Week 11: Reflections

Hi! Welcome to the final blog post of this project. With this final post, I’d like to take a moment to thank all the people who helped make this project a reality. 

First and foremost, I’d like to thank Dr. Parson. From helping me develop this project into a full-fledged idea to helping me with resources, project review, and answering any questions I had, Dr. Parson’s aid was a crucial part of the success of this project. I’d like to also thank Dr. Panda, my external mentor. She was extremely helpful in reviewing my project and helping in preparation for interviews. Finally, I’d like to thank Mr. Hansen. Those long conversations about contacts and the extensive list of resources were also a huge help when I started reaching out to people for interviews. 

Finally, I’d like to thank Senator John Laird and Congressman Jimmy Panetta for their invaluable guidance on policy changes and social activism within the community. I would also like to thank Ms. Alyssa Garcia Marquez, Ms. Khalida Sarwari, and the teams behind Senator Laird and Congressman Panetta for their assistance and resources. 

In times like this, it’s important to be aware of the world we’re in and the issues that are currently present. While my project focused on a very specific industry in one county, it really reflects a broader nationwide issue: the discrepancies between the federal government’s choices and constituents’ needs and opinions. It is important to remain present and aware of national issues, and to continue to step up and advocate for the beliefs you hold and the communities they support. If there’s anything you should take away from this project is to be aware, be in the moment, and continue to step up and speak for those whose voices continue to be oppressed. I’ve left a few links for some organizations in Monterey County working to preserve the rights of these communities, if you want to show your support. 

Thank you all for coming with me on this journey. 

That’s all for this week. Archita signing out. 

Cisne, M. (2025). Monterey Cisne. Montereycisne.org. https://www.montereycisne.org/

Solidarity Network Monterey County Response. (2025). Solidarity Network Monterey County Response. https://montereycountyrrn.org/en/

Watsonville Law Center. (2026, February 10). Watsonville Law Center. https://www.watsonvillelawcenter.org/