Jesica Siham Fernandez Home  Directory Jesica Siham Fernandez
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Research:
My research focuses on the relationship between neighborhood meaning-making and civic engagement. I examine how residents defined their neighborhood in a non-homogenous and unincorporated area. Specifically, how a heterogeneous unincorporated neighborhood shapes meaning making and civic engagement. Additionally, I look at citizen participation and community involvement as necessary for the development, improvement and sustenance of individual and community well-being. Implications of my research attempt to explicate the social and political constraints placed upon underserved, heterogeneous, unincorporated communities. Most importantly, through my research, I attempt to support participative communities of inquiry and social action, where engagement and questions posing are brought to bear on significant social justice issues, such as equity and quality of resource access, diversity, and social change and social justice for under-represented communities.
Interests:
Neighborhood and community assessment; Participatory-action Research (PAR); Photovoice; Conscientizacion as a process of reflection, action and transformation to challenge oppression; Liberation psychology; Diversity; Social change and justice; Social policy and reform; Place identity; Sense of community; Place-attachment; Civic engagement; Individual and community empowerment. |
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