Delta Narratives: Saving the Historical and Cultural Heritage of The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

From August 2014 through July 2015, the Delta Narratives project, on contract to the Delta Protection Commission, addressed two questions. First, in what ways does the historical experience of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta contribute to an understanding of key themes in regional and American history? Second, how might Delta stories gain wider appreciation within the region, throughout Northern California, and among people in the rest of California and beyond? Scholars on the project team documented ways the history of the Delta illustrates trends in land management and reclamation, technological shifts in transportation and agriculture, the impact of ethnicity and labor specialization on community building, and finally, the shifting visioning of America\u27s promise and fall from grace by artists and writers in response to the intense cultivation of the Delta and the conditions which workers there endured. Their essays testify to the intrinsic value of Delta stories and to the additional perspectives they bring to regional and national history. With these essays in hand, the project team investigated the current infrastructure for the preservation and dissemination of historical and cultural information in the Delta. It created a directory of institutions committed to promoting Delta stories. In order to stimulate conversations between these stakeholders, the team organized two workshops at which the scholars and archivists shared insights and invited commentary and conversation. Subsequently, with the support of the Center for California Studies at Sacramento State University, a conference entitled “More than H2O: Saving the History and Culture of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta” presented findings and discussed strategies with an audience of state and local stakeholders. Delta Narratives culminated with a conference organized around an American Assembly model. The conference generated a list of suggestions for further action regarding the recognition, preservation, and dissemination of Delta stories. High on the list of initiatives were adequate mapping of historically significant locations, an organization that would draw together the many cultural and historical groups in the Delta toward common action, the initiation of annual Delta Days to celebrate the region, and the creation of educational materials including web applications (apps), and a website devoted to the region

elearning by doing: a geographic approach to service learning and building community

In this paper I describe the experiences of incorporating community\ud service-based learning (CSBL) with an upper-division\ud urban geography course taught at California State University,\ud Stanislaus. Integrating a service-learning component into an\ud existing course or creating a new course with CSBL activities\ud and projects, one that reaches beyond the traditional classroom\ud environment, offers a practical example of how participatory\ud fieldwork can be applied in an urban setting. Service-learning\ud enjoys the added benefit of engaging students from a variety\ud of backgrounds, many of whom possess an array of skills and\ud learning styles. Furthermore, students gain valuable experience\ud in dealing with real-world problems in a local setting, and CSBL\ud provides the ideal platform for applying geographic skills and\ud knowledge to reach that goal. As educators we are increasingly\ud asked to improve the quality of education, with fewer resources\ud to support our creative endeavors. One possible solution is to\ud explore the benefits of linking service-learning with geographical inquiry. This paper provides an overview of the logistics and\ud pedagogy involved in creating CSBL field projects and activities\ud for an upper-division urban geography course. It also highlights\ud the project results and benefits to the community, student reflections\ud on urban-CSBL projects, and ongoing work linked to\ud this initial effort

Varieties of ethnic identity and landscape among Italian immigrants in Northern California

From the 1850s to the 1930s, immigrants of northern\ud Italian heritage settled throughout Northern California.\ud These individuals and families coalesced in urban neighborhoods\ud and rural outposts and became the predominant foreign-\ud born group in a number of cities and towns in the region.\ud As miners, stonemasons, storekeepers, boardinghouse\ud operators, and laborers they played an important role in creating\ud the region's complex cultural landscape. This paper\ud compares and contrasts the expression of Italian ethnic identity\ud in two Northern California towns. The case studies demonstrate\ud how ethnic landscapes can vary depending on immigrant\ud origins, time of arrival, local economic opportunities,\ud and relations with the host community. The economic\ud and social conditions that shaped-and continue to reshape-\ud the distinctive ethnic landscapes of these two towns\ud have broader implications for society at large

Validity and Reliability of StriveTM Sense3 for Muscle Activity Monitoring During the Squat Exercise

Background: Recent innovations in surface electromyographic (sEMG) technology have enabled the measurement of muscle activity using smart textiles. Objective: In this study, the StriveTM Sense3 performance monitoring system is evaluated against a research-grade system, NoraxonTM, in measuring activity during the back squat exercise. Method: Seventeen participants performed three total trials of the squat exercise with a progressive load for individual trials equal to 30%, 60%, and 80% of their estimated maximum 1RM (one-repetition maximum). sEMG measurements from the rectus femoris were captured for the left and right leg by both systems. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (r) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values were computed for each trial to assess concurrent validity and interrater reliability of the StriveTM Sense3 device. Additionally, five coaches at the collegiate- and professional-level of Men’s Basketball speak from an autoethnographic frame to the findings from this study. Results: Results ranged from “Poor” to “Excellent” validity and “Poor to Moderate” to “Excellent” reliability, with a majority of trials achieving “Good” or better results across all loads [93% trials: r = 0.7; 87% trials: lower ICC 95% CI bound = 0.75 (absolute sEMG); 98% trials: lower ICC 95% CI bound = 0.75 (normalized sEMG)]. Higher validity and reliability for medium and heavy loads were observed in comparison to the light load, and several outliers indicate the need for coaches to lubricate sensors and ensure proper fit to collect accurate data. Conclusion: Examining results alongside practitioner feedback indicate the StriveTM Sense3 system is capable of tracking sEMG activity in comparison to a research-grade system