Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is a brain disorder marked by the gradual decline of cognitive abilities such as memory, reasoning, and decision-making, ultimately disrupting independent daily functioning. As symptoms advance, individuals with AD become increasingly reliant on caregivers and structured support systems for safety and routine care. During emergencies – such as natural disasters or evacuations – these individuals face heightened risks, including disorientation and anxiety, which can exacerbate symptoms and overwhelm both patients and caregivers, especially when regular services are disrupted. Despite a growing population of individuals with dementia, emergency preparedness systems often fail to account for their specific needs. Many protocols overlook dependence on third-party caregiving, limited transportation, and communication barriers, putting this population at increased risk. This study explores the experiences of individuals with dementia and their caregivers during emergencies, focusing on the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted at WISE and Healthy Aging, an dementia-focused adult day care center, to gather qualitative data on preparedness, service gaps, and future planning. While results are forthcoming, by using an ethnographic approach grounded in a disability studies framework, this research aims to identify social and structural barriers and inform the development of more inclusive disaster readiness protocols.

"It is health that is real wealth. And not pieces of gold and silver." (Mahatma Gandhi.) Health is the foundation upon which life is built. In 2024, people with disabilities were diagnosed with chronic depression at a rate 22.8% higher than the general population, and diabetes at a rate 17.8% higher (World Health Organization, 2024.) The most significant disparity is seen in low- and middle-income countries, where people with disabilities experienced a mortality rate that was double of that experienced by people without disabilities (WHO, 2024.) People with disabilities often experience substantial barriers in achieving health and wellness, making disability justice an essential part of the conversation about current national health needs. Less than 10% of people with disabilities engage in health-enhancing physical activity at least once a week (World Health Organization, 2024.) As previously established, health and wellness are the foundation of human life. So why are people with disabilities not engaging in activities to better their health? Exercise spaces, equipment, and programs are rarely inclusive. But beyond physical barriers lies an even greater need: inclusive community access. A gap in the care system exists at the community level. My community-engaged health promotion project focuses on community, and the role community can play in supporting an active lifestyle, particularly for people with disabilities. To share my message, I created a video PSA and developed an accessible website to share it.

Gun violence, recognized as a public health crisis, remains a significant issue today. While previous studies have explored various predictors of gun violence, the long-term impact of redlining policies on today’s communities is poorly understood. Redlining was a racially discriminatory housing practice implemented by the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation in the 1930s to systematically deny loans to people of color. We focus on “red zones,” a term historically used to define areas deemed hazardous due to a high population of ethnic minorities. Our research examines the lasting legacy of redlining and its association with current rates of gun violence in Los Angeles County. To assess this relationship, we overlaid redlining maps with firearm-related incidents for 648 census tracts. We employed Durbin and lag spatial regression models to account for spatial dependence and the potential influence of neighboring areas. To model count data, we used Poisson and Negative Binomial distributions. Our analysis reveals that redlined areas experience higher rates of gun violence today, suggesting the enduring impact of these discriminatory practices (β = 2.43, p < 0.01). These findings highlight the need for policy interventions targeting areas most affected by redlining. Future research will investigate how factors such as firearm access, mental health resources, and educational opportunities mediate the relationship between redlining and gun violence. The time to address inequalities of the past and promote change for the future is no

Adults with physical disabilities are often overlooked in conversations around health, recreation, and community engagement. While physical activity is widely recognized for promoting confidence, independence, and overall well-being (Rejeski et al, 2008), adults with physical disabilities face systemic, social, and logistical barriers that make it difficult to participate in sports-based recreation. Adaptive sports are modified to meet the accessibility needs of people with physical disabilities, but they are often treated as separate or secondary to “traditional” sports. This study seeks to answer the question, “How does participation in adaptive sports-based recreation facilitate self-determination for adults with physical disabilities in Los Angeles?”. This study uses Angel City Sports, a Los Angeles-based non-profit that provides free adaptive sports clinics to the disabled community, as a case study. This mixed-methods study draws on Self Determination Theory (Deci and Ryan, 1985) and the Social Model of Disability (Oliver, 1983). Data is collected through surveys and interviews with athletes and coaches. Results are in progress, and preliminary findings suggest that participation in adaptive sports enhances self-determination by offering connection, empowerment, and physical expression opportunities. This study amplifies the voices of a historically excluded community but also calls on non-disabled individuals to take active steps toward inclusion.

In an age shaped by color-blind rhetoric and structural racism, this project explores how women of color navigate predominantly white institutions (PWIs) and how literature and art serve as tools of resistance and healing. By focusing on the transformative role of culturally relevant texts and creative outlets, such as memoir writing, oral histories, poetry, and painting, this research examines how these mediums support the mental health of women of color in academia by fostering resilience and community. This project asks: How can culturally relevant literature and artistic expression support the mental health and academic success of women of color in higher education? I will use ethnography to center my own and other’s lived experiences of exclusion and healing in academic settings. My primary method will be a literature review, engaging with memoirs, visual art, and scholarly texts that reflect the lived experiences of students of color in PWIs. Since this research is still in its preliminary stages, it seeks to highlight the transformative potential of art and literature in challenging dominant narratives, particularly through qualitative data drawn from personal narratives, literary works, visual culture, and research on Critical Race Theory, education, and mental health. This research is deeply personal; I’ve lived the experience of erasure and witnessed how creative expression can be transformative. I want this work to push educational institutions to treat mental health as a collective, community-rooted practice.