Projects

Al Norte de San Diego - Oral Histories of Mexican/Latinos in San Diego County

This is an oral history project celebrating the rich cultural legacy and heritage of Latinos in the United States, California, and specifically, North San Diego County. Like pieces of a colorful mosaic, oral histories of elderly Latino residents are a secret archive, waiting to be discovered and brought to life for younger generations to better understand the past. This project promotes understanding and appreciation of living cultures and traditions by designing and implementing an array of activities including exhibits, cultural policy, publications, archives and resources. In collaboration with local historical and archival organizations, the project will preserve documentary records on Mexican/Latino history and culture.

COMMUNITY ACTION TO FIGHT ASTHMA - (2005-2008)                       

Community Action to Fight Asthma (CAFA) is a state-wide strategic initiative focused on developing policies and best practices that reduce environmental asthma triggers among school-aged children.  The NLRC serves as one of four Regional Centers for the California Endowment.

EXPELBOUND (2004-Ongoing)

This pilot project explores causes of school expulsions of Latino youth in San Diego County, investigates support services available to parents, and facilitates parent advocacy efforts to support educational access for Latino youth.

HEALTHY HOMES PROJECT (2005-2008)

The NLRC is working with Mid City CAN in the evaluation of their Proyecto CASA Saludables program; a three-year project designed to work with Latino residents in assessing the health and livability of City Heights rental housing and increase the knowledge of residents on tenant’s rights. The NLRC will assist in the development of the home health assessment instrument, analyze data, report results, and in identifying priorities for education and policy advocacy activities.

LATINOS Y LATINAS EN ACCIÓN (Ongoing)

Latinos y Latinas en Acción, a committee formed by Latinos residents in the Mid–City Heights area of San Diego, is working to make improvements in their community and empower other Latinos residents. The NLRC has assisted this group with strategic planning and action plan development.

PODER POPULAR (2005-2008)

The NLRC has been commissioned by The California Endowment to conduct the Poder Popular Program, an outreach project aiming to improve the health, living and working conditions of agricultural workers by engaging in grassroots leadership through the active participation of promotores comunitarios in North San Diego County.

RECYCLED USED OIL (2005-2008)

The primary goal of the project is to increase the rate of used oil and filter recycling by Latino immigrants living in San Marcos.  Previous research has identified recent immigrants as being more likely to improperly dispose of used oil.  Although education campaigns are currently in place that target both English and Spanish speakers in North County San Diego, these programs have not been designed specifically to meet the needs of the immigrant population.  Unique barriers, such as lack of literacy and the need for financial incentives, have been identified by individuals belonging to this group. As a result, Community-Based Social Marketing offers a valuable approach to recognizing and addressing the needs of this group.

SAN MARCOS ACADEMY NEEDS ASSESSMENT (2006-2007)

The NLRC has established a Community Partnership (CP) with San Marcos Unified School District’s San Marcos Elementary.  Through the CP, the NLRC will work to coordinate resources that build on community assets and support creative solutions to challenges currently facing this school.  Its goal is to serve as a gateway for local community-based resources and information to more effectively generate access to university resources and develop projects with academic partners and San Marcos Elementary teachers, students, parents, and administrators.  In addition, the NLRC will work closely with faculty members and academic programs at CSUSM to support and expand outreach, community-based service learning, and action-oriented research in partnership with San Marcos Elementary.

SSS PROJECT (2006-2007)

The NLRC will conduct an evaluation of Student Support Services Program (SSSP) using a reliable and culturally-sensitive approach. The evaluation will be consucted using an online survey and conducting focus groups with CSUSM students. The evaluation will provide data for an assessment of SSSP participants’ experiences of program services; their relationships with SSSP staff, fellow students, and faculty; their perceptions of the effectiveness of SSSP in helping them achieve their educational goals; and their perceptions of the supportiveness of the overall CSUSM institutional climate.  Through the NLRC program evaluation, SSSP staff will be informed how best to make programmatic changes that meet the needs of participants.

W. FULLERTON (2004-2007)

The National Latino Research Center has been subcontracted by St. Jude Medical Center to evaluate the “Pediatric Asthma Prevention Initiative,” a project of the West Fullerton Improvement Collaborative (Orange County). The project will use a multi-pronged approach to reducing the incidence of asthma episodes among children at high risk for asthma based on environmental conditions and lack of access to health care. The project partners will create a culturally appropriate structure for reaching residents and improving living conditions and health care access of southwest Fullerton’s under-served, low-income Spanish speaking community. This initiative is funded by The California Endowment and builds on the NLRC’s current work with the statewide “Community Action to Fight Asthma” Initiative.