In December 2018, the United States Census Bureau reported that classrooms were becoming more “racially and ethnically diverse” (n. p.).  Hispanic and Latino Americans accounted for 16.7% of students (US Census Bureau, 2019). Latinx students are enrolling in higher education institutions at a higher rate, yet their degree completion or graduation rates are significantly lower compared to other groups (Vega, 2016). First-generation students, especially those from non-White, underrepresented, or marginalized cultural groups, deal with social, academic, and financial obstacles that often become insurmountable while in college. This project aims to examine their experiences using a qualitative survey approach in order to understand how cultural background may affect these students’ collegiate experience. Specifically, the project will focus on first-generation Mexican American, or Latinx students with immigrant parents, and rely on three of Geert Hofstede’s cultural dimensions as a framework to highlight how culture can shed light on students’ experiences, and how an understanding of such factors can help improve and expand knowledge of first-generation Latinx students’ collegiate journeys. Such findings would be beneficial to ease the transition and integration of these students into college life, their success, and the overall ability of higher education programs to serve all students. 

Inclusive classroom is essential for maximizing all students’ learning and growing needs. When thinking of an inclusive education setting, we usually think of disabled students. What about students who are English Language Learners (ELL)? Or from a different economic level? Vary in family structure? Have different sexual orientation? Came from a different ethnicity background? This research project will dive into what higher education is doing in terms of preparing future preservice teachers to be prepared to teach in an inclusive classroom and be aware of intersections factors. The goal is to create an inclusive early childhood education classroom environment for all students through the lens of teacher preparation. Research collected for this study is based on multiple surveys and literature reviews. While there is plenty of research to support students with disabilities, there is a gap in early childhood education involving many other intersection factors such as gender, sexual orientation, race, economic status, family structure, language usage and much more. Results indicated that preservice teachers felt they were underprepared to teach in an inclusive education classroom. Using the findings from those surveys and literature reviews, this study will include recommendations on how to better prepare preservice teachers to be comfortable and confident to teach in an inclusive early childhood classroom.

TOSA Together (TT) is a citizen group in Wauwatosa, WI whose commission is to strive for diversity and inclusion within their community. Wauwatosa’s goal is to move towards creating equity and inclusion efforts such as providing valuable knowledge and resources to aid their city. By doing so, Wauwatosa could grow the culturally diverse population more, promote understanding between different racial groups, and identify potential problems in the community. The purpose of this research is to determine what key factors, strategies, and theories the TT use to create their commission in their community. Understanding what concepts and strategies TT uses in their efforts will allow the identification of key factors and strategies that are effective in communities such as Wauwatosa. By analyzing this organization's key factors and strategies, it may provide and contribute to strong leadership skills that can be implemented to organizations and educate leaders. The research program aims to ask three main questions. 1. How did TT work and did their involvement change the community? 2. What key factors of leadership strategies do they use to get where they are? 3. What helps them become a strong organization? With a focus on quantitative & qualitative approaches, the data will provide demographic improvement and stories of the residents of Wauwatosa. Key terms: Citizen Group, Leadership Theory, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion