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Hello classmates, my name is Cassandra Valle and I am currently 19 years old studying Early Childhood Education at Miami Dade College. I was born and raised in Miami, FL. Currently, I am a VPK teacher at a preschool and I love it. Although I am doing my major in Early Childhood Education, I plan to become a Speech Pathologist in the future and open up my practice. If my dreams come true of becoming a Speech Pathologist, I hope to live in Miami Shores, FL. My primary goal is to be the best person who I can be in order to succeed in life and in my career in the years to come. I have some strengths and weaknesses, but I’ll just name the main ones. One of my biggest strength is that I am an honest person;I despise when people lie. A weakness of mine is procrastination. I always tend to procrastinate for certain things which is a horrible weakness. I hope that this semester I can become more organized and not procrastinate so I do not cram. I am excited about this course and I hope to learn many new things.

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"Is vegan meat the "better" meat?"

Today, I chose a very interesting topic for me the watch, which is “Is vegan meat the “better” meat?" from Planet A. In this video, we are introduced with if we can tell what is “real” meat. We learn that these companies are refraining from selling “real” meat, which is supposed to be a healthier alternative, but on the other hand, they are being slammed for still being junky, processed meats. So we stay with the question: is vegan meat the “better” meat? The primary target for companies is to reach meat eaters so they can refrain from eating meat. So they invited three meat eaters to see if they can identify which is the “real” meat. When some were tasting the burger, they couldn’t identify. For chicken, most were able to identify because it was a familiar flavor. Last was the sausage. It was difficult for them to identify if it was real meat or not. In this video, we also learn the answer to the question: Is impossible meat better for our health and the planet? Well, the simple answer is yes. Raychel Santo says that plant based substitutes are quite better for our environment by using less green gases and water compared to real meat.

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CAS3 → TED Video Environment → Documentation → Reflection

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CAS3 → TED Video Environment → Documentation → Reflection

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Summary 1

How climate change affects your mental health

Britt Wray, broadcaster, author, and journalist did a TED Talk focusing on providing information on the effects of climate change on your mental health. Wray does this by providing evidence explaining that in about six years from now half of the population will suffer from water shortages and there will be over 140 million climate refugees in areas like sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and South Asia. This source also mentions that we didn’t use to live in a world that was full of natural disasters, instead of it being a natural disaster it is normal to us now, which is sad. Worrying about these types of issues has a psychological impact on us. As Britt Wray concludes in her TED Talk, “Mental health needs to be an integral part of any climate change survival strategy, requiring funding, and ethics of equity and care, and widespread awareness.”

Reference

Wray, B.(2019). How Climate Change Affects Your Mental Health.

Ted.com. Retrieved 25 February 2022,

https://www.ted.com/talks/britt_wray_how_climate_change_affects_your_mental_health

Summary 2

The Fastest Way to Slow Climate Change Now

Ted Ed speaker and scientist IIissa Ocko, opens her TED Talk, mentioning the amount of warming gasses that have been flown into the atmosphere because of humans. She provides evidence that 99% of pollution is Carbon Dioxide and it needs to be reduced immediately. Then we have methane, which is only one percent, but it is a number that is deadly to our climate, which will then be deadly to us. Our planet is getting warmer and warmer every day because of the use of methane. Ocko mentions that the methane problem can easily be fixed, but the only reason it is not being fixed is because of the government and its industry. We might suffer from the effects now, but in the future we will see changes happening drastically which will affect us and other generations.

Reference

Ocko, I.(2021). The Fastest Way to Slow Climate Change Now.

Ted.com. Retrieved 25 February 2022,

https://www.ted.com/talks/ilissa_ocko_the_fastest_way_to_slow_climate_change_now

Reflection

Watching both TED Talks, I have learned a lot of new information that I did not know before. For example: I did not know that one percent of methane is the primary cause of global warming. Our climate is very important so we have to protect mother nature as much as we can. It may seem hard, but in reality, it’s not. It’s a lifestyle change. We have to remember we need to protect ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren, who will be greatly affected in the future. It is sad to say that our government does not fully care about our environment and just takes it as a joke. In the end, it’s about money and not caring for others. We have so many politicians who just have no care in the world and it is sad because we are destroying the beauty we all grew up in. We just have to do one little change and trust me, a little goes a long way. As a lover of animals and nature, after watching these Ted Talks, it has inspired me to do my right and protect our planet as much as I can. I just hope to inspire others to do the same so we can all have a better and healthier future.

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CAS2 → The World’s Challenges → Documentation → Reflection

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CAS2 → The World’s Challenges → Documentation → Reflection

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CAS 2 : Santa-Inspired Solutions

Summary

In “Santa-Inspired Solutions’ ‘ Educator Alane Pressword first mentions don’t feel surprised if you are more overwhelmed and stressed over the holidays; that’s normal. They reported that “38% of Americans report an increase in levels of stress during November and December.” During these times, you may not have time to balance everything in your life, especially when it comes down to money. According to Pressword, the Mayo Clinic suggests that you have a budget that you firmly stick to. With all being said, there have been a variety of projects in different countries/states to help families. For example, in Italy, there is a program called “Santa’s grandchildren” which works with nursing homes to have voluntary visits and provide gifts to the elderly.

Summary

CAS 2 : How a Colorado family launched a Christmas toy hack-a-thon for children with disabilities that has gone global

In this article, we learn about a mom and a dad who were inspired to make a toy because of a popular movie called “Despicable Me.” The parents Steve and Deana have a nine-year-old son who has several disabilities who loves the “Fart Blaster.” His father, Steve, wanted to make a safe Fart Blaster, so he did some technical work and made one on his own for their son’s tenth birthday. Steve says “So we bought a $15 toy, added a $2 wire, and it magically became an $80 toy…” So then that gave them the great idea of starting a non-profit organization. They began to then think how many people cannot afford $80 toys, so there was a “charitable holiday venture” in which they provided toys to kids with disabilities. Even though they spend months organizing and planning, Deana believes it is crazy how many people they make happy.

“Santa-Inspired Solutions.” Solutions UÂ®, https://solutionsu.solutionsjournalism.org/collections/oxi6zybhqi.

“How a Colorado Family Launched a Christmas Toy Hack-a-Thon for Children with   Disabilities That Has Gone Global.” The Colorado Sun, 27 Dec. 2018, https://coloradosun.com/2018/12/25/toy-hack-a-thon-colorado-christmas/.

III. Reflection A

When reading the article, “Santa Inspired-Solutions” it really got me to stop and think. I was reflecting on how much I really stress during the holidays. I have bills, school, personal life, and to add on top of the bunch buying Christmas and birthday gifts, while hosting the annual family party. This article has taught me to try my best to not stress myself over things that aren’t important that society wants us to think it is. This article was extremely unique in the fact, most Americans do not talk about how important being stressed and depressed is, especially during the holiday season. When that time comes again, I am going to change my mindset and really use the tools that this article provided me with. I think the most important one is having a firm budget and sticking to it. This article has taught me quite a lot and I hope to learn more about this subject in the future.

III. Reflection B

After careful reading, “How a Colorado family launched a Christmas toy hack-a-thon for children with disabilities that have gone global” it made me think about all the children with disabilities that cannot enjoy a toy they love “safely.” I have a brother with several disabilities and it is sad to the way he struggles with life every day, but he works through it harder and harder every single day. This article has taught me that anything is literally possible in life. You can make anything you want it to be with just some love and effort. This article is extremely unique because these two parents have created a toy on their own but also for the entire world to see. It is amazing how there are still beautiful people in this world that care about each other and I hope it stays that way for many years to come.

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CAS1→ My Story of Stuff → Documentation → Reflection

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CAS1→ My Story of Stuff → Documentation → Reflection

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CAS1: The Story of Cosmetics

II A: Documentation and Description

In “The Story of Cosmetics” Annie Leonard explains how different products have harmful chemicals that we may not even be aware of. They link some of those chemicals to cancer, asthma, loss of fertility, etc. These products mentioned are ones we use in our daily lives, such as body soap, hair products, and makeup. Most of the products that we use daily are carcinogens which cause cancer and we are injected with toxins daily because we don’t just use one product a day, “an average women uses about twenty products a day and an average man uses six products a day” Annie Leonard finds It crazy to think there are no laws to address the use of these toxins which causes the cosmetics communities to make the rules and of course they do not need to follow them. In order to stop this problem, we need precautionary laws so that the companies can remove those toxins so we can stop ingesting them so we can live a healthier lifestyle and not worry about what ingredients we shop for at the store.

CAS1: Glass, Metal, Plastic: The Story of New York’s Canners

In this video, we learn about two entrepreneurs who clean the streets of New York daily from plastic pollution. One entrepreneur began his story with how he was walking through the streets of New York and realized to himself he was his own “boss” because he was canner and he can pick up cans whenever and however he wants. He realized the cans were money and in 1982, New York State “implemented a 5 cents deposit on cans and bottles to encourage recycling.” Because of this law, New York had cleaned up millions of waste around the city and, of course, with the help of “canners.” This video also tells that some people do not canners because of “embarrassment.” Canners help make the city look better while helping the environment, which is their primary goal. With the increase in the price of living in New York, the deposit is still 5 cents, but a community of people is trying to change the law for more. Canners are like the frontline workers helping with pollution. Without recycling we can easily say there will be no future on planet earth.

“The Story of Cosmetics.” Story of Stuff, https://www.storyofstuff.org/movies/story-of-cosmetics/.

“Glass, Metal, Plastic: The Story of New York's Canners.” Story of Stuff, https://www.storyofstuff.org/movies/plastic/glass-metal-plastic/.

III. Reflection A

As a global citizen, it is important I try to protect the environment I live in as best as I can. Whether it is recycling, not using plastic, or even not buying products from companies that put toxins in their ingredients. It is important that as a community we educate ourselves from the right and wrong so we can teach each other. We have to make the world a better place every day so we can have a future to look forward to and to help the younger generations. As a global citizen, I have the duty of being the best citizen that I can be and teach others so they do not make the same mistakes that I have made in the past.

III. Reflection B

After watching “The Story of Stuff” videos, they have really inspired me and educated me. Honestly, I didn’t even know what a canner was until I saw the video or that you can get paid from picking up plastic. Watching the videos has changed my outlook on how I see things. Now when I go to the store, I look up the ingredients that are in my cosmetic products because I say to myself, “I do not want any harm done to me, from a product that I buy.” There are minor changes that we can make and at first you may think it might not make a difference, but in reality it does. It is important that we protect ourselves and planet earth so we can live a long, fulfilling lifestyle.

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In this class I have learned about many new things because of the research I have been completing because of these assignments. One of the topics I chose for CAS2 was about a family who created a toy that is specifically for children with disabilities. We learn about a mom and a dad who were inspired to make a toy because of a popular movie called “Despicable Me.” The parents Steve and Deana have a nine-year-old son who has several disabilities who loves the “Fart Blaster.” His father, Steve, wanted to make a safe Fart Blaster, so he did some technical work and made one on his own for their son’s tenth birthday. It is difficult for some children with disabilities to “safely” play with a toy. Before I read the article, the concept I gained before engaging in the activity was that the family who created this invention thought about other children who can benefit from this. This article has taught me that anything is literally possible in life. You can make anything you want it to be with just some love and effort. Also, the other article I did was about “Santa inspired-solutions” which was about how we should not stress so much in life about things that society expects us to stress about especially during the holiday season. This article was extremely unique in the fact, most Americans do not talk about how important being stressed and depressed. I also enjoyed researching about planned parenthood because currently, non-profit organizations like Planned Parenthood have been gaining attention from those who are low income and cannot afford reproductive healthcare. I have come to realize that there are many people who have mixed feelings about what Planned Parenthood offers. I was able to further educate myself about Planned Parenthood and how the defunding has affected many people living in Miami-Dade County. This topic is an issue that is already out there, but nothing seems to be getting solved. This topic has changed my views as a person because before I used to think Planned Parenthood was only for abortions, but it has so much more benefits. While completing this activity, it made me think about my cousin who did have to go to a Planned Parenthood because she did not have insurance or the right amount of funds to receive care at your regular physician facility. It is crazy to think how reading these articles can change you as a person. I feel that reading these articles can make you dig deeper into your thinking and see how you really feel about a certain subject.

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1. Acevedo, Nicole.“Nearly 900 Women’s Health Clinics Have Lost Federal Funding Over Gag

2. Rule.” NBC News. Web. 22 Oct. 2019. Retrieved from

3. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/nearly-900-women-s-health-clinics-have-lost-federal-funding-n1069591

1. Nicole Acevedo, a reporter from NBC News, focuses on providing information on the effects the “domestic gag rule” has caused in Miami-Dade County. Acevedo does this by providing evidence explaining that the lack of funding will mainly hurt low-income women of color and those who seek health screenings in which they cannot afford. This source also mentions that Planned Parenthood facilities still accommodate those who need it; although this article provides a great amount of information, the author seems to have low qualifications for this topic but it provides a great amount of information which helps me to exceed my research.

1. NBC News. “Planned Parenthood Gives Transgender Hormone Therapy at 2 Miami Locations,

2. Plans Statewide Expansion.” NBC News. Web. 16 May. 2019. Retrieved from

3. https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/planned-parenthood-gives-transgender-hormone-t

4. herapy-at-2-miami-locations-plans-statewide-expansion/157735/

1. This NBC News source provides resourceful information on how Planned Parenthood is positively helping the transgender community in Miami. The article accomplishes that by providing information on the hormone therapy that is being performed and the amount of care that is provided for them. While this source dispenses two sides to the argument, it fails to provide the author’s credentials, but this article helps me further my research because it provides an example of how Planned Parenthood helps everyone in the community no matter who you are.

2. Sorenson, Katy. “Why we continue to need Planned Parenthood.” Miami Herald. Web. 06 May.
2015. Retrieved from
https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-ed/article38010636.html

Katy Sorenson, president and CEO of The Good Government Initiative, writes for the Miami Herald newspaper focusing on how defunding Planned Parenthood is an “attack on men, women, and families…” This article does this by mentioning several “local realities” and a solution to which we all as a community need to do, which is to vote and make our voices heard. Although this article provides a personal bias, it will help me in my research because I will be able to provide a solution that may help the issue in Miami-Dade.

4. States News Service.“Planned Parenthood Launches Miami Canvases To Educate Community

5. About Zika Crisis.” States News Service Web. 24 August. 2016. Retrieved from

6. https://go-gale-com.ezproxy.fiu.edu/ps/i.do?p=AONE&u=miam11506&id=GALE%7CA

7. 461486854&v=2.1&it=r&sid=ebsco

8.

9. This article from the States News Service focuses on how Planned Parenthood educates people about situations happening nationwide. The State News Service accomplishes this by providing information about their new program called “Canvass” which “will reach approximately 25,000 doors in predominantly Latino and Haitian neighborhoods.” Although this article fails to provide the author's credentials, which reduces his credibility, this article will further my research by having a reference of an organization that is doing its best to educate the community.

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SP2 → Research Training → Research Topic Proposal → Reflection

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SP2 → Research Training → Research Topic Proposal → Reflection

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In the session that I attended, there were many interesting research tools, ideas, and methodologies that were mentioned by Professor Isabel Duque. What caught my attention were the research tools that professor Duque showed us. As an MDC student, I didn’t realize how many resources we have access to and the best part; that it is free. I love how we can make our research easier and our sources are reliable by using the MDC library. All you have to do is type the topic of your choice and you have thousands of different articles that show up. We even have free access to free tutors and librarians that can guide us on what to do next. I appreciate professor Duque for taking the time and refreshing many of our memories of the amount of free resources we have access to.

The topic that I researched is “The lack of funding of Planned Parenthood.” Over the past five years, there have been many laws in which have defunded Planned Parenthood. Because of that reason, the rise in HIV cases has been skyrocketing ridiculously. I chose this topic because it interests me very much and I have a personal connection to Planned Parenthood because I have had family members who have had to use it because they do not have enough money to pay for healthcare. To conclude, I think Planned Parenthood is a topic that should be spoken about more and the issue needs to become addressed as soon as possible.