Ambassador: Naomi Sylvester.92
Cole Wallis
Karli Pulskamp
Madison Richard
Taysia Crabtree
Costiera City was founded in the year 1784 after settlers stumbled upon the area while moving outward from the original settlements of Wooddijan. The tall abundant evergreens and nearby bodies of water provided the perfect combination for a port settlement enabling trade to other nations and throughout Wooddijan. The nearby body of water, Telese Cove, allowed for availability to the land and opportunities for specialization of labor. The population soared after the area became known for teaching techniques of ship building, woodworking, and agriculture. The need arose for a centralized educational hub thus the founding of Costiera State University in 1946. Go Crabs! The area further grew with the opening of the University as the rich elite (notably from community A) sent their children to CSU for their college education. Costiera State became an incredible public university that expanded far beyond its origins. However, its highest ranking programs still embody the origins of the University (such as marine biology, engineering, and environmental programs). As the college grew, so did the downtown area of Costiera City. Local artisanal shops and restaurants sprung up showcasing the trades of specialized labor.
Although there were many benefits to this drastic growth in Costiera, it was also accompanied by a large disconnect from the rural residents living on the outside portions of the region and the centralized local government and community. Additional issues arose when discoveries of the negative impacts of previous settlers, such as deforestation and over farming, were realized by modern day Costiera. This realization was notable to Costiera leaders when the community became reliant on other communities for food and other necessary natural resource imports. This led to an increase in emigration to other communities with increased access to natural resources and the ability to enter small business markets.
However, leaders in the area noticed an opportunity for tourist and recreational income. The southern border of Costiera became a luxury tourist hub bringing jobs to the area with resorts, water sports, and recreational opportunities. This boom in tourism allowed for a constant stream of income for residents in the area while much of the revenue was utilized to support international trade and local communities. Although this growing sector is beginning to thrive, there still lacks a connection with the rural residents. This disconnect can also be seen through a political lens as well. Costiera has an accountable and transparent governmental and political system; however, rural residents and residents of the CSU and downtown area often disagree politically and create high turnover rates of government officials.
Community B: this mid-sized community is home to one of the nation’s leading, public universities.
Population size = 45,000 residents
Natural: 4 Some surrounding natural resources preserved through conservation efforts, but a growing population is putting pressure for the sale of natural land and large-acre lots for development.
Cultural: 6 Many different cultures, ethnicities, and ages populate the city and are unified by high educational attainment; however, the university brings people from out of the community in for short periods of time (not a lot of permanent residents) causing this community to lack strong cultural traditions.
Human: 7 Overall high educational attainment (college degrees) due to close ties with the university, and research and science-based industries; the community has an overcrowded public K-12 school system, and it can be difficult for this community to retain high talent individuals.
Social: 6 Some community cohesion and high bonding social capital within the urban, university area of town; but this area of town has low interaction and little (and, at times, negative) communication with its surrounding suburban and rural fringe communities; the university is known for having a limited research and outreach Extension program.
Political: 5 Urban residents feel that they have access to and influence on their local government, but there are problems maintaining government oversight boards due to a high turnover of residents. Historically, rural residents and other local governments from the surrounding area do not work well with this community’s government.
Financial: 4 Traditionally, the city is recognized as being a stable area for investment mainly due to the university as an economic driver; there are concerns of the city’s overreliance upon its university for investment and economic stability. Residents tend to be more towards the middle-income class, with a limited higher-income base; most of the lower-income base is living on the fringe of the community; this community is located in area of the nation with generally fewer financial assets compared to areas to the west (such as C, A, and D).
Built: 4 The urban core has an aging, but “historical” downtown with some dilapidated buildings; there is pressure in town to expand its infrastructure into the surrounding undeveloped suburban and rural fringe.
