In today's dynamic societal landscape, the critical evaluation of public policies holds paramount importance. This thesis project, undertaken by a Barrett Honors student of Public Policy, endeavors to contribute to this essential discourse by creating a policy critique podcast. The primary objective of this project is to produce two podcast episodes that delve into the intricacies of housing policy. Through a meticulous examination, these episodes will dissect the implications of the selected housing policy. By offering a nuanced perspective, the podcast aims to illuminate the complexities inherent in housing policy issues, enriching the understanding of listeners. This thesis project represents a scholarly endeavor to engage in informed discussions about the efficacy and implications of policies, specifically housing policies. Through the medium of podcasting, the project seeks to bridge the gap between academic research and public discourse to foster a deeper understanding of housing policy among a diverse audience. Ultimately, this thesis project aims to contribute to the ongoing dialogue surrounding public policies, particularly in the realm of housing policy, by providing listeners with valuable insights and fostering critical thinking about contemporary policy challenges.

This research evaluates the impact of Cordero Holmes' "Me, You, Us Program (M.Y.U./MyU)" at the Durango Juvenile Facility, a 10-week educational intervention utilizing a workbook designed by Holmes. Participation in this program offers incarcerated youth direct benefits by fostering self-awareness, empathy, and conflict resolution skills through self-reflective activities and social-emotional learning components. It empowers youth to break the cycle of criminal behavior by promoting a positive attitude towards education and providing tools for academic success. While acknowledging potential risks like emotional discomfort during self-reflection activities, this study aims to assess the effectiveness of the M.Y.U./MyU program in equipping incarcerated youth with the skills and mindset for successful reintegration into society and avoiding further criminal involvement.

Northwest Arkansas has a complex relationship with Indigeneity due to the erasure experience by the original inhabitants of the lands, and the presences of newly immigrated Indigenous groups such as the Marshallese people from the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Today, the Indigenous identity that is most commonly present within the Northwest Arkansas community are the Marshallese people. The reason as to why the original inhabitants of modern-day Northwest Arkansas are not the most prominently represented Indigenous group, is because of severe erasure, genocide, and systematic racism experienced by these people. This thesis will be investigating the Indigenous identities of Northwest Arkansas, which will include information on the first peoples and the modern-day presence of the Marshallese people. This thesis will particularly be focusing on the ways in which the legacy of colonialism and climate change have linked these groups in their displacement. Despite the differing time periods, the interconnectedness between these Indigenous populations’ experiences with colonialism and colonialist systems further demonstrates the threat that Indigenous populations still face today of erasure and continual oppression. Through both populations’ mutual experience with displacement and diaspora, this thesis will investigate how food can act as an essential connector between Indigenous individuals and their culture, as well as how food can be a form of reparations, healing, and future progress.

Orofacial Myofunctional Disorder (OMD) is defined as “abnormal movement patterns of the face and mouth” by ASHA (2023). OMD leads to anterior carriage of the tongue, open mouth posture, mouth breathing, and tongue thrust swallow. Dentalization speech errors of /s/ and /z/ are also known to be caused by low and forward position of the tongue (Wadsworth, Maui, & Stevens, 1998). This study used the OMES-E protocol to identify 10 out of 40 participants with OMD. A cut-off below 80% accuracy for the production of /s/ and /z/ sounds classified 6 out of 40 participants with speech errors. Then, a correlation was run between speech score and OMD classification; it was not significant. This raises the question, why do some people with OMD have moderate to severe speech errors of /s/ and /z/, and some who have OMD do not? This study aims to explore this question beyond the motor modality. Using an auditory perception paradigm, the first and second formants of the vowel /ɛ/ were shifted to approximate /æ/. The participant’s responses and compensations to these shifts were recorded in real time. Results of this perceptual test could suggest that perceptual/compensatory differences may explain why some people in the OMD population have speech errors and some do not.

The 2016 election brought a pivotal shift in the external communications of businesses with their consumers. The shift was from the established practice of businesses selectively and voluntarily choosing to comment on social issues, to now businesses’ consumers and employees expecting a comment. While political and social subjects were once considered off-limit conversations, some businesses found themselves in the middle of election rhetoric and taking sides on candidates. As a result of this shift, issues such as abortion, discrimination, gun control, and current political policies, which were once closed-door, private conversations, are now being discussed openly by CEOs. I have gathered research from scholarly outlets, business publications, statements from executives and companies, as well as resulting news coverage and commentary. Throughout this thesis, I will explore how the 2016 election brought about a pivotal change in how and when corporations release statements publicly as a response to current events. To understand this change in corporate communications I will provide the history of how corporate communications were viewed and shared with their consumers since the 1930s, and what it has evolved to today.