Cecilia Giusti - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Cecilia Giusti

Community Development Journal, 2009

Page 1. RE5DLRNH EMERGING CHIGANO DIALOGUES ON COMMUNITY AND GLOBALIZATION MIGUEL MONTIEL, TOMAS ... more Page 1. RE5DLRNH EMERGING CHIGANO DIALOGUES ON COMMUNITY AND GLOBALIZATION MIGUEL MONTIEL, TOMAS ATENCIO, AND EA "TONY" MARES Page 2. Page 3. Resolana Page 4. Page 5. Resolana EMERGING ...

Community Development, 2008

An urban bias is evident in policies and programs addressing housing and community development is... more An urban bias is evident in policies and programs addressing housing and community development issues in the US Analysis of American Housing Survey data comparing non-metropolitan housing conditions to central city and suburban housing conditions indicates a higher incidence of ...

Poverty, inequality, and exclusion are the basis of social justice. While these problems are prev... more Poverty, inequality, and exclusion are the basis of social justice. While these problems are prevalent in developing countries, they also occur in developed countries. In the United States, not only is poverty present, but it is also highly concentrated. Minorities, new immigrants, and women represent the most vulnerable U.S. groups. Officially, poverty is defined based on household incomes, yet characterizing poverty only on the basis of monetary resources is insufficient. As discussed in this article, poverty can also be classified on quality of life indicators, from housing, health, and education to socialization and political participation. This paper’s objective is to establish the built environment and financial exclusion–two dimensions of a broad definition of poverty–as the foundation of social justice. A successful microloan program that addresses these two aspects of poverty is presented. The focus is on the effects of poverty in Texas colonias, ranging from how poverty is...

In response to changes in federal requirements for rural transit planning, the Texas State Legisl... more In response to changes in federal requirements for rural transit planning, the Texas State Legislature and the Texas Department of Transportation have recently developed coordinated transit and human services plans for the 24 planning regions in the state of Texas. This study evaluates both the processes that have been adopted throughout the state as well as the types of outcomes that have emerged. Having engaged in perhaps the most comprehensive approach to meeting the revised federal requirements in the United

Community Livability, 2019

In response to changes in federal requirements for rural transit planning, the Texas State Legisl... more In response to changes in federal requirements for rural transit planning, the Texas State Legislature and the Texas Department of Transportation have recently developed coordinated transit and human services plans for the 24 planning regions in the state of Texas. This study evaluates both the processes that have been adopted throughout the state as well as the types of outcomes that have emerged. Having engaged in perhaps the most comprehensive approach to meeting the revised federal requirements in the United States, the Texas experience in developing coordinated transit and human service plans is particularly useful for identifying opportunities, barriers, and best practices for coordinated rural transit planning, and thus for filling a major gap in the available professional guidance.

Background: Rates of obesity have reached epidemic proportions, and Latinos bear disproportionall... more Background: Rates of obesity have reached epidemic proportions, and Latinos bear disproportionally high burdens. Residential environments are important settings shaping health behaviors/outcomes, but many Latinos live among challenging conditions with concentrated poverty and inadequate infrastructure. Objectives: (1) To review selected literature on environmental correlates of Latino obesity and physical activity; (2) To provide comparative descriptions of urban form in a colonia, representing a common Latino settlement in border areas; and (3) To identify environmental correlates of walking, physical activity, and obesity among colonia-residing Latinos. Methods: This paper analyzes 89-respondent surveys of residents in El Cenizo, a colonia in Texas, and environmental measures captured from field audits and Geographic Information System. Results: Limited existing studies reported traffic, street connectivity, sidewalk, and density as correlates of physical activity or obesity. Urba...

Ponencia presentada a: Session 1: Educacion y arquitectura en las universidades / Architectural e... more Ponencia presentada a: Session 1: Educacion y arquitectura en las universidades / Architectural education in the universities

Journal of the American Planning Association, 2021

Problem, research strategy, and findings Markets have been central to civilization, fostering tra... more Problem, research strategy, and findings Markets have been central to civilization, fostering trade and social life. Although markets take a variety of forms and sizes, existing planning research does not engage with flea markets and swap meets. In this study we explore four Latino vendor markets (LVMs), classified as flea markets or swap meets, in two predominantly Latino states, California and Texas. We analyze Latino vendor markets through the lens of place attachment from three perspectives: basic economic activity, social and human interactions, and their physical setting. We draw our results from 198 surveys with vendors and customers, interviews with key informants, and detailed on-site observations. We find that LVMs are vibrant and lively places where attachment and feelings of belonging manifest; we identify them as one-stop shops and places of purposeful interactions. Our findings are limited by the scope of the geographic focus of the research. Takeaway for practice Forw...

Proceedings of the eCAADe conference, 2015

This paper examines the application of innovative and interdisciplinary collaboration methods tha... more This paper examines the application of innovative and interdisciplinary collaboration methods that emerged from the rapidly developing field of information technology and its intersection within the realm of design and architecture. These events, also referred to as hackathons, have risen in popularity in recent years (Artiles & Wallace, 2013) and stem from a design response for the increasing demand for accelerated design decisions within the field of architecture. This paper examines the potential of hackathons as a platform for rapid development of design ideas into prototypes within a time constraint of 24 hours. The paper explores the hackathon as a robust foundational element for pedagogical approaches rooted in interdisciplinary collaboration. Using a case-study research methodology, this paper probes the framework of the event, the outcomes, and the lessons learned. As this paper demonstrates, the hackathon required participants to identify and explore shifting territories t...

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education, 2010

This research is a pilot study aimed to identify environmental characteristics in colonias that a... more This research is a pilot study aimed to identify environmental characteristics in colonias that are related to infrastructure and safety, access to goods and services, and quality of life. A secondary objective consisted of evaluating a variety of tools that could be used to identify and assess these environmental characteristics. El Cenizo in Webb County, Texas, was selected as our study colonia after preliminary visits and investigations. A multidisciplinary approach framed this study, considering the transportation, urban design and planning, public health, and socioeconomic dimensions as potential determinants of the residents’ mobility behaviors, environmental perception, and quality of life. Three instruments were developed to collect data for this research: 1) a survey, 2) an activity diary or travel diary, and 3) environmental audit instruments. Additionally, this study also included a small sub-group study testing the usability of wearable Global Positioning Systems (GPS) u...

I. Research Question The Small Business Administration Office reports that small businesses in th... more I. Research Question The Small Business Administration Office reports that small businesses in the U.S. represent more than 99 percent of all employers, employ 51 percent of private-sector workers, and represent nearly all of the self-employed, with Texas following such a pattern (SBA 2002). Small businesses are widely recognized as a valuable foundation in fostering economic growth. Of those who are self-employed, which represents 7 percent of the work force, 53 percent have home-based businesses and 3 percent own franchises (SBA 2002).

Community Development Journal, 2009

Page 1. RE5DLRNH EMERGING CHIGANO DIALOGUES ON COMMUNITY AND GLOBALIZATION MIGUEL MONTIEL, TOMAS ... more Page 1. RE5DLRNH EMERGING CHIGANO DIALOGUES ON COMMUNITY AND GLOBALIZATION MIGUEL MONTIEL, TOMAS ATENCIO, AND EA "TONY" MARES Page 2. Page 3. Resolana Page 4. Page 5. Resolana EMERGING ...

Community Development, 2008

An urban bias is evident in policies and programs addressing housing and community development is... more An urban bias is evident in policies and programs addressing housing and community development issues in the US Analysis of American Housing Survey data comparing non-metropolitan housing conditions to central city and suburban housing conditions indicates a higher incidence of ...

Poverty, inequality, and exclusion are the basis of social justice. While these problems are prev... more Poverty, inequality, and exclusion are the basis of social justice. While these problems are prevalent in developing countries, they also occur in developed countries. In the United States, not only is poverty present, but it is also highly concentrated. Minorities, new immigrants, and women represent the most vulnerable U.S. groups. Officially, poverty is defined based on household incomes, yet characterizing poverty only on the basis of monetary resources is insufficient. As discussed in this article, poverty can also be classified on quality of life indicators, from housing, health, and education to socialization and political participation. This paper’s objective is to establish the built environment and financial exclusion–two dimensions of a broad definition of poverty–as the foundation of social justice. A successful microloan program that addresses these two aspects of poverty is presented. The focus is on the effects of poverty in Texas colonias, ranging from how poverty is...

In response to changes in federal requirements for rural transit planning, the Texas State Legisl... more In response to changes in federal requirements for rural transit planning, the Texas State Legislature and the Texas Department of Transportation have recently developed coordinated transit and human services plans for the 24 planning regions in the state of Texas. This study evaluates both the processes that have been adopted throughout the state as well as the types of outcomes that have emerged. Having engaged in perhaps the most comprehensive approach to meeting the revised federal requirements in the United

Community Livability, 2019

In response to changes in federal requirements for rural transit planning, the Texas State Legisl... more In response to changes in federal requirements for rural transit planning, the Texas State Legislature and the Texas Department of Transportation have recently developed coordinated transit and human services plans for the 24 planning regions in the state of Texas. This study evaluates both the processes that have been adopted throughout the state as well as the types of outcomes that have emerged. Having engaged in perhaps the most comprehensive approach to meeting the revised federal requirements in the United States, the Texas experience in developing coordinated transit and human service plans is particularly useful for identifying opportunities, barriers, and best practices for coordinated rural transit planning, and thus for filling a major gap in the available professional guidance.

Background: Rates of obesity have reached epidemic proportions, and Latinos bear disproportionall... more Background: Rates of obesity have reached epidemic proportions, and Latinos bear disproportionally high burdens. Residential environments are important settings shaping health behaviors/outcomes, but many Latinos live among challenging conditions with concentrated poverty and inadequate infrastructure. Objectives: (1) To review selected literature on environmental correlates of Latino obesity and physical activity; (2) To provide comparative descriptions of urban form in a colonia, representing a common Latino settlement in border areas; and (3) To identify environmental correlates of walking, physical activity, and obesity among colonia-residing Latinos. Methods: This paper analyzes 89-respondent surveys of residents in El Cenizo, a colonia in Texas, and environmental measures captured from field audits and Geographic Information System. Results: Limited existing studies reported traffic, street connectivity, sidewalk, and density as correlates of physical activity or obesity. Urba...

Ponencia presentada a: Session 1: Educacion y arquitectura en las universidades / Architectural e... more Ponencia presentada a: Session 1: Educacion y arquitectura en las universidades / Architectural education in the universities

Journal of the American Planning Association, 2021

Problem, research strategy, and findings Markets have been central to civilization, fostering tra... more Problem, research strategy, and findings Markets have been central to civilization, fostering trade and social life. Although markets take a variety of forms and sizes, existing planning research does not engage with flea markets and swap meets. In this study we explore four Latino vendor markets (LVMs), classified as flea markets or swap meets, in two predominantly Latino states, California and Texas. We analyze Latino vendor markets through the lens of place attachment from three perspectives: basic economic activity, social and human interactions, and their physical setting. We draw our results from 198 surveys with vendors and customers, interviews with key informants, and detailed on-site observations. We find that LVMs are vibrant and lively places where attachment and feelings of belonging manifest; we identify them as one-stop shops and places of purposeful interactions. Our findings are limited by the scope of the geographic focus of the research. Takeaway for practice Forw...

Proceedings of the eCAADe conference, 2015

This paper examines the application of innovative and interdisciplinary collaboration methods tha... more This paper examines the application of innovative and interdisciplinary collaboration methods that emerged from the rapidly developing field of information technology and its intersection within the realm of design and architecture. These events, also referred to as hackathons, have risen in popularity in recent years (Artiles & Wallace, 2013) and stem from a design response for the increasing demand for accelerated design decisions within the field of architecture. This paper examines the potential of hackathons as a platform for rapid development of design ideas into prototypes within a time constraint of 24 hours. The paper explores the hackathon as a robust foundational element for pedagogical approaches rooted in interdisciplinary collaboration. Using a case-study research methodology, this paper probes the framework of the event, the outcomes, and the lessons learned. As this paper demonstrates, the hackathon required participants to identify and explore shifting territories t...

Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education, 2010

This research is a pilot study aimed to identify environmental characteristics in colonias that a... more This research is a pilot study aimed to identify environmental characteristics in colonias that are related to infrastructure and safety, access to goods and services, and quality of life. A secondary objective consisted of evaluating a variety of tools that could be used to identify and assess these environmental characteristics. El Cenizo in Webb County, Texas, was selected as our study colonia after preliminary visits and investigations. A multidisciplinary approach framed this study, considering the transportation, urban design and planning, public health, and socioeconomic dimensions as potential determinants of the residents’ mobility behaviors, environmental perception, and quality of life. Three instruments were developed to collect data for this research: 1) a survey, 2) an activity diary or travel diary, and 3) environmental audit instruments. Additionally, this study also included a small sub-group study testing the usability of wearable Global Positioning Systems (GPS) u...

I. Research Question The Small Business Administration Office reports that small businesses in th... more I. Research Question The Small Business Administration Office reports that small businesses in the U.S. represent more than 99 percent of all employers, employ 51 percent of private-sector workers, and represent nearly all of the self-employed, with Texas following such a pattern (SBA 2002). Small businesses are widely recognized as a valuable foundation in fostering economic growth. Of those who are self-employed, which represents 7 percent of the work force, 53 percent have home-based businesses and 3 percent own franchises (SBA 2002).