WSU Urban Studies Blog

 This December, Urban Studies Associate Professor Dr. Adam Saltsman congratulated three of our majors on completing their rigorous capstone research and writing work with a traditional lunch at the Boynton. Left to right: Skylar Adcock, Melody Byrne, Morgan Mercadante, Adam Saltsman Here are their titles and abstracts: Skylar Adcock Mental Health Resources for Transition-Aged Unhoused Youth: A Case Study of Worcester County, MA Access to mental health resources is a significant factor in supporting transition age homeless youth, a population which is affected by mental health concerns and challenges. There are potential barriers such as financial and language barriers, which may be difficult to get access to these resources. I will be researching what social barriers transition age homeless youth face in seeking and receiving mental health service. Interviews and surveys were conducted with professionals in the field in Worcester County and research from databases. The study reveal...

On November 12, the Urban Action Institute and the Urban Studies Department held our annual Empty Bowls fundraiser to raise awareness of food insecurity on our campus and in the broader Worcester community. The fundraiser is the culminating experience for students enrolled in the Urban Studies SNAP practicum, also known as the Hunger Outreach Team.  Our students worked so hard this year! They chose the theme: "Celebration of Fall", cooked desserts, chose playlists, and solicited prizes from businesses all over the greater Worcester area to raffle off at our event. Chartwells--the dining service provider at WSU--supplied delicious soups and Panera donated heaps of bread.  We raised over $1,100 from this year's fundraiser! And thanks to funds from the Student Government Association to help cover the costs of the event, we were able to donate the whole amount. Embodying the students' focus on the interconnections between hunger on our campus and hunger in the broader co...