Chardonnay Beaver
Mary Gates Research Scholar
Autumn 2020
Major: Pre-Social Sciences
Mentor: Ralina Joseph, Communication
Project
Operation Heal the CD
Operation Heal the CD (OHT-CD) is an intergenerational, dialogue-based research project that classifies gentrification in the Central District (CD) of Seattle, WA as a form of grief for Black residents, and uses storytelling to aid healing and education. I hope to provide nuance to the research surrounding gentrification and concepts of home.
What I learned
Participating as a student in the Interrupting Privilege (with Dr. Ralina Joseph) seminar and now undergoing research with MA and PhD students has had an incredible impact on my outlook on education, race, and identity. Prior to joining the IP seminars and research team my college experience felt incomplete. I was a first-year, first-generation college student challenged with balancing the two realities of academia and being Black at a primarily white institution. As a mentor, Dr. Joseph came into my life at the right time. Not only did our experiences correlate, but her encouragement and guidance has been invaluable. My research topic derives from relevant concepts of home, space, and healing within Seattle’s Black community — my community — intersecting with the dialogue presented in IP’s seminars and methodology.
Advice for future applicants
First, just apply! Get out of your own way and apply.
More scholar profiles
