Browsing by Author "Rivera, Jolan"
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Item Arranging suitable employment for immigrants from the Africa Great Lakes region living in Portland, Maine(Southern New Hampshire University, 2011) Ngarambe, Franck; Rivera, JolanThis project is established to teach 120 African immigrants English, financial literacy, American workplace culture, and to provide advice and networking for improved pathways to better employment. The focus of the work is Africans from the Great Lakes region of Central Africa, those who come from Burundi, Rwanda, and DR Congo. The Great Lakes people represent almost 800 people new to Portland in just the last 8 or 9 years. This project is important to the people of Portland and to the business owners and employers of Portland because these people are highly motivated to integrate into society, to speak English well, and to advance in their careers in their new home. The general problem for this community is that there are few who meet the requirements for early job success and even these 150 or so adults are unable to gain stable, well paying jobs and they lack an understanding of finances so they do not manage their money well. These people do not understand the American workplace culture and do not understand fully the various types of jobs available to them. As a result most families in this community are low income. The project focuses on 120 men and women chosen on the basis of their readiness for better employment and their motivation to succeed. The participants engaged in a series of courses, prepared themselves for interviews, engaged in networking with area employers, and began applying for higher level jobs with more confidence. The major outcomes to date are the completion of the coursework and the relationships developed with the business and financial community. The major challenges remain however as no one has taken a better job as a result of the project. The recommendations are to continue the program with more financing. Time is of the essence as more people are arriving and the economy begins to turn around. The people of the Great Lakes must be ready to take advantage of a better labor market, not just for themselves, but for their families and the whole community. (Author abstract)Item The contributions of pre-incarceration experiences and prison-based programs to post-release employment acquisition, retention and recidivism(Southern New Hampshire University, 2010) Foster, Michelle Mickle; Hotchkiss, Charles M.; Rivera, Jolan; Nolan, JamesThis dissertation examines the contributions of pre-incarceration experiences and prison-based programs to post-release employment success and recidivism. Parolees released from the West Virginia Division of Corrections between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009 were studied. The impact of education, life and vocational programs on the employment experiences and recidivism of a sample of these parolees were analyzed using Chi Square tests and logistic regression. The study found that men have a significantly higher probability than women of acquiring and retaining employment after release from prison. With regards to program completion, the study found that education program completion had no effect on employment acquisition, employment sustainability or near-term recidivism (dependent variables). The study further found that life program completion also had no effect on these dependent variables, neither did vocational program completion. Additionally, there was no difference in outcomes between Whites and African-Americans. (Author abstract)Item Economy empowerment of Liberian immigrants through basic life skills : Concord, New Hampshire(Southern New Hampshire University, 2011) Toure, Famoh S.; Rivera, JolanAs stated in the thesis project, "The core problem targeted in this project is "Lack of Income Generation", which is creating mass poverty in the refugee community as well as in the immigrant community in New Hampshire. This project has already identified the causes and effects of the core problem in the form of a problem tree. Again, these causes and sub-causes includes: limited education, language barriers, lack of communication, public transportations, isolation, moves to another state for better opportunities, recession, hiring freezes, cultural shock, discrimination and barriers to employment. Due to these causes, the Liberian and the entire immigrant community could be affected by not having jobs, money, or health benefits leadings to poor living standards as well depression and dependency on the federal government for support. In order to overcome these issues, the community needs to seek help from local government and other organizations to establish programs such as after-school programs for children and microfinance for those interested in opening businesses as well as basic English and technology classes to expand the capability of the Liberian as well as entire immigrant community." (Library-derived description)Item Faith and community empowerment strategies for crime prevention and economic development(Southern New Hampshire University, 2010) Turner, Jesse C.; Rivera, JolanThe Faith and Community Empowerment Strategies (FACES) project was designed to enhance the involvement and capacity of eight clergy members in crime prevention and economic development within the University Park Weed and Seed neighborhood. University Park has approximately fifteen churches located in the area; however, there is miniscule involvement from the clergy in crime prevention and economic development. Lack of awareness, knowledge, lack of skills in managing CED and crime prevention initiatives, lack of communication and financial resources are issues among the churches serving the neighborhood that directly contribute to the clergy's noninvolvement. FACES addresses the problem through a series of educational initiatives, i.e., crime prevention, economic development workshops and trainings. Through increased and enhanced knowledge and resources the FACES project changes the lack of involvement of clergy members within the University Park neighborhood in North Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The project was implemented with eight clergy members within the University Park Weed and Seed neighborhood. The project began in early spring 2009 and concluded in late winter 2010. (Author abstract)Item Foundation building : the community economic development experience in duplex city and the northwest neighborhood of the city of Homestead(Southern New Hampshire University, 2010) Wright, Robin; Rivera, JolanThe project titled, Foundation Building: The Community Economic Development Experience in Duplex City and the Northwest Neighborhood of the City of Homestead, was implemented in 2009-2010. The City of Homestead's Duplex City and Northwest Neighborhood is in the western half of the City, North of Mowry Drive, South of NW 15th Street, East of Redland Road, and West of Krome Avenue. This community is also known as the Weed and Seed target area. Weed and Seed is a community-based, multi-agency approach to law enforcement, crime prevention and neighborhood restoration. This residents within this targeted area are of low-socioeconomic status. The Foundation Building Project was implemented to improve the residents' knowledge of housing-related issues and improve their quality of life by emphasizing and enhancing community economic development efforts. Homestead Weed and Seed's mission is to revitalize the community both economically and socially. The Foundation Project implementation period took one year to complete. Beyond this project period, the pilot project will continue to be a resource provided to residents of the City of Homestead's Duplex City and the Northwest Neighborhood. (Author abstract)Item Getting efficient as a means to create change: How the Community Impact Framework by Heritage United Way creates efficiencies in local organizations(Southern New Hampshire University, 2010-06-15) Nemon, Melissa L.; Rivera, Jolan; Hotchkiss, Charles; Freiberger, James J.Social service organizations are critical players and partners in community dynamics. However, until recently their effect on the community was mostly assumed. In an effort to determine how social service organizations impact the community, United Ways have begun implementing an outcomes-measurement framework and using it to determine funding. Known as Community Impact, this methodology includes a logic model design that intends for partner agencies to clearly identify outcomes their programs intend to affect in the greater community. While this paradigm shift is affecting system wide community structures, what has not been clear to this point is the effect community impact – and more specifically, the outcomes measurement training – has had on local agencies and their organizational structure and behavior. This study examined the partner agencies of Heritage United Way. A survey was conducted to determine the highest adopters of Community Impact and then an organizational assessment was done on eight of the highest adopters, as well as two local municipal government departments that also adopted Community Impact – to determine if any efficiencies had been gained since adopting the paradigm. Results determined that small agencies tended to adopt Community Impact more readily than other agency typologies. Additionally, organizational assessment results demonstrate that large agencies regardless of affiliation perceived the highest rate of efficiency in sustainability while small agencies perceived efficiency in mission, vision, values; small nationally affiliated agencies perceived efficiency in structure; and small government departments perceived efficiency in partnerships. The organizational survey instrument adapted and implemented for this study could prove to be a useful tool for future analysis of organizations and the efficiencies experienced when adopting new frameworks. (Author Abstract)Item How organizations promote a sense of community and empowerment leading towards community participation: A view of the middle(Southern New Hampshire University, 2012-05) Fernando, Rukshan; Rivera, JolanCommunity Development Corporations (CDC) are organizations which develop affordable housing, jobs and small businesses in communities. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which staff and board of CDCs in Indianapolis, Indiana participated in the community because of a sense of community and empowerment within and outside a CDC. Much of the literature examined participation from the community member perspective. As such, the importance of this study was to understand the gap in the research literature surrounding community development professionals and their community participation. Little research has been conducted on the participation by organizational members in CDCs. Understanding the empowering processes within and outside a community organization might help to predict the participation of these organizational members. In addition to empowerment, the organizational sense of community that CDCs facilitated for their members can help predict participation of members. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between intra and extraorganizational empowering processes, sense of community and the citizen participation from the perspective of organizational members of CDCs. A survey of 78 CDC staff and board of the Indianapolis Coalition for Neighborhood Development was conducted. Scales measured the relationship between a member’s CDCs participation in the community and the perceptions of intraorganizational and extraorganizational empowering processes. A correlational analysis was conducted to assess the community organization sense of community, the processes of empowering organization and citizen participation. Analysis was conducted to understand the extent to which community organization sense of community and/or processes of empowering organization helped to predict the participation in the sample. Results suggested an association between the CDC’s sense of community and citizen participation. In addition, the results suggested an association between the extraorganizational empowering process, as measured by a number of social capital and community investment activities, and participation. Moreover, extraorganizational empowerment processes were able to predict the levels of board and staff participation. Findings suggested that processes outside the CDC contribute significantly to the participation of CDC board and staff members. Further exploration of policy, practice, education and research concerning the implications of the study is suggested. (Author abstract)Item Key determinants in building financial capability among middle schoolers with a school-based financial literacy education program(Southern New Hampshire University, 2012-09) Bolanos, Antoinette B.; Rivera, Jolan; Fenton, Marilyn; Paddack, MeganRising in importance at various life stages, financial literacy and welfare-enhancing financial behaviors are crucial life-skills for youth to develop in their early teens. Financial capabilities could be built in schools to keep pace with today’s fast-changing and complex financial marketplace. Their financial decisions will influence their future economic well-being. This study examined the relative effectiveness of variations of a co-curricular financial literacy education program offered to eight graders of a Middle School in New England. Mixed methods were utilized first, to determine differences in program effects at improving the students’ financial literacy and changing their financial attitudes and behaviors; and second, to uncover the determinants of the outcomes in building the students’ financial capability. There were differences found in degrees of improvements in financial knowledge and financial attitudes between each one and another variant of the program. Intervening variables, including influences of the family and peers, having a job and access to money, were also found to affect the financial outcomes. (Author abstract)Item Mode of ownership and housing value appreciation of manufactured home parks : Rochester, New Hampshire(Southern New Hampshire University, 2006) Rivera, Jolan; Aricanli, Tosun; Swack, Michael; Camayd-Freixas, YoelThis dissertation examines the relationship between mode of housing ownership in manufactured home parks and housing-related economic asset accumulation. It asks if households within and near member owned manufactured home parks experience higher property value appreciation than their counterparts in investor-owned parks. The main component (Component One) of the study focuses on differences in housing value appreciation between member-owned and investor-owned parks. The exploratory component (Component Two) looks at how abutting properties are affected by proximity to member owned or investor-owned parks. Component One views housing value appreciation as affected by several independent and intervening variables: household rent payments, availability of financial products exclusively for member-owned parks, length of ownership, structural characteristics of units, park layout, and park location. Component Two studies value appreciation of abutting properties as a function of the type of home park ownership. Component One is examined using an archived proxy-pretest, multiple-treatment, quasi-experimental design, while Component Two relies on an archived proxy-pretest, two-treatment, expanded, quasiexperimental design. Analyses included secondary data, informant interviews, and direct observation. Analyses for Component One involved both descriptive and inferential statistics, while only descriptive statistics were used in Component Two. The study found that homes in member-owned parks in New Hampshire have better housing characteristics: they are newer, larger, have more rooms, are closer to commercial amenities and roads, and have better park layout. Member-owned park residents also pay lower monthly rents and have access to non-subprime housing loans. Homes in member-owned parks have higher values compared to those in investor-owned parks with comparable housing characteristics. However, these economic advantages do not translate to a higher value appreciation in member-owned parks. Manufactured homes appreciate in value over time, regardless of the type of park ownership. This finding is conditional to inflated housing market conditions. Whether this applies under "normal" market conditions is subject for future research. The study also found that value appreciation of abutting homes is not associated with manufactured home parks location. Living next to manufactured parks does not decrease the value of abutting homes; indeed, the value of manufactured homes appreciated at a higher rate than comparable county and state rates. (Author abstract)Item A multi-service center approach to community economic development in a Weed & Seed Community(Southern New Hampshire University, 2010) Lewis-Porter, Shevelle; Rivera, JolanUrban blight has depleted many neighborhoods of much needed human and financial resources, leaving poor and working class communities deprived of basic services and infrastructure support. This has led to the social isolation of many poor communities from the social and economic mainstream, resulting in citizen apathy, and a myriad of social and economic problems. The Northside Weed & Seed Community is a low to moderate income residential area of approximately 7,500 residents is one such neighborhood. Over the last decade a large portion of the targeted community has seen a decline in income as well as neighborhood deterioration and an increase in crime. These are the conditions that drive and sustain the kind of community that is troubled by violent crime. Because of this, the primary focus for this project will be, "A Multi-Service Center Approach to Community Economic Development in a Weed & Seed Community". The project intended to increase the number of students staying in school and increase parental appreciation of the afterschool programs and services available at the Northwest Resource Center. This would also decrease crime that occurs as a result of low grades, while increasing educational attainment which is directly linked to an increase in crime. This Weed & Seed initiated project provided afterschool educational assistance at the Northwest Resource Center to youth and young adults in the community. The project also provided parents with programming to strengthen the skills and understanding of the importance of educational attainment, while expanding parents' access to social services and family support programs located at the Northwest Resource Center. Implementation of this project started in May 2009 and concluded April 2010. (Author abstract)