Ninth Grade Students Explore Santa Barbara Through Ethnography

Last week, Laguna ninth grade students stepped beyond the classroom and into the vibrant streets of Santa Barbara for the fifth annual Downtown Santa Barbara Interdisciplinary Ethnography Unit. Timed to coincide with the Tuesday afternoon Farmers’ Market, this experience invites students to view a familiar place through new lenses—examining issues such as housing inequality, gentrification, homelessness, and the future of State Street. 

The State Street corridor through the Funk Zone offers a unique window into the juxtaposition of old and new, wealth and struggle, tradition and transformation. Students were asked to walk this familiar path not just as visitors, but as ethnographers—observers curious about how history, policy, and place shape the lived experiences of different communities in our region. 

Explained English Instructor Ashley Tidey, “The purpose of this unit is to (gently!) push students outside comfort zones and to encourage them to make meaningful connections with people in our community they might not otherwise think about engaging with . . . beyond surface conversations.” 

Such interactions took place with Farmers' Market vendors, business owners, and local residents. Freshman Vivienne Jacobsen was able to interview Thrift Store owner Alan Howard, who has been in business on Lower State for 32 years and has a vested interest in the hotly contested debate over whether or not State Street should remain closed to traffic. 

“Before the pandemic, which was the defining point, I was against closing down the street because whenever it was closed, it was all the parade and car shows and my business plummeted," he said. "After the pandemic and they closed, my business actually went up 30% pre-pandemic. Keep it closed!”

Ultimately, however, Howard conceded to Jacobsen that the future of the State Street belongs to the younger generation, saying, "We want your input. It's built for you guys."

In preparation for this work, students and faculty engaged in a community learning session with Laguna’s SOCK Club partners, including DJ Johnsen of Kingdom Causes and their guest, Rocky, who shared personal insights about life within the unhoused community. These conversations provided valuable context for understanding the complexities surrounding homelessness and the ethics of observation and storytelling.

“Rocky helped remind us how important it is to just feel seen and feel like a human being,” said Josh Gomez Lopez ‘28. “How something as simple as saying 'hi' to a person experiencing homelessness can make their day and remind them of their humanity. He helped us see how homelessness doesn’t define a person, even if caused by their mistakes, and that it can happen to anyone, but there is always hope for them.” 

With guidance from Dean of Students Blake Dorfman, students learned about the responsibilities of ethnographic work—how to observe with respect, engage thoughtfully, and write reflectively about people, cultures, and spaces. "Some people were excited about talking to us, and others weren't, but it still felt like we absorbed a lot of stories throughout the walk,” reflected Alex Graham '28.  “Even though we were in groups, I also felt more connected to the entire class as we were experiencing that together."

English Instructor Kendra Oleson shared, “We really wanted students to understand that all communities, even ones as idyllic as Santa Barbara, have a history of housing inequality, gentrification, and challenges facing the unhoused population. It’s one thing to read about these issues in class—it’s another to step outside and witness them firsthand.”

This Interdisciplinary Ethnography Unit goes beyond traditional pedagogy by empowering students to become active participants in the narrative of their community while nurturing a curiosity for exploration and understanding. Adds History Instructor Daisy Altamirano: “Through this project, students have experienced how history and English classes can work together to deepen their understanding of the world around them.”