with preferred PA program by this group of Latinas. Latino women were heterogeneous in their preferences. In general, sixty percent endorsed dancing as the type of activity preferred, 20% preferred PA education and 20% preferred walking. Major differences were found between the types of activity the Latino women were currently participating in compared to their preferred type of activity. Of the 124 who reported to be walking/jogging, almost half (49) preferred dancing, 22 preferred PA education and only 12 preferred walking. The study findings add to the existing knowledge by looking at factors that should be considered when developing PA interventions as well as when prescribing or recommending PA to this population. These results demonstrate the need to identify the preferred PA program characteristics of Latinas prior to developing interventions. Failure to know the patient’s preferred PA program characteristics may result in prescribing or recommending an undesired activity and decrease participation in PA interventions. RESUMEN El propósito de este estudio fue identificar las características preferidas en un programa de actividad física por una comunidad de mujeres Latinas de bajos recursos económicos y en edad fértil, así como la relación de esas características con sus propias características personales, sus valores culturales y su adaptación a la comunidad Anglosajona. Este fue un estudio exploratorio guiado por el “Modelo Preferencias y Comportamiento Saludables” (PaHBM), por sus siglas en Ingles, desarrollado por esta investigadora. El reclutamiento de las Latinas ocurrió en tres sedes: Una en Houston, TX y dos en Phoenix, AZ. Las mujeres Latinas fueron incluidas si tenían entre 18 y 35 años de edad. Se excluyeron mujeres que estaban embarazadas, estuvieran encarceladas, físicamente o mentalmente incapacitadas o que sufrieran alguna enfermedad crónica. Los datos cuantitativos fueron recolectados a través de una encuesta llamada “Predictores y preferencias de participación en un programa investigativo de actividad física”, desarrollada por la autora de este estudio, además utilizando la escala breve de aculturación para Mejicanos Americanos y la escala de valores culturales en Mejicanos Americanos. Las hipótesis fueron probadas utilizando el Chi-cuadrado, la correlación de Pearson, y la regresión lógica. Las características personales más asociadas con las características del programa preferido fueron el salario anual de la familia, el número de hijos, el país de origen, y el índice de masa corporal. En general, 60% prefirieron bailar, 20% clases de actividad física y 20% caminar. Mayores diferencias se encontraron en el tipo de actividad en las que las mujeres Latinas estaban participando, comparado con lo que ellas preferían. De 124 participantes que estaban caminando o trotando, 49 Latinas (39%) preferían bailar, 22 Latinas (17%) preferían clases de actividad física y solo 12 Latinas (10%) prefirieron caminar. Estos resultados demuestran la necesidad de identificar las características del programa de actividad física antes de crear dicho programa. Estos resultados son una adición a los conocimientos existentes, en los que se identificaron factores que deben ser considerados cuando se planea un programa así como cuando se prescribe o se recomienda actividad física a esta población. Sera un fracaso no conocer las preferencias de una paciente para mantenerse físicamente activa porque puede resultar en la prescripción o recomendación de actividades que la paciente no desea y esto se traducirá en reducción de la participación en programas de actividad física. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Nursing and Healthcare Innovation 2016

<p> En esta tesis doctoral se analiza el cambio del modelo de feminidad &ndash;de &aacute;ngel del hogar a mujer moderna- en seis novelas publicadas en Espa&ntilde;a entre los a&ntilde;os 1909 y 1934. Argumentamos que no hab&iacute;a una &uacute;nica mujer moderna en la literatura de la Edad de Oro, sino que la nueva feminidad era un concepto complejo y en ocasiones contradictorio.</p><p> La mayor aportaci&oacute;n de esta tesis a la bibliograf&iacute;a de los estudios literarios del periodo es romper con el estereotipo de la nueva mujer como un ente uniforme y universal en las novelas espa&ntilde;olas. Esta investigaci&oacute;n demuestra que en Espa&ntilde;a hab&iacute;a un conjunto muy diverso de autoras, en cuanto a su formaci&oacute;n, afiliaci&oacute;n pol&iacute;tica o fe religiosa, que eleg&iacute;an la novela como medio de difusi&oacute;n de sus ideas sobre una emancipaci&oacute;n femenina propiamente espa&ntilde;ola. Mostramos adem&aacute;s que esta tendencia en la literatura espa&ntilde;ola permaneci&oacute; durante todo el primer tercio del XX y fue transmitida a trav&eacute;s de diferentes formas de expresi&oacute;n literaria. </p><p> El an&aacute;lisis se lleva a cabo a trav&eacute;s de diversos aspectos que marcaron el cambio del modelo femenino y que definen la estructura de este trabajo. El segundo cap&iacute;tulo analiza la construcci&oacute;n de g&eacute;nero en <i>Ellas y ellos o ellos y ellas</i> (1917) de Carmen de Burgos (1867-1932) <i>y La trampa del arenal</i> (1923) de Margarita Nelken (1894-1968). En el tercer cap&iacute;tulo se estudia el papel de la nueva mujer en el espacio p&uacute;blico que se refleja en <i> La virgen prudente</i> (1929) de Concha Espina (1869-1955) y <i> Tea rooms</i> (1934) de Luisa Carn&eacute;s (1905-1964). Por &uacute;ltimo, el cuarto cap&iacute;tulo se enfoca en la sexualidad de la nueva mujer presentada en <i>Zez&eacute;</i> (1909) de &Aacute;ngeles Vicente (1878-&iquest;?) <i> y La indomable</i> (1927) de Federica Montseny (1905-1994).</p><p>

<p> <b>Purpose:</b> The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine the engagement of Hispanic Advanced Placement science learners in California's Central Valley as perceived by high school teachers. </p><p> <b>Methodology:</b> The mixed method study surveyed 20 Advanced Placement science teachers from the region of interest. Likert surveys were used to determine: 1) their perceptions of the engagement of Hispanic students by the AP Program, and 2) barriers presented by the AP Program. Quantitative results indicated teacher support for the AP Program and few barriers as currently administered. A focus group of 12 teachers recruited from the 20 surveyed provided qualitative data which gave depth to the study and suggested changes in program practices to inform future teaching. </p><p> <b>Findings:</b> Participants perceived that the AP Program promotes engagement and learning in high school science classrooms and does not present significant barriers to Hispanic science students' access to the curriculum, learning or course completion. Some changes in practice to improve the AP Program were suggested. </p><p> <b>Conclusions:</b> Current AP Program practice meets the needs of Hispanic science learners in the region studied but would benefit from increased science offerings and recruitment in elementary school. Participants indicated that AP Program could be improved if there are more students participating in the Advancement Via Individual Determination Program in both middle and high school thereby equipping them with the skills to be successful. Targeted support for Hispanic learners at the high school level, particularly those who struggle with the vocabulary demands of AP science was suggested. </p><p> <b>Recommendations:</b> A number of studies were suggested that may build on this research project. Among them, surveying Hispanic AP teachers, studying the differences in the level of rigor practiced by AP teachers, and differences between data obtained from the focus group as compared with data from the surveys only. Participants indicated the role of parents on many levels. This may indicate the opportunity to study parent and other family member role models as pertains to college attainment. Differences in AP offerings would be another area for study.</p><p>

<p> Latina principals play an important role in addressing the challenge of Latinx educational attainment (completing high school, college and graduate school). This study utilizes the theory of community cultural wealth (Yosso 2005, 2006) to explore the student and career experiences of Latina principals of Title I schools in a large southwestern city. The study addresses three key research questions: (1) How did Latina principals experience community cultural wealth as students during their K-16 educational journey? (2) Based on these experiences, how do Latina principals recognize and use community cultural wealth in their current professional practices? (3) Does the analysis of their experiences identify any new forms of capital to enrich the extant scholarly understandings of community cultural wealth? Data were drawn from qualitative semi-structured interviews with Latina principals in nineteen Title I schools. The study demonstrated that the Latinx community possesses unrecognized reservoirs of strength that played a significant role in the academic and professional achievements of the Latina principals who were interviewed. The study also revealed that the various forms of community cultural wealth are closely intertwined, thereby contributing to the success of these principals. Two additional forms of cultural wealth were also identified &ndash; <i> ganas</i> capital and <i>raza</i> capital.</p><p>

<p> Two-hundred twenty-eight U.S. Mexican-heritage children, ages 8&ndash;10 (110 boys &amp; 118 girls) whose mothers varied in familiarity with Indigenous practices and experience with schooling were videotaped while playing a computer game to study cultural patterns in collaboration and communication. The children played in groups of 4 on 2 computers. Interaction was coded in 5-second segments involving: teamwork, attempts at collaboration, turn-taking, competitive play, or neutral play. Communication was coded as either verbal or nonverbal, including what was communicated. Some results among middle class children were consistent with our expectations; for example, higher rates of solo play, however, the majority showed no difference between the groups. I discuss the shifting cultural practices in both groups as possible reasons for this pattern of results. Lastly, discussing possible cultural shifts pertaining to children&rsquo;s experience with school in addition to their mothers formal schooling experience. </p><p>