Betsaida Valdivia
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
UROP Fellowship: Detroit Community-Engaged Research Program
Research Mentor(s): Gibran Washington
EcoWorks
Presentation Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2020 | DCERP Showcase
Authors: Betsaida Valdivia
Abstract
Hello, my name is Betsaida and my pronouns are she her hers. I’m a member of the class of 2021 and majoring in political science. I worked with EcoWorks, a Detroit-based non-profit that develops equitable solutions to climate change and other community sustainability challenges. EcoWorks primarily works with its four Eco-Districts including SouthWest Detroit, Yorkshire Woods, Hope Village, and West Village. For my project, I conducted over the phone surveys to gather feedback from the residents who had previously attended our Energy Smart workshops. The workshops discussed how they can save money on their energy bills and also contribute to efforts of sustainability. I was able to learn how residents benefitted from the workshops, and what opportunities and information they would further like from us. I appreciate the intentionality of the DCERP program; it has provided me with great insight into Detroit’s history, different challenges facing Detroit, and opportunities to engage with Detroit-based organizations. DCERP has shown me how to cultivate respectful and mutually beneficial relationships with communities, and I will implement this in my future work.
Research Disciplines
Social Sciences, Community-Engaged, Environmental Studies
