Our personal experiences define us, but as Goffman’s ideology suggests, there are other social roles that one takes on, defining oneself within society. Some social roles are positive while others are more negative. For houseless persons, there are often negative associations with the social role of the “homeless”, the “vagrant”, the “derelict”. These negative associations negate the personal identities of houseless individuals. They are seen as outsiders; people are told not to associate with the houseless, and told not to give them money as they are “likely to use it for drugs”. Thus removed from society, houseless folks are excluded as consumers, often seen as people who are unable to help themselves, and as people in need of saving. However, this mindset does not create a space for the person’s personal identity to be acknowledged - it belittles the person as the needy. No longer defined by their experiences, they are instead defined by the social role of the unhoused. In several cases, the unhoused person is forced to take on this negative identity, while other times there are ways that the unhoused distance themselves from the unhoused community. How then can society begin to integrate and acknowledge the unhoused and their “missing identities”? While the houselessness crisis does not have one easy solution, when it comes to the inclusion of the houseless as people with personal experiences that define them, there are opportunities for housed individuals to open a space for the unhoused to express themselves and their experiences.

There are multiple disparities present in the US justice system which vary across different variables like race, sex, and familial status. There have been multiple previous studies showing the disparities between men and women in sentencing for similar crimes that show that women are 58% less likely to be sentenced to prison. Previous studies have also shown that Caucasian women tend to have lower sentencing than any other race or sex. However, among women that are sentenced, there are also disparities present. Yet, there is little to no research that investigates the disparities in sentencing length between both race and motherhood among women who commit similar crimes. In this research, it will be demonstrated that there is a difference in sentencing length for women who commit similar offenses depending on race and familial status. This research will be using regression analysis to evaluate data from the United States Sentencing Commission standardized research data documentation from 2021 in order to compare sentence length among women depending on race and familial status. The study will investigate whether or not Caucasian mothers are more likely to have lower sentencing than a mother from any other race.

The practice of Bacha Bazi also known as the dancing boys is common in Afghanistan today and has been for many decades. This practice is characterized by powerful warlords, politicians, or men who have a higher status in this society, targeting impoverished young boys. The young boys are susceptible to falling into the cycle of being sexually exploited as they are promised money to support their families. The owner of these boys takes them to men's parties or weddings to dance, and often after the party, they are passed around to different powerful men and are sexually assaulted. The research on Bacha Bazi is minimal as this topic is very stigmatized, due to society's unacceptance of homosexuality. The majority of research that is done takes place outside of Afghanistan. This presentation uses a secondary analysis to examine multiple sources on this practice, including human rights reports, documentaries, and investigative journalism to understand the social and structural forces that enable and perpetuate this practice. The findings of this research reveal social and structural factors that contribute to this practice, including societal changes that need to be implemented to end Bacha Bazi. Further research on this topic requires more research and coverage inside Afghanistan to bring recognition and significance to this issue and eventually abrogate Bacha Bazi.

What have Black professionals learned in recent years about creating social change? I have conducted surveys with 25 Black professionals who identify as “social change makers” and who have at least 3 years of experience in making social change. The survey asks guiding questions for them to reflect on the useful lessons they have learned in their recent efforts. The last few years specifically have been a time of massive social change spurred by the pandemic, the uprising for Black Lives, and labor strikes across the country. The struggles of the past two years have been significant. Some are the constant struggles Black communities have always faced, and others are specific to pandemic conditions. For those who were active in this most recent push for change, it is a good time to stop and look back on what was learned. There is much to be gained from building knowledge and making change in a system that was not made for Black citizens. The expertise of Black change-makers is valuable for people of all groups who care about how and when social change occurs.