History – Â鶹ĘÓƵ Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:37:21 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /wp-content/uploads/2019/04/cropped-favicon_logo-32x32.jpg History – Â鶹ĘÓƵ 32 32 Climate Adaptation: Historical Perspectives /projects/climate-adaptation-historical-perspectives-2/ /projects/climate-adaptation-historical-perspectives-2/#respond Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:37:21 +0000 https://portal.epicn.org/case-stories/climate-adaptation-historical-perspectives/ Read More... from Climate Adaptation: Historical Perspectives

]]> The City of Elk River has not investigated its position on climate change and adaptation. The city is situated on the Mississippi and Elk Rivers. Along with a large number of wetlands, there is a significant amount of floodplain throughout the city. Increased rainfall has increased flooding potential for parts of our city. In addition, drought conditions will likely occur at times, requiring possible overuse of city wells for irrigation and potable water. Such water quality concerns and increased weather events are cause for concern and require planning and adaptation. Planning and adaptation now can reduce or mitigate adverse effects of climate change in the future. This is beneficial to the health of our environment, businesses, residents, and city government.

Through individual research projects, students in History and Climate will apply course content about how climate has mattered to human societies and how we can reasonably link climate changes to specific human developments to understand and examine potential changes Elk River may face due to climate change. Questions students may consider in their research include the following: 1) What climate change threats are there to Elk River? 2) What plans can Elk River make now? 3) What adapations can Elk River make now and in the future? 4) What costs will there be to the city? 5) Are there grants available for planning/adaptation now?

Project Overview Poster
City Outcomes
Students presented a summary of their work to the Elk River City Council.
Students’ research will be shared with the Energy City Commission and used to plan for climate resilience in the community.

]]> In the mid-20th century, the North and Southside neighborhoods of New Albany were cultural hubs and home to thriving black-owned businesses. B.B King played at a café in New Albany, and Blues musician Sam Mosely traces his musical roots to this community. This history has largely been neglected, and community leaders are interested in collecting narratives to ensure that future generations are aware of this unique and compelling period. There is also a desire to tell this story in conjunction with marketing and tourism efforts for New Albany.

]]> The City of Apache Junction is located in south central Arizona, in the shadow of the Superstition Mountains. With its rich history on the silver screen and a plethora of natural and cultural attractions, Apache Junction has significant potential for tourism. Already, the city’s population of roughly 40,000 doubles to nearly 80,000 each winter due to the seasonal migration of residents from colder climates. Beyond this current winter influx, Apache Junction officials would like to see the quality of life of its residents improve and the number of visitors and full-time residents increase. To attain that goal, City officials believe it is important to overcome the negative perceptions of the city. With the “PositivelyApache Junction” campaign, Apache Junction aims to improve its image, attract business, and show that the city is a compelling year-round destination for residents and non-residents alike.

Through the Project Cities program of Arizona State University (ASU), two Spring 2018 classes enlisted to support the Positively Apache Junction campaign.  The students in HST 485 produced eight “histories of place” focused on Apache Junction topics such as the Apache Trail and the Apache Junction’s Women’s Club. In addition, they digitally surveyed local residents to identify places of value in order the city and why they were of value. Students in this course used digital methods to conduct community-engaged historical research. They produced two sets of results. The first was eight histories of Apache Junction, with findings presented online as blogs. To research these topics, groups of students reviewed literature including local and online documents, visited the site virtually or physically, and informally interviewed community members. These place histories were about: the former location of the SuperstitionHo Hotel (later known as The Grand Hotel); water in Apache Junction; the parks and recreational trails of Apache Junction; the Apache Trail; the lands once occupied by the Hohokam and Salado tribes; the ApacheJunction Women’s Club; and Apache Junction High School. The second set of results was a digital map of Apache Junction places valued by residents or visitors. To achieve these results, they conducted a mapping survey. Through an online and in-person version of the survey, the students received nearly 200 responses and nearly 1,000 values. With this information, they generated a “values map” of the area. Students analyzed the results for findings and to inform their place histories. They also presented recommendations, including 1) Develop cultural and tourism assets related to the sites identified in the mapping survey that could improve the quality of life and positive perception of ApacheJunction; 2) create plaques for places of historical significance, such as where the Superstition Ho Hotel once stood, to commemorate history in Apache Junction; 3) host semi-annual community events near CanyonLake that include water conservation education.

]]> /projects/positively-apache-junction-3-4/feed/ 0 Cherokee Ethnohistory, Biography, & Gadugi /projects/cherokee-ethnohistory-biography-gadugi/ /projects/cherokee-ethnohistory-biography-gadugi/#respond Thu, 26 Oct 2023 23:27:17 +0000 https://portal.epicn.org/case-stories/cherokee-ethnohistory-biography-gadugi/ Read More... from Cherokee Ethnohistory, Biography, & Gadugi

]]> This course will introduce students to Cherokee History through the use of focused research assignments on
individual Cherokee people. Each student will follow one individual and their descendants through the archival
sources over time. For the purposes of the SCI project with SETDD, students will be focusing on individuals
who resided in the Hiwassee area at the time of removal. Students will gather and organize materials in
research portfolios throughout the term. In addition to writing a children’s biography about the person they have
studied, students will write a longer paper examining the contours and major turning points of Cherokee History
examined by historians, but with careful attention to how the individual’s life they have studied either reinforces,
challenges, or complicates the narratives written by scholars. Additionally, the students will share their research
portfolios with officials at the Hiwassee Heritage Center and SETDD for their use as they move forward with
projects that highlight the history of Cherokee removal from the region and the unique experiences of individual
Cherokees who experienced the full impact of removal policy.

]]> https://sustainability.asu.edu/project-cities/news/archive/asu-students-perform-positively-ghostly-scenes-in-apache-junction/

Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.

Project Cities Contact Info
Steven Russell
Program Manager
steven.russell@asu.edu
480-727-2698

University Faculty Contact
Joshua MacFadyen

Associate Professor and Senior Sustainability Fellow
jdmacfadyen@upei.ca
902-620-5142

Local Government / Community Contact
Matt McNulty
Community Relations

mmcnulty@ajcity.net

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