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  Changing and Improving Dental Hygiene in Long Term Care Facilities

  Julia Kathryn Kilroy, Charles Austin Spencer

  One of the most significant challenges to optimal dental health is simply practicing everyday oral hygiene. A recent study suggests that Porphyromonas gingivalis, a bacteria that causes gum disease, is also related to different forms of dementia, specifically Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Porphyromonas gingivalis can move from the mouth to the brain and damage neurons, leading to memory loss and in time, Alzheimer’s. The majority of nursing home residents are unable to brush their own teeth or dentures, and their primary caretakers frequently lack the necessary training to do so. Furthermore, data shows that most residents in nursing homes are covered by Medicare, which does not cover annual checkups and is necessary for the potential prevention of dementia. Frequent dental check-ups, as well as regular dental cleaning and flossing will help to avoid the need for more invasive procedures later on when the person with dementia may be less able to perform adequate oral hygiene on themselves. Since Medicare doesn’t cover regular dental visits, an alternative solution is teaching healthcare workers to perform necessary oral hygiene. Another solution to this issue is to change the current Medicare coverage to include annual dental visits for those covered by Medicare. This poster proposal illustrates this association of poor oral hygiene and dementia and proposes solutions including educating assisted living workers on the importance of oral hygiene and the need for Medicare coverage of routine dental care.

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  Childhood Trauma Exposure Increases Long COVID Risk

  Julie Messinger, Cady Ujvari, Alicia Wilhelm Villanueva Van Den Hurk

  While long-term physical and psychological effects of COVID-19 remain unknown, it is clear that a proportion of COVID-19 survivors develop complications following acute illness, herein referred to as long COVID (LC) syndrome. Females appear to be at higher risk for LC, and also have higher rates of childhood trauma, which is associated with a heightened inflammatory response to stress. The present study investigated the impact of childhood trauma on COVID-19 illness course and recovery. Participants (N=244) completed online self-report measures of premorbid health, COVID-19 positivity, symptoms, and recovery, along with measures of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and childhood (CTE) and recent (RTE) traumatic experiences. Compared to recovered participants (N=110), the LC group (N=158) was older and predominantly female. Those who reported one or more CTE were nearly 3-fold more likely to develop LC (OR=2.87, CI, 0.95 to 8.60) while those who endorsed two or more CTE were 4.5 times more likely (OR=4.56, CI, 1.61 to 12.33). A binary logistic regression analysis revealed that chest pain (p<.001), fatigue (p=.031), burning sensation (p=.002), and olfactory hallucinations (p<.001) during acute COVID, along with sex (p=.001) and age (p<.001) predicted LC. Compared to pre-COVID diagnoses, rates of PTSD (p<.001), depression (p<.001), and generalized anxiety (Χ2=12.32, p<.001) increased across the entire sample and current PTSD (p=.001, partial η2=.042), depression (p<.001, partial η2=.048), and anxiety (p=.017, partial η2=.022) severity were higher in the LC group. These findings suggest that childhood trauma or early adversity may prove relevant to the development of long COVID via central nervous system changes and dysfunction in the form of central sensitization, somatosensory disruptions, and/or dysautonomia, resulting from a heightened inflammatory response. Psychiatric outcomes should be assessed following acute COVID-19, and future research is needed to determine the unique contributions of COVID-19 and general pandemic stress to post-illness mental health.

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  Civic Engagement at the University of Dayton: Political Science Senior Capstone Projects

  Michael Sullivan Beenblossom, Lilianna Jin Biswas, Randy Evan Borre, Elizabeth Grace Braun, Megan M. Broderick, Madison Elizabeth Cassel, Grant Christopher Combs, Brandon S. Frania, Mason E. Gordon, Eric G. Grimm, Lauren M. Healy, Hannah Claudia Hoby, Molly Catherine Houlihan, Daniel Joseph Isufi, Alexander George Janakievski, Jared Anthony Marfisi, Edward Thomas Mccarthy, Joshua Stevan Newmark, Fitzgerald Tioluwani Oladejo, Emily P. Orr, Brendan Romano, Kayla Nicole Schultz, Dylan J. Stapleton, Juliet Rose Twomey, Anthony Nicholas Ullman

  American democracy is at a crossroads. Political polarization is at an all-time high among both political elites and the citizenry, and trust in the fairness and validity of American election outcomes is also dropping. Some scholars argue that a decline in civic engagement can explain the decline in public trust and that increasing civic engagement among citizens may be able to help restore public trust and confidence in government and alleviate some of the more negative symptoms of political polarization. Students in the Political Science Senior Capstone have explored different dimensions of civic engagement on UD's campus or developed programming aimed to increase civic engagement among students on campus.

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  Colorectal Cancer Model in Drosophila melanogaster by Inactivating the Wingless Pathway

  Matthew T. Bilotti

  Wingless (Wnt) signaling is an important pathway involved in tumorigenesis in colorectal cancer of humans, and can be modeled in Drosophila melanogaster given the conservation of genes and cell biological processes. To understand which components of the Wnt pathway affect growth and patterning, we studied effects of loss of APC specifically in the eye discs using MARCM based approaches. The MARCM approach allows for manipulation of gene expression (both loss- and gain-of-function) in somatic clones. Under wildtype conditions of normal cell growth, the Wnt pathway is kept under check, where a destruction complex (comprising of several proteins like Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC), Dishevelled (Dsh), Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta) and beta-Catenin) prevents nuclear translocation of beta-catenin and promotes its degradation via the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway. However, in the presence of Wnt ligand, signaling is activated and the destruction complex is inhibited. Beta-Catenin then proceeds to the nucleus as a transcription factor to turn on expression of its respective target genes which promotes cell proliferation and survival. We want to examine if loss of APC shows effects on growth and differentiation. In Drosophila, there are two APC family genes, APC and APC2, therefore we devised a strategy to generate double mutant clones wherein the expression of both APC and APC2 is eliminated in the same cells. To do so, we used the eyflp MARCM system to induce APC dysregulation solely in fly larval eye discs. We will study effects of loss of APC on growth, survival and differentiation in the eye discs, with special emphasis on interactions between APC /beta-Catenin with the Hippo pathway. We will use immunohistochemistry to study expression of Wnt target genes in experimental and control samples. We will examine the larval disc phenotypes like effects on differentiation, proliferation or cell death; and survival to adult to understand the interactions between the molecular pathways. We will compare if the interactions observed in the eye imaginal discs are tissue specific by comparing to the effects of loss of APC genes in the brain and intestines in Drosophila.

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  Combating Anxiety in the Dental Office and Ways to Improve your Experience

  Jamie Adam Dziurdzik, William Reilly Edwards

  Throughout the history of the United States, the importance and necessity of oral health has always been a top priority for our national healthcare system. Therefore, having recognition that regulating oral pathologies can help improve one’s overall health is essential for dentists to convey to patients during appointments. However, one crucial barrier dentists face when working with patients and communicating to them the importance of routine checkups and self-care is the issue of dental anxiety while in the office. We understand that dental anxiety can stem from a multitude of reasons including but not limited to personal trauma from a prior experience, office spaces that make individuals feel claustrophobic, monotone office paint colors, a hectic hygienist staff/environment, or mistrust between a patient and their dentist when operating in and around the mouth. Because dental-related anxiety is so common among patients, our research will include a wide range of potential dental patients asking them which factors may consciously contribute to their anxiety by answering an interactive survey. Participants will also be asked to select methods in which a dentist can help lower their personal anxiety. This information will ultimately be used in order for us to gather information on how to best help dentists with patient anxiety in the Dayton area.

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  Community-Based Approaches to Addressing Break-Ins and Disorder on Irving Avenue

  Aidan Scott Andra, Shaina C. Dawson, Avery Rebecca Lytle, Brandon Scott Novak, Jessica Lynn Starkweather

  This research is a semester-long course project in SOC 324: Communities & Crime. As part of this project, we have identified a crime-related problem in our neighborhoods/living spaces and apply community-building and environmental design approaches to offer recommendations and solutions that address the problem. Our work emphasizes the importance of social cohesion and sense of community in preventing crime and fostering feelings of safety on and around campus.

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  Community-Based Approaches to Addressing Burglary and Theft on Stonemill Road

  Robert Steven Bradley, Brian Joseph Max Gregori, Molly Kathryn Griffin, Megan Lee Hernandez, Katie Costello Hindersman

  This research is a semester-long course project in SOC 324: Communities & Crime. As part of this project, we have identified a crime-related problem in our neighborhoods/living spaces and apply community-building and environmental design approaches to offer recommendations and solutions that address the problem. Our work emphasizes the importance of social cohesion and sense of community in preventing crime and fostering feelings of safety on and around campus.

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  Community-Based Approaches to Addressing Porch Theft on Evanston Street

  Olivia Brady Canalizo, Anastacia N. Gathof, Kerrie K. Metress, Lindsey E. Vanhoose

  This research is a semester-long course project in SOC 324: Communities & Crime. As part of this project, we have identified a crime-related problem in our neighborhoods/living spaces and apply community-building and environmental design approaches to offer recommendations and solutions that address the problem. Our work emphasizes the importance of social cohesion and sense of community in preventing crime and fostering feelings of safety on and around campus.

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  Community-Based Approaches to Addressing Theft and Disorder in the North Student Neighborhood

  Mohammad Abdullah A. Alnasser, Rachel A. Banks, Lindsey M. Coulter, Jack R. McGill

  This research is a semester-long course project in SOC 324: Communities & Crime. As part of this project, we have identified a crime-related problem in our neighborhoods/living spaces and apply community-building and environmental design approaches to offer recommendations and solutions that address the problem. Our work emphasizes the importance of social cohesion and sense of community in preventing crime and fostering feelings of safety on and around campus.

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  Community-Based Approaches to Addressing Theft at Caldwell Apartments

  Lilianna Jin Biswas, Makira D. Cook, Elijah Mayo-Anthony Weaver

  This research is a semester-long course project in SOC 324: Communities & Crime. As part of this project, we have identified a crime-related problem in our neighborhoods/living spaces and apply community-building and environmental design approaches to offer recommendations and solutions that address the problem. Our work emphasizes the importance of social cohesion and sense of community in preventing crime and fostering feelings of safety on and around campus.

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  Community-Based Approaches to Addressing Vandalism and Disorder on Lowes and Kiefaber Streets

  Hannah Alison Cola, Claire Rose Esslinger, Richard Gray Morisette, Nancy Russell

  This research is a semester-long course project in SOC 324: Communities & Crime. As part of this project, we have identified a crime-related problem in our neighborhoods/living spaces and apply community-building and environmental design approaches to offer recommendations and solutions that address the problem. Our work emphasizes the importance of social cohesion and sense of community in preventing crime and fostering feelings of safety on and around campus.

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  Community-Based Approaches to Addressing Vandalism in University Housing

  Mackenzie T. Henry, Gabrielle Mikayla Wade, Lucy Larkin Waskiewicz

  This research is a semester-long course project in SOC 324: Communities & Crime. As part of this project, we have identified a crime-related problem in our neighborhoods/living spaces and apply community-building and environmental design approaches to offer recommendations and solutions that address the problem. Our work emphasizes the importance of social cohesion and sense of community in preventing crime and fostering feelings of safety on and around campus.

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  Comparing Hydrogen Production Pathways

  John Tossey Merkle

  Hydrogen is used in several industrial processes, with the current global demand of approximately 90 megatons annually (90MtH2/yr). This demand comes almost entirely from the industrial sector, to act as a feedstock for oil refining and the production of ammonia, methanol, and steel. Hydrogen production currently relies on fossil-fuel technologies, with almost all demand met using the steam methane reforming (SMR) process. However, SMR is carbon dioxide (CO2) emission-intensive; therefore, to meet a net-zero emission goal to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change, it is necessary to decarbonize hydrogen production. Other methods used to produce hydrogen include coal gasification, water electrolysis, and methane pyrolysis. As with SMR, coal gasification is CO2 emission-intensive. However, the water electrolysis process has no direct CO2 emissions. Therefore total emissions associated with producing hydrogen via water electrolysis come from the energy source. In principle, the methane pyrolysis process is CO2 emission-free; however, natural gas production always involves some leakage, so methane pyrolysis will not eliminate CO2 emissions. In addition, carbon capture use and storage (CCUS) has also been implemented in some instances of the SMR and coal gasification processes, which has resulted in a non-trivial amount of emissions being averted. The present work compares the costs and benefits of these approaches to hydrogen production, including CO2 and natural gas emissions, financial costs, and potential byproducts.

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  Concentrated Portfolios, Profitability and the S&P 500 Financial Sector: An Empirical Analysis of Long Run Returns, 2009-2021.

  Thomas L. Goslee, Nathan Glenn Jabaay, Thomas Charles Letke

  In this study we develop concentrated portfolios of ten and twenty stocks for theS&P 500 Financial Sector ETF (XLF). We use a factor mimicking regression model to determinethe portfolio weights for each stock. We regress the "state" economic variable Consumer Spendingon Revenue Per Share(the factor loading) and use the slope coefficients as our factor weights.Portfolio returns are calculated for the periods 2009-2019,2009-2020,and 2009-2021. We test the hypothesis that Consumer Spending is a latent priced-in risk factor throughits effect on Revenue Per Share growth i.e., our portfolio weighting models outperform thebroad market. The addition of the cumulative return periods 2009-2020 and 2009-2021 alsoallows us to determine if Covid-19 and rising interest rates had an impact on portfolio returns.

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  Contributing Factors to the Primary Care Shortage

  Luke Samuel Adams, Mackenzie S. Gross

  Across the country, there is a considerable shortage of primary care physicians (PCPs). A 2021 article from the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health noted, “the country is projected to have a shortage of primary care physicians between 21,400 and 55,200 by 2033,” (Srikrishna et al., 2021). There are multiple reasons for this shortage, including the well-known crisis of Medical School debt, as well as the average salaries of PCPs and length of residency. For example, initial research shows that from 2020 to 2021, average medical school debt increased from $207,003 (“What Is the Average Medical School Debt?” 2021) to $241,600, making average medical school debt more than the average salary of a PCP (“What Is The Average Medical School Debt in 2021?” 2021). The New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine may have a practical solution. Beginning in 2018, the NYU Grossman School of Medicine began offering a full-tuition scholarship to each student that matriculates into their Doctor of Medicine (MD) program (Affordability & Financial Aid for MD Students, 2022). The scholarship program essentially reduces the financial burden associated with medical school, hopefully removing the financial disincentive to pursue a career in primary care, a field of medicine that makes on average $100,000 less than a specialist per year (Harris, 2018). The purpose of this poster is to show the multiple factors contributing to the PCP shortage beyond medical school debt, including range of specialty income, length of residency, and lifestyle. It also explains the potential limits of NYU’s scholarship program in alleviating the PCP shortage. Ultimately, NYU’s program may not increase PCPs because of other contributing factors. The final result is yet to be determined because the program is so new.

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  Cope’s gray treefrog Dryophytes chrysoscelis maintains cellular integrity during freezing by adjusting membrane composition and by accumulating cryoprotective compounds

  Elizabeth Evans Yokum

  Only a few species of vertebrate animals can survive seasonal bouts of cold temperatures by tolerating repeated whole-body freezing and thawing. Of this unique groups, Cope’s gray treefrog Dryophytes chrysoscelis, can survive freezing and thawing of up to 70% of its body fluids. The objective of this study is to investigate two possible mechanisms that may contribute to cellular freeze competence: changes to lipid composition of the cell membrane, and synthesis and distribution of molecules that protect against freeze-induced damage (cryoprotectants). It is hypothesized that cells modify the lipid (phospholipid and cholesterol) content of their membranes in ways that affect membrane fluidity and thereby optimize cell function at cold temperatures. Preliminary 1H NMR analysis indicates that phospholipid distribution, fatty acid composition, and cholesterol all vary between warm and cold acclimated groups in membranes prepared from liver tissue. It is further hypothesized that glycerol, glucose, and urea serve as cryoprotectants in gray treefrogs; these compounds can help to maintain cellular fluid volumes, prevent intracellular freezing, and support molecular structures in freeze tolerant animals. Compared to animals that were cold acclimated only, accumulation of cryoprotectants is expected to increase in animals frozen and thawed once (single freeze-thaw) and further increase in animals frozen and thawed three times (repeated freeze-thaw). Results indicate that plasma, liver, and skeletal muscle concentrations of glycerol and glucose are elevated in both groups of frozen and thawed treefrogs, but no significant differences were detected between the two groups. Both membrane lipid remodeling and cryoprotectant accumulation likely contribute to cellular and organismal freeze competence in D. chrysoscelis. Further investigation of these (and other) mechanisms will help to elucidate the physiological underpinnings of vertebrate freeze tolerance.

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  COVID-19 Isolation Effects on Anxiety/Depression Levels

  Madeline C. Froehlich, Caroline Julia Senseman

  Solitary confinement in the corrections system is a prolific issue that has been the focus of debate for years. However, such isolation has been difficult for the average person to understand since the majority of the population has never thoroughly experienced any level of isolation until the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic. While research into the effects of COVID-19 on mental health is still in its preliminary stages, there may be evidence that this isolation has resulted in negative impacts. Accordingly, there is now a growing interest into whether this isolation affected college students’ mental health, specifically their levels of anxiety and depression. Using a sample consisting of students from the University of Dayton, we evaluated the impact social isolation had on these individuals. Furthermore, participants included those who were placed in isolation housing on campus and those who were not, aiding in the exploration of whether the length of isolation impacted their mental health. Specifically, our research question asks: Does isolation due to the COVID-19 protocols at the University of Dayton adversely affect the mental health of students?

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  COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Pregnant Women

  Katherine Marie Murin, Emma Catherine Schaefer

  The effects of SARs-CoV-2 infection on maternal and fetal health has been at the forefront of research throughout the pandemic (Shimabukuro et al., 2021). Chen (2021) reports that vaccination above the herd immunity level can decrease the spread of communicable diseases, such as COVID-19. A study of 300 pregnant women conducted by Ahyan et al. (2021) suggests that the initial limited research on vaccine efficacy and mistrust of the vaccine were two factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women. SARs-CoV-2 infection is known to cause inflammatory and vascular changes in the placenta and activate a maternal immune response that can disrupt development of the fetus (Prochaska et al., 2020). Further research shows that unvaccinated pregnant women are at a higher risk for hospitalization compared to those who are vaccinated (Iacobucci, 2021). According to Leik et al. (2021), current research on the effects of the vaccine in pregnant women suggests no significant effects on gestation, childbirth, and perinatal mortality and provides evidence that the vaccine is safe and effective in providing maternal immunity with possible transference of maternal antibodies to the fetus. Iacobucci (2021) argues that to reduce hesitancy, vaccines should be easily accessible and healthcare providers should be open to multiple discussions with patients, emphasizing the benefits outweighing the risks of vaccination. The purpose of this poster is to summarize current research studying the effects of SARs-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine on maternal and fetal health. The poster will provide recommendations for healthcare providers to encourage the vaccine during pregnancy and to educate pregnant women to combat hesitancy.

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  Creating Inclusive Community: Understanding, Connecting, and Taking Action

  Maritza Yajiria Betancourt, Gabrielle Nicole Bryson, Angelic Edwards-Rojas, Eileen E. Ellis, Kaitlin A. Hall, Carlos Alberto Herrero-Rivera, Paola Nicole Ramos, Camila Isabel Sanchez-Gonzalez

  Creating Inclusive Community involves students, faculty, and staff who enrolled in UDI 380 “Understanding, Respecting, and Connecting: Examining Privilege and Taking Action” and attended a virtual diversity conference. The focus of the conference was to examine the challenging concepts of privilege and oppression and to develop strategies to create a more equitable world. Come hear the students experiences at the conference and discuss the skills and knowledge they gained to enhance the campus climate for inclusivity and diversity at the University of Dayton. Please join us for a lively discussion!

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  Crosses on Campus

  Kelsi Steinkamp, Zinaejah Ozier, Marissa Coon, Cole Abell

  UD has incorporated a cross in every classroom across campus. A cross in the classroom reinforces UD's mission statement of being a comprehensive Catholic university, committed in the Marianist tradition to educating the whole person and to linking learning and scholarship with leadership and service.

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  Cybersecurity at Fairborn Equipment Midwest

  Jonathan David Disidoro, Luke David Evankovich, Ella Rose Glabus, Megan Elizabeth Peters

  Our team will be analyzing security risks at Fairborn Equipment Midwest, and offering recommendations regarding the processes and software already in place. One of the deliverables will be documentation surrounding current practices and suggestions for improvement. The project may also include the implementation of new software, practices, or security measures if time allows. The goal of this project is to improve the cyber security of the organization, and decrease the risk of downtime or failures of critical business processes.

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  Dayton Children's Hospital

  Nathan Frank Bertuca, Ryan Frank Cendol, Wesley Dee Safford, Elizabeth Ann Wourms

  mplementing a resource planning model. This model will consist of resource capacity management, resource capacity forecasting, prioritization methods, and a display of where resources are currently being utilized. Dayton Children’s has two different systems to manage IT projects currently (FreshService and Workfront) that would need to be included in the model. These systems manage a range of IT issues spanning from small bug fixes to individual or departmental IT project work. Dayton Children’s main project objective is to discover where their resources are actively being used and when these resources will be available to use for future projects. Microsoft products including the Power Platform will be used to implement this system.

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  Dayton Civic Scholars & Gem City Market

  Rose C. Arkus, Charles Kenneth Baker, Lilianna Jin Biswas, Madeline Elise Calhoun, Benjamin Joseph Crawford, Lauren Elizabeth Durham, Ryan David Greensfelder, Kate Mulvihill Jones, Meghan Elizabeth Leinhauser, Larissa Anne O'Shea, Grace Julia Pigman, Erin Marie Rafter, Jada Lynn Smith

  The Dayton Civic Scholars 2022 cohort is excited to share our capstone project and our journey despite pandemic challenges. As a cohort we are passionate about sustainable and meaningful engagement opportunities, and identify the Gem City Market as an important asset to our community, both on and off campus. Since Spring 2021 we’ve partnered with the GCM and focused our time, energy, and resources on the market in hopes of supporting their work in the community. Our cohort explored ways to engage with the community through GCM and worked together on marketing, transportation, and programming initiatives. We believe the University of Dayton can continue to support and benefit from GCM and are excited to share our journey and accomplishments throughout the past year of engaging with the community and the market.

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  Design and Validation of a Liquid-Liquid Extraction Unit Operation Experiment

  Zoe R. Boehman, Austin G. Dias, Luke F. Flottman, Katelyn Leigh Petrycki

  Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) is a separation technique that transfers a solute between two immiscible solvents. The separation of ethanol through LLE is prevalent in biomass purification, gas additives, and the food safety industries. This research aims to generate a new experiment involving LLE processes in the Unit Operations laboratory at UD. Castor oil served as the organic phase to separate ethanol from water due to their differences in miscibility. The effectiveness of castor oil was measured using a mixer-settler unit (~ 2 L) with a 5 wt.% ethanol/water mixture. Volumetric ratios of castor oil to ethanol, such as 6:4, 5:5, and 7:3, were pumped, mixed, and run in the mixer-settler apparatus. At various time intervals, samples were taken from oil and aqueous phases, centrifuged, and analyzed using gas chromatography or a densitometer. Extracted samples did not reach equilibrium, and a discrepancy existed between the experimental results and the theoretical model found using a ternary diagram. Additional trials involving an extra settling chamber showed that longer mixing-settling times led to enhanced ethanol extraction. Centrifugation, however, was needed to separate the two phases. A second organic solvent, Multitherm heat transfer fluid, separates from the aqueous phase faster than castor oil. We performed small-scale experiments (10 mL) at different ratios of Multitherm to 5 wt.% ethanol/water solutions, such as 1:1, 6:4, 7:3, 8:2, 9:1, and 2:8. The 2:8 mixture showed enhanced separation based on ethanol concentration in the aqueous phase. Conversely, 2:8 mixtures of 5 wt.% ethanol/oil solution to water were mixed and analyzed. Unfortunately, ethanol stayed immiscible with the oil, and the water phase only removed 1.2 wt.% ethanol. The new mixture was targeted for ease of phase separation when running the mixer-settler unit, and the preliminary trials allowed for pursuing experimentation for a closed system mixer-settler unit.

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  Design of an Investment Ready Solar Energy, Bitcoin Mining, & Water Purification Package for Equity Expansion in the Navajo Nation

  Matt Abele, Abin Johny

  Although the world lives in the 21st century, inequality, poverty, hunger, and thirst plague many parts of the world. While developing nations receive a vast majority of the attention and aid, there are communities closer to home which should garner greater publicity than they currently receive. In the United States alone, large populations of people live without access to running water, let alone potable water for consumption, cooking, and general hygiene. For centuries, Native American populations have endured hardship and suffering at the hands of the American people and government, who seem to have all but forgotten their existence. In the Navajo Nation, the largest reservation in the United States, as many as 30 percent of residents lack access to running water and many lack sufficient access to potable drinking water. Compounding these issues are the great distances they must travel for food and water, placing even greater economic strain on the people. This project serves to elevate marginalized communities, like the Navajo Nation, by providing for the most essential needs of the community while also providing some monetary benefit – increasing equity and elevating the people. The developed micro-grid design includes a solar array and battery storage sized to provide power year-round to the bitcoin farm while also providing power for a water purification system capable of meeting the needs of the community. This investment-ready package provides community income in the form of bitcoin, while also providing clean drinking water from unregulated wells which otherwise supply the area with contaminated water. Income from the bitcoin mining operation goes to a community fund while also paying back investors in a short time making this an attractive project for investors and communities alike. Further adaptation could be implemented to provide for other community needs such as indoor farms or community electrical loads.