Students utilized ethnography skills and knowledge to complete community-based research projects in partnership with the Northfield Public Library, the Riverwalk Arts Quarter and Growing Up Healthy.
The Northfield Latino Community & Existing Perceptions
Green Bouzard, Polina Bugayev, Brian Kantor, Nichole Rohlfsen
This study investigated the experiences and perceptions of Latinos in Northfield, MN. Themes of community, identity, and connections to greater Northfield and between the Latino and non-Latino residents were the focus of our research. Why do Latinos come to Northfield? How do Latinos feel they are perceived? What are the greatest barriers to creating connections between Latinos and non-Latinos in Northfield? These and other similar questions framed our conversations with local residents. Our data and analysis was based on focus groups, interviews, and observations that were made possible through our collaboration with a local non-profit organization, Growing Up Healthy Rice County, and Latino community leaders. We have concluded that there is a desire and need for deeper conversation and sharing about Latino immigrant experiences in secure environments, in addition to cross cultural sharing and understanding among Latino and non-Latino residents of Northfield.
Local Food Infrastructure: Collaboration with Market Fair
Madeleine Hanson, Alexia Gurtcheff, Beth Reynolds, Kathryn Southard, Kylie Swanson, Anna Carlson Schattauer
This community-based research project studies the Northfield Riverwalk Arts Quarter and Market Fair within the local foodshed of Northfield. The project works to illuminate connections between producers, distributors, and consumers of food in the Northfield community. Data was collected through observation and personal communication over the course of six weeks. Personal communication was obtained with local farmers and growers, food store and restaurant managers and owners, Market Fair collaborators, college food service providers, and customers. Through the theoretical substructure of holistic economics and local food infrastructure, we examined the projected impact of the Market Fair farmers market in the Northfield local food economy. Centering around the themes of economics, health and lifestyle, environmental sustainability, and community, our analysis acts as a resource to highlight interest and opportunities for the expansion of the local food market in Northfield by aiming to foster connections between participants.
Economic Impact of the Northfield Library on the City Center
Stephanie Abbas, Mara Fink, Zach Pietryla, Heidi Seltz, Anne Steeves
In this paper we will investigate the economic, cultural, and social importance of the Northfield Public Library for the downtown (City Center) area. We conducted interviews with local business owners, library patrons, and community members to examine how they understand the relationship between the library and downtown area. We found that the library has a perceived positive economic impact on the downtown area and a majority of interviewees’ main concern was keeping the library in its current location, as opposed to expansion or moving to a new location. Their justifications included convenience, proximity, the current quality of the library, and the library as a symbol of the community.
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