International Disney Parks: Glocalizing Mickey and the Local Market

This paper asks and answers two fundamental questions: 1) what is Mickey\u27s role in the international Disney parks? and 2) How important is glocalization to the success of the international parks? Recognizing Mickey as the promotional foot in the door to the countries the international parks call home, this paper looks at each of the four international parks as case studies for the importance of glocalization. Glocalization is not a one size fits all model, and is an on-going practice for these parks. Each park an important piece of the puzzle for Disney\u27s understanding of the local, global market

The Trauma of Black Males Within the Education System

This research explores the systemic trauma experienced by Black male students in the U.S. public education system. Three themes were identified: racialized discipline and the school-to-prison pipeline, restorative justice as a mitigation strategy, and the underrepresentation of Black male educators. The paper goes on to examine how practices at City Middle School could be aligned with research, emphasizing the need for culturally sustaining, trauma-informed, and equity-driven approaches. It then explores implications for future research and transformed practice, calling for systemic reforms that prioritize restorative justice, increase Black male educator representation, and dismantle structures that perpetuate educational trauma for Black boys

Echoes of Change: Media Distortion and Cultural Violence in BLM Narratives

This research paper examines the significant impact of media on the public narratives surrounding the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, which emerged in 2013 in response to systemic racism and police violence against Black individuals. By exploring the evolution and manipulation of media portrayals, the study highlights how both digital and traditional media have influenced public perceptions of BLM. The central thesis posits that strategic manipulation by counter-movements and selective media framing have significantly distorted the movement’s original intentions, contributing to societal misunderstandings and cultural violence. Drawing on Johan Galtung’s theory of cultural violence, the study illustrates how language and symbols within media narratives have been used to legitimize repression and delegitimize nonviolent resistance. The analysis also applies Mohandas K. Gandhi’s concept of trusteeship to the role of media institutions, arguing that journalists and media owners, as stewards of public discourse, have a moral responsibility to prioritize truth, diversity, and equity over profit and political alignment. Through an analysis of secondary sources, including academic journals, articles, and media reports, the paper investigates how language and imagery have been used to undermine BLM’s legitimacy. Additionally, it explores the implications of this distortion, particularly in relation to historical narratives of nonviolent resistance and the broader societal impact on racial justice movements. The findings highlight the urgent need for balanced and accountable media coverage that uplifts nonviolent movements like BLM, ensuring a more informed public and a more just, democratic society

HIV Prevalence Among Key Populations in the Asia Pacific Region: A Statistical Analysis

In 2021, 94 percent of new HIV cases in the Asia Pacific region were among key populations, which was 50 percent more than the global average. Because of the lack of cure or vaccine for HIV, alternate interventions are necessary to reduce the spread of disease. In a region where infection occurs predominantly among key populations, it is important to tailor interventions to be the most effective. In this study, we look at the coverage of health-related services and rates of women’s education as a means of reducing HIV prevalence among key populations. Statistical methods are used to gauge the effectiveness of each intervention, provide recommendations for future programs, and guide which key populations they should be aimed towards

Turnover Within the Child Welfare System

This Capstone identifies a mandatory training that would be provided to child welfare workers within their first year of employment up to their 3rd year of employment

Meaningful Inclusion of Elementary Students with Autism

Abstract Inclusion of students with autism in elementary schools is increasing. Studies show that meaningful inclusion of elementary students with autism can have a positive impact on social and academic outcomes. This paper examines the existing research on inclusion of students with autism spectrum disorder in the general education classroom and conducts an in-depth examination of the prevalent barriers and facilitators related to this topic. In this literature review, inclusion will be defined as teaching children with special needs alongside their typically developing peers in the same environment. For the purposes of a focused discussion, five key themes were identified: [1] impact of teacher attitudes [2] social skills interventions [3] stakeholder collaboration [4] instructional practices, and [5] peer models and supplemental supports. Keywords: social skills, autism spectrum disorder, ASD, inclusion, collaboration, high- functioning autism, equity, and engagemen

Bridging the Gap: Developing Trauma Informed Training for Correctional Staff to Support Successful Reintegration and Reduce Recidivism

In the United States, the incarceration rate is reported to have increased by 700%, with the incarceration rate reportedly being sevenfold higher than in any other developed Western country (Ferguson et al., 2016). Incarceration disproportionately affects people of color living in low-income and poverty-stricken communities. There is a higher prevalence of mental illness taking place in prisons versus non-incarcerated settings; incarcerated individuals are not receiving adequate mental health services, leading to recidivism. People of color with substance use disorder and mental illness are overrepresented in the criminal justice system, with 16 percent of men and 31 percent of women in jails and prisons having a mental illness, compared to 5 percent of the general population (Cloud et al., 2014). As we examine the causes and consequences of rising recidivism rates, we aim to increase awareness of inadequate mental health services in both community and carceral settings. To reduce recidivism, increase access and utilization of mental health services, and increase successful reintegration into society for released inmates, we have developed a pilot intervention aimed at engaging the correctional staff in prisons and jails. The long-term goal of this pilot program is to create a holistic support program that trains correctional staff in empathetic and trauma-informed approaches to engage incarcerated individuals to bridge a connection between prison and communities, resulting in a reduction in recidivism rates. This program will shift the prison culture starting with the staff in these facilities

GLOBAL BARRIERS TO TRANSGENDER HEALTHCARE

Transgender people often have difficulty accessing healthcare due to factors including the way the country they live in perceives transgender people, transphobic policies, and healthcare related barriers such as discrimination or lack of availability of doctors and institutions that can fulfill their needs, especially for gender-affirming care. To further understand these barriers, this literature review examines the transgender-related perceptions, policies, and barriers to care in the United States, Brazil, and South Africa. While these countries faced similar barriers, the degree to which they were important varied. In the US, discrimination was the most prominent barrier to care, in Brazil the most important barrier was availability of services, and South Africa was affected most by the lack of knowledge that providers had on transgender care. These findings show the importance of reducing barriers to both general and transition-related care through increased education about transgender people and gender-affirming healthcare availability around the globe

Linguistic Neglect in Child Welfare System

Child Welfare addresses different kinds of abuse, but linguistic neglect is not one of the abuses. Linguistic neglect harms many Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, and Deafplus children as they lack access to learn language, even ASL, Black American Sign Language, Indigenous Sign Language, ProTactile, and other country sign language. Many parents (high percentage of hearing parents) don’t know what to do or how to deal with the consequences like overwhelmed emotions and in addition, they receive misinformation from audiologist and medical, and/or culture/barrier system. The linguistic neglect policy needs to be added into the Child Welfare System because it is considered as linguistic neglect can be abusive and have long-term impacts on Deaf children’s overall well-being. Language deprivation in the Deaf community shows increased risk in mental health, attachment style, social skill, cognitive development, and identity

Impacts of the Religious Right Agendas on LGBTQ+ Students

Abstract This paper examines the impact of the religious right\u27s policy activism on the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ students. It also explores how educators can collaborate with advocacy groups and how state policies can ensure that each district implements LGBTQ+ inclusive curricula uniformly. Gender identities are particularly vulnerable in 2025, and culture wars are intensifying. I aim to identify modifiable factors that can promote positive school environments throughout our state and ensure that inclusive curricula are equitably distributed across districts. Three key themes were identified: LGBTQ+ underrepresentation in curricula, policies related to LGBTQ+ student protections, parental rights, and backlash bills, and disparities in student health outcomes among LGBTQ+ students compared to their cisgender peers. The paper then explores how state-level practices can be aligned with research and discusses the implications for future research and transformed practice. Keywords: teacher allies, school climate, LGBTQ+ rights, inclusive curriculum, religious freedo