Researchers have explored economic and social aspects of migration. However, legal considerations in migrant decision making and sending communities have been largely ignored. This thesis focuses on perceptions of U.S. immigration laws in Santa Rosa, Michoacán—a small community in central Mexico. I show how migration from Santa Rosa to the United States has been historically constructed as necessary and ethical. I also reveal that people in Santa Rosa expect and are waiting for another amnesty for undocumented workers in the United States. I highlight the role of the Bracero Program (1942-1964) and the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act in the construction of these beliefs, as policies that encouraged and then rewarded illegal entry to the United States. I then suggest that U.S. immigration policy has established a social contract, complete with benefits and obligations, between the people of Santa Rosa and the U.S. state.

People Kate Bass ’11.5 Researcher David Stoll Professor of Anthropology & First ReaderMarcos Lopez Post-Doctoral Fellow in Sociology & Second Reader

Related Links Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 Bracero History Archive

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“Life Stories of Middlebury College” is a multi-phase initiative intended to gather people’s experiences while at the college, particularly reflections that highlight issues of diversity. In his interview, Arthur Choo talks about the “global community” ideal in higher education, the experience of activism while being an ethnic minority, how an individual’s idea of race affects their perception of self, the effect of political correctness on classroom discussions, the humor of stereotypes, the difference between the ideal of diversity and the reality in the dining halls, combating the feeling of exclusivity in the Korean American Student Association, and the paradox of the success of minority students.

People Arthur Choo Sociology Major at Middlebury College Susan Burch Associate Professor of American Studies; Director, CCSRE; Head of Life Stories project

Related Links SOAN 0105 Society and the Individual SOAN 0356 ignificance of Race in the US Korean American Student Association

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Hailed for reducing poverty and inequality in Brazil, the Bolsa Familia program (PBF) is the largest conditional cash transfer program in the world. Critics, however, have accused President Lula and his party of indirectly ‘buying’ the poor vote through the PBF. This research investigates the relationship between the PBF and the voting patterns of its recipients in the recent elections. Is the PBF an apolitical poverty reduction strategy? Does it influence the formation of political preferences? Based on interviews conducted in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, I focus on the beneficiaries’ own perception of the program, exploring the concepts of “ownership” and “clientelism” in social welfare.

People Pui Shen Yoong Researcher Svea Closser Sponsor & Assistant Professor of Sociology & Anthropology

Related Links Bolsa Familia Study Finds Bolsa Familia Children Healthier, Doing Better in School Choosing Clientelism: Political Competition, Poverty and Social Welfare Policy in Argentina Cash Transfers and Voting Behavior: Electoral Impacts of Brazil’s Bolsa Familia Program Conditional Cash Transfers and Voting Behaviour: Redistribution and Clientelism in Developing Democracies

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Known as America’s “Arsenal of Democracy,” “Most Dangerous City,” and more recently, “Laboratory for Saving the American City,” Detroit, Michigan has functioned as a model city and symbol in American popular culture since the early 20th century. This research explores the significance of Detroit’s role as a representative city through a content analysis of national news publications and other channels of media in the last century. Relying on theories of the narrative construction of social events and actors in public discourse, this case demonstrates the evolving signification of Detroit in American culture. The emergent narrative of Detroit as a model for reimagining the American city in the 21st century relies on previous labeling of Detroit as a symbol of American ascendency and decline. The story of Detroit as a laboratory for reforming America’s cities demonstrates a reclamation of Detroit as a positive American symbol and a reinvigoration of the discourse of civil society through the democratic production of knowledge about the city. Detroit offers American society a new framework through which to think of shrinkage, community, and identity rooted in place.

People Julianna Tschirhart Researcher Laurie Essig Sponsor & Assistant Professor of Sociology and Women’s and Gender Studies

Detroit is America’s 2nd most segregated city with a 77% black population and 84% white suburbs.

Related Links “Imported from Detroit”, Chrysler Advertisement U.S. Social Forum, Detroit, MI New York Times Interactive Census Map Telling Our Detroit Story Model D

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People Samantha Marder Project Manager, Project Health  Providence Hannah Nichols Talent and Technology Coordinator, Project Health National Offices Yuan Lim Student Organizer Veronica Muoio Student Organizer Dan Murphy Student Organizer

Related Links To Learn More and Take Action, check out these links First Stop: Alliance for Civic Engagement (ACE) Fall 2010 Student Symposium: American Poverty in Context Project Health Unnatural Causes: Documentary on Poverty and Poor Health

Downloads Full Symposium Schedule Samantha Marder and Hannah Nichols

Hal Colston is the founder and director of the Good News Garage. GNG was created to address transportation equity for people in poverty. Hal left the GNG in March 2004 to start a new nonprofit, NeighborKeepers – an inclusive community built that generate Circles of Support. Dr. Colston also teaches a community service course at Champlain College, and serves on the board of the HowardCenter, United Way Community Investment Committee, Vermont Health Foundation and the Visiting Nurse Association.

People Hal Colston Founder and Director of Good News Garage and Neighborskeepers Yuan Lim Student Organizer Veronica Muoio Student Organizer Dan Murphy Student Organizer

Related Links To Learn More and Take Action, check out these links First Stop: Alliance for Civic Engagement (ACE) Fall 2010 Student Symposium: American Poverty in Context Good News Garage NeighborKeepers Circles of Support

Downloads Hal Colston Full Symposium Schedule

During my study abroad experience with SIT’s Development and Social Change program in Cameroon, I spent six weeks in Ngaoundéré, a large town in the country’s Muslim North. Using surveys, interviews, and secondary materials I examined the relationship between the national secular legal system and traditional Islamic Fulbe law. My goal was to explore the balance between the two systems and identify areas of tension.

People Eleanor Johnstone Researcher Michael Sheridan Associate Professor of Anthropology & Sponsor

Related Links SIT Study Abroad in Cameroon Undergraduate Research

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October 21st- 29th will be the Fall Student Symposium, “American Poverty in Context.” We aim to build awareness and encourage discussion of poverty-related issues on the local and national level. The symposium will tackle issues such as hunger and local foods, social determinants of health, labor legislation, community action, and homelessness. In addition to inspiring intellectual discourse on poverty, we hope to motivate more students to participate in volunteer activities and to consider pursuing careers in non-profits.

Please click on the posters below in the downloads section for more detailed information about each event!

People Joel Berg Executive Director of the New York Coalition Against Hunger Harlan Beckley Director of the Shepherd Program for the Interdisciplinary Study of Poverty and Human Capability at Washington and Lee University Robert Prasch Middlebury College Professor of Economics Samantha Marder Project Manager, Project Health  Providence Hannah Nichols Talent and Technology Coordinator, Project Health National Offices Hal Colston Founder and Director of Good News Garage and Neighborskeepers Doug Sinclair Co-Founder of Middlebury Community Care Coalition Ingrid Pixley Property Manager for Addison County Community Trust Jeanne Montross Executive Director of HOPE (Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects) Yuan Lim Student Organizer Veronica Muoio Student Organizer Dan Murphy Student Organizer

Related Links To Learn More and Take Action, check out these links First Stop: Alliance for Civic Engagement (ACE) ! Hunger and Food Justice Issues: VT FoodBank Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger New York City Coalition Against Hunger Health Equity: Project Health Unnatural Causes: Documentary on Poverty and Poor Health Housing Issues: National Coalition for the Homeless Vermont Committee for Temporary Shelter (COTS) Middlebury Community Care Coalition (MCCC) Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects (HOPE) Feel Free to Post your own links below as well.

Downloads Full Symposium Schedule Information about Individual Events: Harlan Beckley Joel Berg Hal Colston Ingrid Pixley and Doug Sinclair Professor Robert Prasch Samantha Marder and Hannah Nichols

According to Howard Zehr (2002), “Restorative justice is a process to involve, to the extent possible, those who have a stake in a specific offense and to collectively identify and address harms, needs, and obligations, in order to heal and put things as right as possible.” We propose various methods of incorporating restorative practices into the Middlebury College judicial system.

People Ben Manger ’11, Philosophy Dana Callahan ’13, Biology Matthew George ’12.5, Biology Clayton Paschke ’13, Sociology Researchers Jon Kidde Sponsor, Sociology & Anthropology

Related Links Judicial Boards at Middlebury Diversity at Middlebury

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The business model of the food industry, as it stands today, is unsustainable.  To counter these negative trends, organizations like Slow Food International have begun to champion the importance of “quality” for health, the environment, and the art of gastronomy. But what does quality mean and what will be its impact on the global food industry? An analysis of wines produced in France and labeled with the government-sponsored quality certification system, Appelation d’Origine Contrôlée, reveals that an emphasis on quality and geography, rather than brand, makes the food market more monopolistically competitive, more inclusive yet hierarchical.

People Emily Gullickson Researcher Thierry Warin Sponsor and Associate Professor of Economics Lynn Owens Sponsor and Assistant Professor of Sociology

Related Links Spring Student Symposium

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