Hustle in Higher Education: How Latinx Students with Conviction Histories Move from Surviving to Thriving in Higher Education

The voices and experiences of formerly incarcerated college students are emerging throughout the social science literature. The importance of documenting their narratives is grounded in the reality that more than an estimated 12,000 system-impacted people are enrolled throughout the California postsecondary education system. This paper highlights the knowledge and skills formerly incarcerated students possess and deploy to navigate higher education successfully. Our study adds to the growing body of literature examining the experiences of formerly incarcerated Latinx students from an anti-deficit perspective. We use the theory of funds of knowledge and semi-structured interviews with 16 formerly incarcerated Latinx students at different points of the postsecondary education pipeline to understand their experiences. We find that formerly incarcerated Latinx students tapped into their “hustle” to move from surviving to thriving in higher education. These pre-college skills, acquired through their life experiences, allow students to seek academic and financial resources, create academic networks, and make personal connections with institutional agents to overcome various personal and institutional barriers.

Knowledge and Agency. The Case of Claes Rålamb and the Swedish Embassy to Istanbul, 1657–58

This article explores the interplay between knowledge and agency in early modern diplomacy. Focusing on the power dynamics of early modern empire through a case study of a Swedish embassy to the Ottoman Empire in 1657–58, the article shows how agency and knowledge interlinked throughout the diplomatic mission. At the centre of the study is Claes Rålamb, a Swedish nobleman who was sent to Istanbul to secure an alliance between Sweden and the Ottoman vassal state Transylvania. Rålamb’s journey to, and stay in, Istanbul was framed by global political developments, yet, it was also directly influenced by local customs and personal connections. In particular, Rålamb’s ability to act as an agent of the Swedish Empire was shaped by the difficulties of attaining reliable information. Moreover, the framework within which he was able to act changed between different stages of the journey. This makes the intersection between knowledge and agency a fruitful focal point for examining early modern empire, going beyond traditional national frameworks and categories of actors. Rålamb was sent out as an envoy of the Swedish empire, yet the meaning of that position changed constantly.

Crafting to Code

Critter Code is an innovative informal arts-integrated computer science experience created to provide a unique opportunity to reach students from underserved urban populations. Designed to make the connections between physical making and coding, learning to program becomes the bridge between a crafted “Critter” and its digital version starring in a student-created video game. This chapter offers a rich analysis of the impact of Critter Code on participants, families, and instructors through the framework of the self-determination theory of motivation. The chapter then describes Critter Code's application of collaborative problem-solving and student agency to create personal connections to the content to positively affect students' computer science self-identity and interest. Finally, potential classroom applications and future research directions are explored.

The Speech Act of Apology by Filipino Call Center Agents

The Philippines is a global leader in business process outsourcing (BPO). Many foreign investors view the Philippines as a viable location for their call center operations due to the Filipinos' strength in English proficiency. This study focuses on inbound call center accounts that deal with a variety of call situations, ranging from information requests to difficult calls that require more time to handle, such as complaint calls. Since the goal of any business is customer satisfaction, this research aims to investigate how Filipino call center agents mitigate and reduce the liability and guilt towards customers. Results show that the 90 call center representatives have successfully produced 'perfect apologies' by providing all five strategies posited by Cohen et al. (1986) in most of their complaint calls. However, the sequence is distorted by emphasizing more on offering a repair. This leads to a recommendation that calls center training on apology be emphasized on building personal connections rather than a mechanical response to situations.

Using guanxi to conduct elite interviews in China

Drawing on two research projects in China, this article provides three contributions to the literature on elite interviews. First, we demonstrate how guanxi (informal, particularistic and personal connections) can help gain access and build trust with elite Chinese interviewees in a dynamic rather than a static manner. Second, we show the relational and ongoing process of elite interviewing, combining the sensemaking and sensegiving efforts of the interviewer and interviewee. We introduce the concept of sense-becoming to describe how researchers can develop a sense of strategy for future interviews. Third, we highlight the value of guanxi and co-positionality for the interviewer and interviewee to enhance interaction during interviews. We conclude by providing a heuristic for conceptualising the salience of guanxi and sensemaking for elite interviews in China.

Associated Factors with Perceived Fear of COVID-19 among Vietnamese Hospital Healthcare Workers during Fourth Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Policy Implications for Interconnected and Social- and Personal-Based Health Support

(1) Background: The present study measures the fear of COVID-19 among hospital healthcare workers and identifies several factors associated with increasing fear of COVID-19. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional, hospital-based survey was conducted on healthcare workforce recruited from the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases from 1 October 2021 and 20 October 2021. We selected the participants who have been directly involved in diagnosing, treating, or providing nursing care to patients with COVID-19. The primary data was collected via sending the invitation directly to the participants, utilizing structured self-completed questionnaires. The seven-item fear of COVID-19 scale was used to measure the data. The responses of 208 hospital healthcare workers were included in the final analysis. (3) Results: Total score of COVID-19 fear was 19.62 (SD = 5.22). The COVID-19 fear score of 7 items ranged from 2.38 (SD = 0.83) to 3.21 (SD = 0.96). The lowest and highest scores were the item ‘My hands become clammy when I think about Corona’ and the item ‘I am most afraid of corona’ was the highest, respectively. Linear regression of the COVID-19 fear showed that the factors positively correlated with the fear of COVID-19 among hospital healthcare workers were: being influenced by the community (p = 0.001), feeling at very high risk of COVID-19 (p = 0.03), and experiencing traumatic stress with an academic event (p = 0.042). (4) Conclusions: Although these findings merit further elaboration, these preliminary findings suggest relatively great fear of the COVID-19 pandemic among Vietnamese hospital healthcare workers and that social and personal connections are necessary for maintaining the mental wellbeing.

Spatialising Grief. A Landscape-based investigation of atmosphere and recovery

<p>I consider atmosphere as a spatial layer of a site and as such, a critical aspect of how urban landscapes are experienced. In this way atmosphere is understood as more than a feeling or sense of connection to a place, thus an intangible fixture that allows spaces to be both unique and general to a person at a given moment (Andersson 73 - 76) .Atmospheric space is thus nonphysical and engages a sensation of emotion and thought rather than the senses of sight, touch, and sound. I identify this layer of space lacks coherence within the urban fabric of cities which tend to focus on landscape as a focus of movement and functions. Spaces for reflection are most often formalised within the city, reflecting on a general scale rather than allowing for individual reflection. Memorials are designed to represent the grief of the city in regards to a specific event and work as a symbolic statement. In this way whilst memorials prompt a form of reflection on collective grief, they do not make a context for individuals personal connections to their own grieving process..This design considers how landscape architecture can design urban spaces that carry such influence. To approach this issue the project uses atmosphere, an ethereal layer of design, to create spaces that allow for positive reflection for those grieving by way of small triggers or ‘vignettes’. These subtle aspects of design prompt a walker experiencing grief to transcend the space, if only for a moment, and aid their recovery process. The project draws on both landscape design discourse and psychology. Research on grief clinically and emotionally has demonstrated a general process of one’s relationship to grief and its eventual transition from a hostile antagonist relation to a friendly companion (Vaughn 36 - 40). This recovery process, yielded in distinct shifts and changes,has formed the basis for the ‘vignettes’ in this design. These moments have informed the design and driven the composition of connection between space and griever. The project explores how atmosphere can be used in design (method) as a ‘connector’ between the user and site. Existing atmospherics of the site are identified and used as a foundation with subtle and minimally noticeable elements. This design approach allows for both a more general engagement for the everyday user whilst creating a canvas for the more reflective walker to interpret. This design research contributes to discourse that uses emotions to create subtle and light handed landscapes. It shows that when engaging with complex emotions, such as grief, joy, and fear, bold or literal gestures in the landscape are not always required.</p>

Spatialising Grief. A Landscape-based investigation of atmosphere and recovery

<p>I consider atmosphere as a spatial layer of a site and as such, a critical aspect of how urban landscapes are experienced. In this way atmosphere is understood as more than a feeling or sense of connection to a place, thus an intangible fixture that allows spaces to be both unique and general to a person at a given moment (Andersson 73 - 76) .Atmospheric space is thus nonphysical and engages a sensation of emotion and thought rather than the senses of sight, touch, and sound. I identify this layer of space lacks coherence within the urban fabric of cities which tend to focus on landscape as a focus of movement and functions. Spaces for reflection are most often formalised within the city, reflecting on a general scale rather than allowing for individual reflection. Memorials are designed to represent the grief of the city in regards to a specific event and work as a symbolic statement. In this way whilst memorials prompt a form of reflection on collective grief, they do not make a context for individuals personal connections to their own grieving process..This design considers how landscape architecture can design urban spaces that carry such influence. To approach this issue the project uses atmosphere, an ethereal layer of design, to create spaces that allow for positive reflection for those grieving by way of small triggers or ‘vignettes’. These subtle aspects of design prompt a walker experiencing grief to transcend the space, if only for a moment, and aid their recovery process. The project draws on both landscape design discourse and psychology. Research on grief clinically and emotionally has demonstrated a general process of one’s relationship to grief and its eventual transition from a hostile antagonist relation to a friendly companion (Vaughn 36 - 40). This recovery process, yielded in distinct shifts and changes,has formed the basis for the ‘vignettes’ in this design. These moments have informed the design and driven the composition of connection between space and griever. The project explores how atmosphere can be used in design (method) as a ‘connector’ between the user and site. Existing atmospherics of the site are identified and used as a foundation with subtle and minimally noticeable elements. This design approach allows for both a more general engagement for the everyday user whilst creating a canvas for the more reflective walker to interpret. This design research contributes to discourse that uses emotions to create subtle and light handed landscapes. It shows that when engaging with complex emotions, such as grief, joy, and fear, bold or literal gestures in the landscape are not always required.</p>

Social Interactions In Non-Monetary Accommodation Sharing: Host’s Motivation and Value Co-Creation

<p>Accommodation sharing, as collaborative consumption platforms, fosters memorable tourism experiences by allowing individuals to have direct interactions with hosts and local communities. Airbnb and CouchSurfing exemplify two of the most popular accommodation-sharing platforms, representing the distinction between monetary and non-monetary platforms. While Airbnb as a monetary accommodation sharing platform has gained much attention in the academic literature, little is known regarding CouchSurfing and its non-monetary model. Current research postulates that by the absence of financial involvement, CouchSurfing offers more intimacy and experience in the host-guest relationship. Meanwhile, shifts in tourist behaviour have determined the direction of value co-creation in the tourism industry. Together with tourism providers and other social actors, tourists are engaged in active participation and interaction to create value jointly and for all participants. Motivated by the extant literature on accommodation sharing and value co-creation, this research contributes to the conceptualisation of value co-creation in non-monetary accommodation sharing through the perspective of the host. Taking CouchSurfing as the context, this research answers several questions: 1) what is the motivation of Indonesian CouchSurfing members to host? 2) Through what practices is value co-created between host and guest in CouchSurfing? 3) What resources are needed to co-create value in the context? 4) What value emerges from hosting in CouchSurfing? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 participants from Bandung, Yogyakarta, and Bali. In addition to the individual interviews, a focus group discussion with 6 participants was held in Yogyakarta. Findings from this research highlight the intrinsic, personal and emotion-based nature of hosts’ motivations to participate in Couchsurfing, including the establishment of personal connections and friendships, an opportunity to behave in altruistic ways, and the increase of knowledge through other people’s lives and experiences. To fulfil these motivations to the best possible extent, guest selection strategies were put into place by hosts, based on prior experience. The co-creational social practices then closely aligned to those motivations and are regulated by hosts’ management strategies. This ensured a positive experience, resulting in a variety of value outcomes including new knowledge, positive self-identity as well as professional opportunities. Findings of this research also highlight the unique nature of co-creational experiences in non-monetary accommodation sharing and the unusually strong impact of motivations on all components of the value co-creation process. This research concludes with suggestions for future research and both theoretical and practical implications for harnessing intimacy and authenticity in the tourism industry.</p>