YOUTH NAVIGATING PRECARITY THROUGH CLIMATE ACTION: CASE OF MATHARE

This study explores the environmental organizing of the youth in Mathare and its potential to transcend hustle into climate activism. It examines how the intervention of global climate actors and their agendas influence the youth's work. By building an empirical case through the stories and evolution of the youth, using observer participation and participant observation, the research analyzes potential pathways and possibilities for Mathare’s youth groups. Embedded in the discourse of hustle and climate adaptation in informal settlements, this paper argues that the youth's work is transitioning from opportunism to visionary practice. As the youth navigate their precarious employment situations and struggle to find identity and community through hustling, the paper explores their potential to expand their vision and scope, and to collectivize towards climate adaptation, is enabled by opportunities presented by global climate efforts. Finally, the paper invites further research on the potential of youth activism to contribute to effective climate adaptation

The Present Empyrean: Reconciling Existentialism and Fashion Through Considerations of Heaven

Transposing Heaven, goodness, and love into a clothing collection circumnavigates belief in the establishment of goodness that I investigate visually and existentially. To describe a point of heavenly perfection, I evaluated personal preference, outside opinion, and cultural beliefs as applied to life and clothing as extensions of self. I aimed to convey Heavenly influence through my senior fashion collection, from mood boards, fabric selection, and description, inspired by my questions about our perceptions of goodness and Heaven. Driven by existentialist need for meaning, I perceived morality and clothing as given context through deeper knowledge of a person. I know that reactions to actions and outfits are immediate and thus hoped to create clothing that reflected the depth of character within the person wearing it. I aimed to create ensembles that would be conducive to desire for greater knowledge of someone’s character for my 9-look collection shown at Cornell Fashion Collective’s runway, Human Centered Design’s NYC Expo, and as part of FSAD seniors’ exhibit in the Human Ecology’s Jill Stuart Gallery. In this essay, I analyze the role of the fashion designer based upon their intentions, the technical quality of their garment, or effect on the wearer and general opinion. I found value in clothing through faith in the existence of goodness and worthiness of human relationships. As part of this thesis, I searched for evidence for this existence: why we seek to look beautiful and the role our appearance plays in our lives. In my designs, I aim to reveal my philosophy considering Heaven as knowing and celebrating the particularities of a person and their stories. Empyrean Echos elaborates upon the compelling reason for dressing one’s friends as beautifully as possible

The State of Gender Equality in the Travel and Hospitality Industry

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is an area of intense focus and scrutiny across the travel and hospital industry. Gender diversity, especially, is capturing attention because women represent a significant share of industry employees. A key industry theme is the challenges women face in obtaining promotions, earning the same salaries as men, and ascending into corporate leadership positions. Additional research capturing a broader base of the industry’s voice on gender equality and diversity in the workplace is needed to advance future progress. This report offers said research as well as potential solutions to the travel and hospitality industry’s gender equality and diversity challenges. Women Leading Travel & Hospitality4, NAPCO Research5, and the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration’s Center for Hospitality Research6 teamed up to conduct a workplace gender diversity study based on a wide sample of industry participants, across job levels. The survey-based study focused on the status of DEI efforts in the travel and hospitality industry to uncover the ways organizations are addressing gender equality, while providing a reference point to measure for future progress

On the Frequency and Detail of Feedback

Instant feedback is the hallmark of our connected society. Customers are frequently requested to give stars to the rideshare that just took them home, the restaurant where they just ate, or the phone app they just used. Likes, emoticons, and reforwarding rates immediately measure the success of both public personalities and private individuals. Further, the seemingly infinite storage capacity of the cloud and the unrelenting progress of computing power have given firms the means to process and synthesize huge information flows that can support decision-making and control processes. In this context, it is natural to think that providing detailed feedback as frequently as possible would improve decision-making. However, that may not always be the case, as we explain in this article

UNDERSTANDING SUSTAINABILITY IN CLONE TOWN BRITAIN

In 2003, the British government initiated the Sustainable Communities Act to regenerate town centers across the United Kingdom. To investigate this policy’s impact, the New Economics Foundation (NEF) conducted a survey in 2004, dividing towns into 'home towns' and 'clone towns'. These categories were based on their clone town score, the ratio of independent businesses to chain stores in town centers. Home towns were towns with a high ratio of traditional stores to chain stores, while clone towns had a high ratio of chain stores to traditional stores. The NEF hypothesized that home towns would be more sustainable than clone towns. This study investigated this hypothesis by analyzing economic, social, and environmental sustainability in six towns across London. The study’s findings indicated that a town’s clone town score has little impact on its social sustainability and environmental sustainability but was far more impactful on its economic sustainability

From AI Workshops to Off-Campus Partnerships: A Library’s Journey of Engaging with Extension Agents

Presented at the USAIN/CBHL 2024 Biennial Meeting.PDF of a Google Slides presentationThis presentation will explore the impact of using developments in AI as a library outreach tool. K-State Libraries AI team began conducting workshops on using generative AI which sparked the interest of many groups, including Extension agents, who wanted to learn more about AI and how to use it in their own contexts because they saw the library as a place to help them learn more. The team was invited to present a professional development workshop about the basics of AI to a group of family and consumer science extension agents. K-State is focusing more on external audiences and the team saw this engagement as a way to build off-campus relationships. A “get to know each other” session was included in the workshop for the extension agents to learn more about how the library can serve them and for the librarians to learn more about the work of Extension. This engaging, reciprocal outreach opportunity would not have arisen without people’s interest in generative AI

Ben-Shlomo, Gil

Memorial Statement for Gil Ben-Shlomo who died in 2024. The memorial statements contained herein were prepared by the Office of the Dean of the University Faculty of Cornell University to honor its faculty for their service to the university

Investigating the Impact of Racial Capitalism and Chemical Alterlives on Black Communities and Their Environments: A Qualitative Study in Uniontown, Alabama

128 pagesSupplemental file(s) description: None.The environmental justice movement has made strides during the past few decades. However, with environmental inequities still prevalent throughout the United States, more research is necessary to advance the environmental justice discourse, provide education and awareness, and to implement positive impactful policies that will promote quality living for minority and low-income communities. Using community based participatory action research, this study utilizes the concepts of racial capitalism and chemical alterlives to provide an additional lens to environmental justice research. The study is based in Uniontown, Alabama where three industrial facilities are based: Arrowhead Landfill, Southeastern Cheese Corporation, and Harvest Select Catfish Plant. The research aims to investigate how the operations of three industrial facilities impact the livelihoods of Uniontown residents. The results display resident experiences that detail the detrimental effects industrial facilities have on communities such as Uniontown, but also the hope and strength of the region that emerges when there is unity.2025-06-1