This abstract has been withheld from publication.

This literature review examines the underrepresentation of Latinas in public office, focusing on the challenges they face due to racial, ethnic, and gender biases. This lack of representation limits diverse perspectives in policy-making, reinforces systemic barriers, and discourages future generations from political participation. Our research questions included: What specific challenges do Latinas face in the political field? Are these challenges linked to gender and ethnic biases? And how does the absence of Latina role models affect societal perceptions and aspirations? To explore these questions, we applied a structured qualitative approach, analyzing themes such as political challenges, gender and ethnic biases, and representation. Using targeted keywords, we searched academic databases like Google Scholar and policy reports from institutes such as the Brennan Center for Justice. Through content analysis and thematic coding, we identified recurring patterns including stereotype threats, lack of funding, and cultural expectations that restrict political engagement. Our findings reveal that these systemic barriers not only marginalize Latinas but also lower self-efficacy among Latina youth. This study emphasizes the urgent need for increased representation, policy advocacy, and mentorship to foster an inclusive and equitable political landscape. Representation matters—not only to inspire future leaders but to ensure our democracy reflects the diversity of its people.

Research has established negative effects of childhood adversities on adulthood health and well-being, emphasizing the importance of early intervention and preventative care. Our study documents Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) among children receiving healthcare in the Antelope Valley (AV). Five research assistants, including two undergraduates, conducted a retrospective chart review of 2,743 pediatric patients served by LA County Department of Health Services clinics in the AV. An ACE score for each patient was collected via the Pediatric ACEs and Related Life-events Screener (PEARLS), and patient medical charts were reviewed for clinical documentation describing patient-experienced ACEs. Findings indicate that experiences of parental substance use, mental health, and incarceration were frequently identified in visit conversations and other clinical notes, but not disclosed directly on the ACE screening tool. Reasons for this trend may include nuances in the definition of certain adversities, fear of mandated reporting, or trust in a provider that facilitates disclosure of ACEs not captured on the screening tool. Findings suggest patients may feel more comfortable disclosing difficult topics to a provider during relational conversations, thus facilitating trauma-informed care in the clinical setting.

Community-based management (CBM) of water resources is a common model in Sub-Saharan African countries. In Uganda, most rural communities rely on common water point sources–such as boreholes–which are managed by water user committees (WUCs) elected by village community members. Despite the promising sustainability of CBM for borehole success, management issues within WUCs prevent safe, equitable, and reliable water access. Therefore, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are crucial in driving water access, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) initiatives to support WUCs through funding and education. In the summer of 2024, we conducted on-site surveys for residents (n=69) across 4 rural villages in the Nama sub-county to evaluate the quality and accessibility of boreholes supported by WASH interventions from the Mpoma Community HIV/AIDS Initiative NGO. Our survey data demonstrated the effectiveness of WASH interventions in villages compared to control villages lacking protected water sources based on borehole water quality, source cleanliness, and overall village WASH education. Longitudinal analysis between surveyed villages in 2019 versus 2024 showed improvement in water clarity as indicated by higher ratings from respondents. However, WUC duties decreased after the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in regards to the collection of community fees and conducting WASH trainings. Handwashing methods, borehole repair issues, and WUC feedback were similar across all respondents, highlighting key similarities across the surveyed villages.

This thesis examines the transformation of Los Angeles’s built environment from a Spanish colonial pueblo—where residential, commercial, and civic life converged around a central plaza—into a sprawling American city. Under Spanish and Mexican authorities, the Plaza stood as the undisputed center of power and prestige: home to the king’s representative and the city's core infrastructure. After California’s statehood, however, American planners dismantled this core and imposed a rigid Cartesian grid that dispersed civic functions and marginalized the Plaza, paving the way for suburban sprawl. While urban historians often attribute this shift to efficiency or convenience, I argue that such explanations are incomplete. Rather, I contend that rebuilding Los Angeles away from its established center was fundamentally ideological—a conscious rejection of Spanish imperial hierarchy in favor of American values of decentralization and individualism. To trace the forces behind this spatial transformation, this thesis synthesizes archival materials from across Los Angeles County, including Native artwork, language from the Laws of the Indies, imperial town plans, diseños (land grant maps), and surveying maps. I also consult personal writings, newspaper archives, and photographs to examine how these spatial plans were materialized on the ground. Ultimately, this research seeks to reveal the ideological foundations of Los Angeles’s remaking and to challenge prevailing assumptions of urban design as a neutral or purely utilitarian field.