Past Senior Comprehensive Project Titles
Class of 2011
Sustainable Hotels, How the Industry is Moving Beyond Green
By Erica Albert
Mobilizing for a River: The Ebb and Flow of Power in the Los Angeles River Movement
By Joellen Anderson
Investing in Trial and Error: A Reimagining of Teacher Education
By Jacob Berry
Opportunities and Obstacles to Retain, Grow, and Attract Green Manufacturers in Los
Angeles
By Sarah Barton
What Happened in Hollywood? Evaluating the Need for Affordable Housing in Transit and
Redevelopment Areas
By Shane Boland
Student Potential to Eradicate Global Poverty: Building the Ideal Campus-Based Microfinance
Initiative
By Mackenzie Brown
Colleges & Climate Action: A Study of Transportation Emissions Reduction Strategies at
California Colleges and Universities
By Claire Coddington and Warren Logan
Los Angeles' Cycling Revolution: Paving the Way for a New City
By Nicholas Dierl
Farming Without Harming: Bringing Environmental Responsibility to Scully Land
By Liam Dixon
Breaking the Green Glass Ceiling: What are the Barriers to Entry for Women in the Green
Economy?
By Jessica Gelzer
The Rights of Nature: Restructuring Societies to Stabilize the Environment in Response to
Corporate Abuse
By Stephanie Glenn
Tea party Effects on Mainstream Politics
By Matthew Gordon
The Culture in Agriculture: Community Gardens as a Space for Community Empowerment and
Cultural Cohesion for Immigrant and Ethnic Communities
By Caitlin Goss
The Marginalization and Criminalization of Immigrants: The Role and Impact of Evolving
Contemporary Federal and State Policy Approaches
By Kathryn Griffith
Understanding Popular Education: The Practice of Democratic Freedom
By Kristen Leahy
The ABCs to Improve Homeless Education: An Extended Program to Support Homeless
Children into Adulthood, Better Funding, and Community Involvement
By Chloe Lee
Power, Poverty, and Policy: Evaluating Anti-Violence Strategies in the Context of Los Angeles'
Skid Row
By Kelsey Longmuir
Women's Health Matters! A Study of Young Women's Knowledge of Reproductive Benefits
Within Health Care Reform
By Kate Meyer
Regional Food Hubs and School Meals: A comprehensive approach to nutrition in Southern
California schools
By Kelsey Newport
Manufacturing Affordability: An Evaluation of Factory-Built Housing in the United States
By Casey Ogden
"Not Leaving It Worse Than You Found It." A Study of What Sustainability Currently Means to
Restauranteurs
By Emily Ritchie
Grounding the Angel City: Rebranding Los Angeles as a More Pedestrian-Oriented City
By Jacqueline Salazar
Environmental Justice in Lincoln Heights: An Evaluation of the Cornfield Arroyo Seco Specific
Plan (CASP)
By Michael Sin
Environmental Sustainability in a Competitive World
By Audrey Spiegel
Painting the Path to Solidarity: Art, Music and Community in Highland Park, Los Angeles
By Josh Wiener
Class of 2010
Beyond adult-centrism: Advancing children's rights and well-being through participatory
urban planning: A case study of Southeast Los Angeles
By Meredith Abood
Authorized Art: Public Art Programs of Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles
By Jordan Aura-Gullick
Promise in Los Angeles? Insights on Comprehensive Place-Based Initiatives and the Potential
for Promise Neighborhoods in Communities Across America
By Mary Carlton
From Progression to Oppression: A look at the injustices associated with progressing Los
Angeles' transportation system
By Felisia Castaneda
Advancing the Green School Movement: Building a Greening Template for Private K-12
Schools
By Kylie Dennis
The Green Rush: Regulating A Growing Industry
By Benington Evers
Charter School Accountability in LAUSD: The Balance Act
By Lisa Fehsenfeld
Wildfire Management in Los Angeles' Wildland-Urban Interface:
Identifying Better Strategies for Reconciling Wildfires with LA's Communities
By Kayt Fitzmorris
Are You Listening? The Pursuit of High Quality Healthcare for Low-Income Deaf and Hard of
Hearing Children in Los Angeles County
By Chandrika Francis
Explaining the Complexities of the "Rail Dilemma"
By Matthew Harter
The Alien Tort Claims Act and Regulatory Commissions: Ancient and new tools for Corporate
Accountability
By Shannon Hurley
The Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan and Urban Wildlife:
Mitigating Negative Human-Wildlife Interactions Along the River
By Shannon Kincaide
The Long Haul: Food Policy Approaches in Los Angeles, Then and Now
By Abigail Klein
How to Sustain a Sustainable Practice: Community Gardening and Long Term Sustainability in
New York and Los Angeles
By Daniel Lawler
The Real Solar Leaders: American Colleges and Universities
By Jason Lehman
Public Health Case Study of Baldwin Park: Revealing Design Strategies that Lessen the Fear of
Crime as a means to Promote Physical Activity
By Alfred Mata
What About Waste? Re-envisioning Los Angeles' Waste Paradigm: An Assessment of the Local
Implementaion of Conversion Technology and Waste-to-Energy Waste Management
Solutions
By Ava Mikolavich
Le droit a la ville: Addressing Spatial Injustice and Hostile Geographies through the
Application of Lefebvrian Philosophy in Contextually Capitalist Urban Planning Models
By Ian Nunley
Determining Appropriate Growth: Slowing the Process of Gentrification with L.A. Department
of City Planning Zoning Tools
By Giulia Pasciuto
Co-op Grocery Stores and the Triple Bottom Line: For the Workers, For the Community, For
the Environment
By Allison Riemer
Proposition 8: The Divide of Faith and Politics?
By Helen Santos
Carrying the Tune of Sustainability: Addressing Climate Change in Creative Ways
By Derek Singleton
Early Education and Community Improvement: Engaging parents with their communities
through Head Start
By Jacey Totta
Fostering Sustainable Lifestyles: Green Roofs and Edible Landscaping at Affordable Housing
Sites
By Duncan Will
Building the Big Box: Recommendations for a Comprehensive Big Box Ordinance in Los
Angeles County
By Justin Young
Class of 2009
Beet the System: A Study of Community Supported Agriculture as a Model for Enhancing LowIncome Food Security
By Alex Altman
Food Policy for People: Incorporating food sovereignty principles into State governance
By Sadie Beauregard
XXX-XX-XXXX Nine Digits Away from a DREAM: Analyzing Institutional Responses to Increased
Awareness and Policy Changes Regarding Undocumented Students
By Ana Bonilla
Empowered and Equipped: Success Strategies for Young Women of Color of South Los
Angeles
By Drea Chicas
Spatial Injustice in Los Angeles: An Evaluation of Downtown L.A.'s Privately Owned Public
Open Space
By Paolo Cosulich-Schwartz
The Twin Cities: A Region's Region
By Max Davis
MUSEUMS: ENGAGING & STIMULATING EDUCATION AMONG YOUTH
A Look at Art Museums, Science Centers, and Ecomuseums
By Alicia Egan
Green Technology High School Academies: Pioneers at the Crossroads of Economic,
Educational, and Environmental Challenges
By Colin Englesberg
Voicing Community Concerns: The LA River Revitalization Master Plan
By Celeste Faber
Improving L.A.’s Air: An analysis of Heat Island Mitigation, Urban Forestry, and Landscape
Management as Strategies for Air Quality Management
By Claire French
Case Study Research Exploring Interim Use Brownfield Projects and Their Feasibility in the
United States
By Whitney Hawke
A Parking Requirement In-lieu Fee Dedicated to Transit Access in Los Angeles
By Taylor Kaplan
Becoming a Social Entrepreneur
By Emily Lowell
Coastal Environmental Education: Nicaragua's Estero Padre Ramos Reserve and a CommunityBased Organization
By Zachary Lundgren
The Promotion of Livable Neighborhoods within the Los Angeles Planning Process: A Look at
Highland Park and the Ave. 57 Specific Plan
By Rennie Newton
Developing a Carbon Conscience: A Portrait and Assessment of the Voluntary Carbon Offset
Market
By Sarah Ritter
The City of Palm Springs: Developing a Plan for Smart, Sustainable Growth
By Scott Saunders
Welcome to McCain Country: The Impact of the Obama Campaign's Grassroots Organizing on
Rural Communities in Battleground States and the Future Involvement of These Communities
Through Organizing for America
By Margot Seigle
Good Times go Green: How Night Clubs and Bars can Reduce Their Impact on the
Environment
By Laura Simanonok
Class of 2008
(Re-)Constructing the Sustainable City: Toward a Green Affordable Housing Model for Los
Angeles
By Mary Jane Boltz
Growing a Movement: Community Gardens in Los Angeles County
By Laura Benjamin
Building the Velorution: Bike Culture, Community, and Politics in Los Angeles
By Erica Fick
Making Senses of the Trucking Industry from A Truck Drivers Perspective, And the Need for
Clean Air and Grassroots Organizing
By Nidia Garcia
Preventing Unwanted Pregnancies: An Evaluation of Access to Emergency Contraceptives for
victims of Sexual Assault in Los Angeles County
By Julia Granholm
Dressing Up Our Conscience: The Importance of Eco-Fashion
By Robin Hamilton
Women’s Association in Mali: Empowerment, Leadership, and Political Mobilization
By Kether Hayden
Beyond Green Building: A Step towards Sustainability in Boyle Heights
By Sua Iris Hernandez
What’s Up With That? An Evaluation of Kipp’s Practices and Academic Progress with Low
Income Populations
By Sonia Huizar
Democratizing the Arts: A Struggle for Socio-economic Equality in Today’s Creative Economy
By Ian Johnston
Commodity Fumigation With An Emphasis on Food: Examining the Permit Process in Los
Angeles County
By Laura Knuttunen
The Green Imperative: The Time Has Come to Revolutionize the U.S. Built Environment
By James Leonard
Social Change: Testing the State of Two Front Activism
By Victor Lopez
Revitalizing Downtown Pomona: An Evaluation of The Artisan and Recommendations for Its
Success
By Lorena Matarrita-McNicholas
Hungry for Change: The Struggle for the Tohono O’odham Native Food System
By Caitlin Peel
Community Planning and Its Potential for Community Resistance
By Lilia Pharazyn
Tourism and Smart Growth in Canyon Country: Challenges and Opportunities in Moab, Utah.
By Abigail Scott
College, Career, and Postsecondary Success: An Analysis of Building Trade Academies in
California High Schools
By Marika Tsolakis
Cultivating Roots: A Community Story of Resistance
By Jasmine Wade
An Equity Agenda for Transit-Oriented Development: Planning for the Sustainable Growth of
Los Angeles’ Inner City
By Madeline Wander
Class of 2007
A Crisp, New $20 Bill / A Nickel Taken: “Revitalization,” Gentrification, and Displacement in
Los Angeles’s Skid Row
By Philip Barney
Turning the Corner at the Cornfield: Rethinking the Relationship between Urban Parks and
Community Development
By PJ Capin
English Language Learners in Public Schools: A Challenging Environment and a Path to
Improvement
By Alexandra Cooper
Ethiopia vs. Jamaica: A Study of Ethiopian Immigrants in Los Angeles to Afro-Caribbean
Immigrants in New York City
By Tahanee Fisher
Towards a Greener, More Affordable Housing Market
By Krystal Freeman
Beyond the Classroom: What do we do now? Realizing the Need for Effective Transitional
Services for Individuals with Autism
By Ashley Hiestand
Approaching No-Kill: Challenges and Solutions for the Los Angeles Animal Services
Department
By Caroline Nasella
Reclaiming Community Places in Urban Spaces: A Community-based Arts Approach to Urban
Land Reform and Neighborhood Empowerment in Los Angeles
By Kristen Sheline
EMS on College Campus: A Look at Occidental College
By Nastassia Toruno
A YouTube Moment in Politics: An Analysis of the First 3 Months of the 2008 Presidential
Election
By Margot Turkheimer
pWNd? Women, the Media, and Online Gaming
By Christine Wagner
Class of 2006
Too Many Inmates in One Cell, Leads to Emergence of Violence
By Maritza Agundez
Outdoor Adventure Education at Oxy
By Jacob T. Dubail
Exploring Bus Rapid Transit for Los Angeles
By Andrew Grinberg
Homeless Youth and the Bring LA Home Campaign to End Homelessness
By Windyn Hines
Social Justice in Experiential Education: A Sponsored Case Study of Go Trek Learning Based
Adventures
By Daniel Hoffman
Social Movement Unionism: A Case Study of Local 11
By Shingoon Hong
Growing Community: A Garden for Eagle Rock High School and Occidental College
By Bryden Johnston
Diabetes Management Programs: The Effect of Knowledge and Psychological Status on
Glycemic Control
By Kelsey Lewis
California Foster and Kinship Care System: A Pathway to Prison or a Temporary Solace? An
Evaluative Analysis of the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program
By Caroline Murray
Cheap Stuff Has a High Price: Community Life Impacts of Global Trade and the Goods
Movement in Southern California
By Leslie Mahley
Approaching No Kill: Challenges and Solutions for the Los Angeles Animal Services
Department
By Caroline Nasella
Fair trade: Challenges in Forming a Mainstream Movement
By Midori Niikura
The Global Gag Rule: Policy Analysis and Case Study of Impacts on Ethiopia
By Catherine Packer
Remaking the Southern California City: A Case Study of Pasadena
By Max Podemski
Searching for the Roots of Food Security Movement: A Portrait and Evaluation
By Olivia Prebus
Acute HIV Infection among MSM
By Vikram Shankar
The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief: California Disaster Relief and the Los Angeles Southern
Baptist Associations Involvement in Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief
By Natalie Simon
Class of 2005
The Boyle Heights Landscape: The Pressures of Gentrification and the Need for Grassroots
Community Action and Accountable Development
By Lydia Avila
Of Human Bondage: The Contemporary Slave Trade, A Look at Trafficking in Persons and the
Emerging Strategies to Combat it
By Shaina Campbell
Proyecto Jardin: Growing Community and Making Linkages through a Garden and Community
Space
By Molly Franson
The Route to Transportation Equity: A Critical Evaluation of the Job Access and Reverse
Commute Program and Strategies to Implement First-Class Public
By Huong Hoang
Inequalities in Urban Education: A Focus on Gentrification
By Julieian Alexis Jiles
The Cost of Free Trade: North America Free Trade Agreement's (AFTA) Negative Effects on
Labor and the Apparel Industry in Los Angeles
By Caitlin Lynch
Student-Labor Alliances on College Campuses: Strategies to Empower Workers and Build
Community- Case Studies of Occidental and Other Colleges
By Will Meade
A Crack in the “Tough on Crime” Program? The Rise and Fall of Proposition 66 in California
By Alessandro Morosin
Poems and Politics
By Clayton Perry
After School Matters: A Case Study of After School Programs in Pasadena and Options for the
Future
By Eli Reisman
Fair Trade Thai Jasmine Rice: Social Change and Alternative Food Strategies Across Borders
By Ellen Roggemann
Sweat-free Los Angeles: A Comparative Analysis of the Adoption and Implementation of
Municipal Sweat-free Procurement Ordinances and their Lessons for Los Angeles
By Molly Russell
Internal Colonization, African Americans, and No Child Left Behind: The impact of education
policy on academic and socio-economic achievement and the negative effects on African
American students
By Brandon Smith
Experiential Transformation: Strategies to Energize Educational and Community Service
Programming through a Ropes Course Approach at Occidental College
By Erin VanDenburgh
Class of 2004
Farmers’ Markets in Low-Income Communities in L.A. County: Assessing Needs, Benefits and
Barriers, with a Focus on the Shift to Electronic Benefit Transfer Technology for Food Stamp
Recipients
By Anna Berzins
Expanding a Movement: A Case Study of the Compton Farm to School Project
By Colleen Callahan
Liquor Stores in South Central Los Angeles: A Profile of How One Neighborhood Area Has
Been Impacted
By Adrian Carpenter
Getting the Lead Out: Childhood Lead Paint Organizing
By Natalie Deutsch
A Chance to Take the High Road: Managing Transportation Demand at Occidental College
By Chris Green
Vieques: The Power of People’s Protest
By Justine Lewis
The Dash for Cash: Politics, Public Policy, and Why Money Matters in Elections
By Rebecca Lewis
Olive Court: A Case Study in Transit-Oriented Development
By Vanessa Martinez
The MacArthur Park/Westlake District: A Case Study of Community Capacity
By Evelin Montes
Campus-Community Relationships: A Case Study of the University of Southern California and
an Overview of Town-Gown Alternatives
By Maria-Isabella Prack
Organizing Filipino Registered Nurses: A Social Movement Unionism Approach
By Carla Saporta
More Than a Diploma: Strategies to Improve the Educational Attainment of Latino Students
By Guadalupe Solis
Challenging Wal-Mart in California: An Investigation of Wal-Mart's Proposed Supercenter
Expansion and the Emergence of Big Box Ordinances as a Tool for Resistance
By Abby Wheatley
Diverging Perspectives: Conflicts Between Land Conservancy Efforts and Residents’ Sense of
Place on Catalina Island
By Callie White
Class of 2003
SweatX: Taking the High Road in Los Angeles (Video presentation and Resource Guide)
By Michelle Ashley and Ingrid Melendez
The Need for Universal Preschool in the Wake of Welfare Reform: An Examination of How to
Alleviate the Child Care Crisis in Los Angeles
By Regina Clemente
The Living Wage Movement: Lessons for the Labor Movement, Community Allies and the
Working Poor
By Deanna Furman
Art and Power: Los Angeles Murals
By Bethany Graham
Public Art: A Photo Essay and Analysis of Graffiti Along the Los Angeles River
By Mia Gutfreund
Reduced Drinking and Driving on College Campuses: Working Towards a More Progressive
Policy at Occidental
By Sarah Lapin
Social Capital Within the Vietnamese American Community: A Comparative Investigation of
Asian Pacific Islander Community Organizations
By Kim Pham
Inmate Abuse in Prisons: The Importance of Pursuing Rehabilitation Rather than Punishment
By Hetty Wong
The State of AIDS Housing: An Evaluation of the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS
program (HOPWA)
By Flaherty Wright
Class of 2002
Upholding the Mission at Occidental College: The Unionized Workforce in the Campus
Community
By Megan Buchanan
Roses are Red, Workers are Blue. An Examination of the Fresh-cut Flower Industry in Latin
America
By Nicole Drake
Redesigning Eden: Fertile Ground for an Urban Green Space Movement in Los Angeles?
By Maggie Fleming
Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) for Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI):
Implications for National Mental Health Policy
By David Flores
Exploring Land Use at Occidental College and a Recommendation for the Establishment of an
Ecological Study Area
By Miriah Mortimer
Notice of Displacement: The Real Cost of the Staples Center
By Payton Phillips
From the Suburban Dream Machine to the Urban Nightmare: The Federal Housing
Administration from 1934 through Today
By Sarah Pope
Modern Solutions for Today's Oil Crisis: A Case Study for Not Drilling in Alaska's Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge
By Stephanie Schroeder
The Persistence of L.A's Grocery Gap: The Need for a New Food Policy and Approach to
Market Development
By Amanda Shaffer
Class of 2001
Reclaiming Globalization: Regionalism as a Globally Competitive Strategy that Fosters
Equality
By Kelly Talbot
Class of 2000
Recycling Juvenile Justice: Proposition 21 and the The Cyclical Nature of the Juvenile Justice
System
By Casey Martin
Prospects for a Latino-Asian Pacific Islander Coalition in Los Angeles
By Carmen Chu and Martha Contreras
The Fabulous Forum: Private versus Public Interest, A Challenge for the City of Inglewood
By Hector Perez
Class of 1999
The Hospital Bed Debate at LAC+USC Medical Center: Community Needs and County Politics
By Eduardo Santana
The Viability of Composting Programs at the College and University Levels
By Penelope Brion
The Limits of Welfare Reform: Evaluating the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Reconciliation Act of 1996
By Sara Bauleke
Class of 1997
United States Immigration Policy: Impact of Free Trade and Agriculture
By Judith Sernas
Access Barriers to Health Care in Los Angeles
By Lara Bice
Urban Development and the Modern City
By Leo Olebe
Voting Behavior in the United States: An Examination for Latino Voting Turnout and Behavior
from 1980-1996
By Maribel Rios
Brief Overview of Superfund with a Glendale Case Study
By Marybeth Vergara
Restructuring the Tax System: Is it that Time Again?
By Minh Lam
The Legalization of Marijuana
By Patrick Eng
Our Los Angeles
By Tanja Skudlark