C.R.O.W.N.-Creating an Open and Respectful World for Natural Hair

Description

This is a multimedia project that is comprised of a short form documentary, a digital article and a reflection essay. The main part of this thesis project is a documentary shot, edited, voiced and produced by Nicole Shinn. The documentary

This is a multimedia project that is comprised of a short form documentary, a digital article and a reflection essay. The main part of this thesis project is a documentary shot, edited, voiced and produced by Nicole Shinn. The documentary focuses on the CROWN Act, a piece of legislation created in 2019 meant to ban natural hair discrimination. Since 2019, the CROWN Act has passed in over 14 states and 10 cities, including Tucson and Tempe, Arizona most recently. The six minute and 30 second long documentary seeks to educate people on the CROWN Act, what it does, what natural hair discrimination is, how this act has been impactful in Arizona and what national implications it has for legal protections against natural hair discrimination, as well as social acceptance of hair that is different from the Eurocentric standard. The documentary is accompanied by a digital news style article. The article focuses on the stories of a natural hair stylist in Tempe, and two activists in Tempe and Tucson who were instrumental in getting the CROWN Act passed in those cities. The article looks further into why natural hair is so important to the Black community, the struggle Black Americans have faced regarding this discrimination and how members of the Black communities in Tucson and Tempe worked to fight for the right to express themselves through their hair free of discrimination. Lastly, the reflection essay is meant to preface the entire project. To give the viewer a better understanding of how and why I pursued this topic and these mediums for my thesis/creative project. The reflection also walks through what I struggled with, what I learned and what this project means to me and other people that look like me.

Date Created
2022-05
Agent

"The Mountain is My Church": The History and Influence of Christianity in Native American Communities

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Description
I created a multimedia website exploring the history and influence of Christianity in Native American communities throughout the Southwest. More specifically, this project explores how Christianity was introduced in these communities, how Native Americans responded to it, and how it has impacted them since.
Date Created
2019-05
Agent

Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication's Approach to Racial and Ethnic Diversity

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Description
This case study is intended to determine how a top-ranked journalism school approaches and emphasizes racial and ethnic diversity. The objective of the project is to evaluate the impacts of the school's overall efforts to emphasize diversity and inclusion. Most

This case study is intended to determine how a top-ranked journalism school approaches and emphasizes racial and ethnic diversity. The objective of the project is to evaluate the impacts of the school's overall efforts to emphasize diversity and inclusion. Most of the study is based on interactions with students, admissions directors, faculty and the administrative offices. There are at least four chapters of national diversity organizations including National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA), and NLGJA (The Association of LGBTQ Journalists). The project was initiated by surveying members, executive boards and advisors of these chapters to gauge their expectations, experiences, and suggestions regarding the Cronkite School's concentration on diversity. The final presentation of results consists of digital articles in a blog format and literary reviews. LINK TO CREATIVE PROJECT: https://www.wcschooldiversity.com/
Date Created
2018-05
Agent