Workshop and Webinar with Dr. Patrick Sharkey
April 7th, 2021
"Locked out of Place: How Felony Conviction History Shapes Residential Opportunity"
During the workshop, sociologist Brielle Bryan offered her in-progress paper titled, "Locked out of Place: How Felony Conviction History Shapes Residential Opportunity". Given that criminal background checks have become a routine part of rental applicant screening and the importance of where one lives for quality of life and access to opportunity, Bryan conducted an experimental study to uncover how felony conviction history impacts renters’ available choice set in the housing market. Results indicate that factors such as arrests, criminal charges, conviction, and incarceration impact housing trajectories within Houston, Texas. The paper addresses the discrimination individuals with felony records face and what types of neighborhoods they are channeled into as a result. Within the workshop, participants brainstormed future spatial analysis plans for the project, suggesting that Bryan look into factors and conditions that can affect a landlord’s willingness to rent to those with a previous criminal history. These factors included but were not limited to, credit score, number of children/pets, spatial layout of a neighborhood, eviction records, and type of felony conviction. The discussion resulted in fruitful feedback to help shape Bryan’s research direction in regards to some accessible measures of neighborhood quality and resources to easily implement into her future analysis.
"Uneasy Peace: The Great Crime Decline, and the Renewal of City Life, and the Next War on Violence"
The webinar, “Uneasy Peace: The Great Crime Decline, and the Renewal of City Life, and the Next War on Violence” by Dr. Patrick Sharkey addressed the transformation of American cities in regards to crime and violence over the past twenty-five years. Violence has become less common in almost every major city across the country. To explain this phenomenon, Sharkey’s analysis dives deep into five years of national data to understand why this decline occurred, how it has changed the nature of urban inequality, and what exactly shapes a shifting state of peace. In the lecture, Sharkey detailed the connection between violence and urban inequality, how violence changes investment in a community, and the effect of violence on economic mobility. There is now enough evidence to call for a new model of confronting urban violence instead of relying on the standard approach of punitive penal and policing systems. Community organizations and local programs have been shown to have a profound effect on declining crime rates, contributing to the creation of safer neighborhoods and stronger communities. A new model driven by ideals of investment, built around residents and community organizations rather than punishment, should become the dominant method to curtail violent crime. During the Q & A session, Dr. Sharkey discussed the future direction of policing models and criminal justice. You can view the recording for this webinar here.
Workshop and Webinar with Dr. Camille Charles
April 21st, 2021
"Intergenerational Moves to “Opportunity”: How Young Adults Think About Residential Choice after Childhood Mobility Program Participation"
During the workshop, sociologist Dr. Anna Rhodes offered her in-progress paper titled, “Intergenerational Moves to “Opportunity”: How Young Adults Think About Residential Choice after Childhood Mobility Program Participation” for feedback from fellow sociologists and invited special guest, Dr. Camille Charles. The study delves into how youth compare neighborhoods after moving with a housing mobility program, and how they use their experiences to inform their own residential plans as they enter adulthood. Housing mobility programs were designed to disrupt families’ exposure to neighborhoods of concentrated poverty and intense racial segregation. While quantitative evidence suggests that neighborhood contexts are often inherited, these mobility programs can create intergenerational change in these processes. The workshop centered around how to frame the narrative of residential choice, the importance of mobility programs, and intergenerational disadvantage and opportunity. Workshop participants also suggested ways in which Dr. Rhodes can highlight the childhood factors and stories of the study participants and include more information about the city of Baltimore as the study setting. The discussion resulted in helpful suggestions and positive feedback to help shape Dr. Rhodes’ reflection on mobility programs and the nuanced experiences for its youth participants.
"Divergent Currents: The Diverse Origins of the New Black Elite"
The webinar, “Divergent Currents: The Diverse Origins of the New Black Elite” by Dr. Camille Charles addressed her recent research and nearly completed book surrounding the traits and characteristics of Black students attending selective institutions, of which Rice University is one. The study focused on how the student’s diverse origins influence their social and academic experiences before, during, and upon departure from college. The conversation centered around the need to look at black diversity in elite institutions and covered the marginalization of students of color within these institutions and their structures from a historical and current day perspective. Dr. Charles discussed what universities should be doing in order to support students of color given the intra-racial differences that shape Black identities and experiences. During the Q & A session, Dr. Charles shared her outlook for the future achievements of Black students, first-generation/low-income students, and other students of color. You can view the recording for this webinar here.
Workshop and Webinar with Dr. Laura Morgan Roberts
May 12th, 2021
"When Thriving Requires Effortful Surviving: Delineating Manifestations and Resource Expenditure Outcomes of Microaggressions for Black Employees"
Psychological sciences professor Danielle King presented her in-progress paper titled, “When Thriving Requires Effortful Surviving: Delineating Manifestations and Resource Expenditure Outcomes of Microaggressions for Black Employees” for feedback from fellow Rice peers and invited special guest, Dr. Laura Morgan Roberts. The study centers around Black employee experiences with encounters with racism. The paper draws from interview and survey data on their encounters with racial bias in the workplace. In the workshop, participants were able to brainstorm ways to link the work with notions of everyday racism. Participants also suggested ways Dr. King can include discussion surrounding how social structures often fail to protect employees from the harmful effects of microaggressions and further discussion on how racial composition of a workplace affects the reporting of microaggressions.
"Toward a Racially Just Workplace: Three Zones of Action for Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice"
The webinar, “Toward a Racially Just Workplace: Three Zones of Action for Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice” by Dr. Laura Morgan Roberts focused on how organizations and organizational leadership could help individuals discover their best selves by exploring difference and inclusion. The lecture outlined ways to bring about more racially just organizations through acknowledgement, affirmation, and action in order to value diversity in the workplace instead of denying privilege, defending the dominance of the majority, and disengaging from doing the necessary work. Dr. Roberts gave a thorough overview of the widespread debate on how race matters in terms of people’s experience of work and leadership. She also detailed how many interpersonal dynamics such as microaggressions, stereotype threat, lack of validation etc. within the workplace can create barriers to minority employees' professional advancement. Additionally, the discussion delved into how failing to acknowledge the role that race plays historically and currently in shaping work experiences, outcomes, and societal patterns can dismiss how diversity is a valuable asset in organizations. Dr. Roberts considered how equity in action should unfold within organizations through building capabilities, providing accommodations, and systemic change. At the end of the webinar, a Q & A session occurred where attendees were able to engage with Dr. Roberts’ research and discuss ways to advance equity and combat inequality. You can view the recording for this webinar here.