Barrett, The Honors College Thesis/Creative Project Collection

The once thriving American textile industry has been offshored almost entirely. The few domestic mills that remain tend to be specialized; there is no dominant player. As the global environment becomes increasingly unpredictable, the benefits of offshoring are lessening. Raising concerns over sustainability, employee welfare and intellectual property have the potential to shift the current pattern of offshoring. Impulsive tariffs and rising international wages add to the uncertainty. To eliminate many of these concerns, new textile mills should be developed in the United States. Many businesses have expressed desire and need for a new American mill to help them meet their goals. Due to strict regulations, domestic production is inherently more environmentally and socially proactive. In order for this mill to succeed, it must be based on automation and sustainable practices.

A large section of United States citizens live far away from supermarkets and do not have an easy way to get to one. This portion of the population lives in an area called a food desert. Food deserts are geographic areas in which access to affordable, healthy food, such as fresh produce, is limited or completely nonexistent due to the absence of convenient grocery stores. Individuals living in food deserts are left to rely on convenience store snacks and fast food for their meals because they do not have access to a grocery store with fresh produce in their area. Unhealthy foods also lead to health issues, as people living in food deserts are typically at a higher risk of diet-related conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Harvest, a sustainable farming network, is a smartphone application that teaches and guides people living in small spaces through the process of growing fresh, nutritious produce in their own homes. The app will guide users through the entire process of gardening, from seed to harvest. Harvest would give individuals living in food deserts an opportunity to access fresh produce that they currently can’t access. An overwhelming response based on our user discussion and market analysis revealed that our platform was in demand. Development of a target market, brand guide, and full-lifecycle were beneficial during the second semester as Harvest moved forward. Through the development of a website, social media platform, and smartphone application, Harvest grew traction for our platform. Our social media accounts saw a 1700% growth rate, and this wider audience was able to provide helpful feedback.

"Black in Bleu" is a reflection on my life as a young, Black woman in America told through poetry, and music in conjunction with feminist activists' work as well as results from a survey amongst other young, black students. This paper is a window into Blackness reflecting my experiences as well as many others in a way to find love in that reflection. There is a playlist that goes along with the paper meant to be listened to simultaneously with the reading.