CBU receives grant to archive history of Casa Blanca residents

Riverside, Calif. (May 18, 2018) – The College of Behavioral and Social Sciences at California Baptist University was recently awarded a $13,000 grant by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC). The funds will be used to document the oral history of elderly residents living in the Riverside neighborhood known as Casa Blanca.

CBU will work in connection with the CIC and the AARP Foundation on “The Legacy Project.” CBU is one of 22 institutions across the nation awarded the funds. CIC launched an initiative with support from the AARP Foundation in 2017 to encourage colleges to create or extend programs that seek to assist low-income older adults (ages 50 and older).

The Legacy Project will gather the senior residents’ oral histories, focusing on their cultural history, resiliency, faith and spirituality, said Dr. Jacqueline Gustafson, dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. 

“We  hope  this  project  provides  a  venue  for  seniors, many of them from Hispanic descent,  to  teach  our  students  how  to  best  serve  them  and  their  unique  needs,” Gustafson said. “As  we  look  at  the  rich culture  and  history  of  the  residents  of  Casa  Blanca,  we  hope  to  not  only  preserve  this  history  but  share  it.”

The grant will allow the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences to provide 20 undergraduate students with a paid internship opportunity to work on this project. There will also be several spots available for students from the College of Architecture Visual Arts Design to help secure digital records of the conversations that take place.

“Undergraduate students who participate will not only gain valuable internship and research experience, but also expand their cultural competence and hopefully build meaningful relationships and connections,” Gustafson said. “Going forward, we also hope that the Legacy Project can extend to reach senior populations in other neighborhoods of Riverside and the surrounding Inland Empire.”

For more information on The Legacy Project or internship opportunities please contact Dr. Jennifer Costello.

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Angela Meluski
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8432 Magnolia Avenue
Riverside, CA 92504