SunStar Solutions

Q & A

Who uses SunStar Solutions' problem solving techniques?

Any business, organization (non-profit or other), firm, group, community, ethnic enclave, federal or state or local level agency, or any other human group in society that has a need or desire to improve the quality and/or productivity in any of these areas:

Domain of Application Areas
social/cultural issues
development (social/community, grass-roots, health/medical, agricultural, technological, etc.)
evaluation
needs assessment
planning
training
impact assessment / social impact assessment
collaborative research
cultural action
social marketing
cultural brokerage
action research / participatory action research
participatory rural appraisal
public anthropology research
advocacy
human/civil rights issues
social justice
focus groups
policy research
research analyzing
administration/management
public participation
surveys
educational ("Funds of Knowledge")
multi-cultural issues
**environmental impact assessment
**cultural resource managment (CRM)

**SunStar Solutions does not participate in these techniques

What approach does SunStar Solutions take?

SunStar Solutions takes an applied anthropological approach to problem solving.

What is Anthropology?

In its simplest terms: "The holistic, scientific study of humankind" (Source)

There are 4 subdisciplines of anthropology:

Biological/physical
Linguistics
Archaeology
Cultural (sociocultural)

SunStar Solutions focuses on the latter.

What is Applied Anthropology?

The anthropological approach to solving real-world problems.

What methods are used?

Qualitative and quantitative methodologies are utilized, which typically can consist of ethnographic methods (qualitative in-depth field research), data gathering techniques and analysis, surveys/questionnaires, etc., depending on the situation and which domain of application is required.

What expertise do you have?

The Director/Owner of SunStar Solutions, Sharon Cornet, is trained in ethnographic methods/applied anthropology. She is an entrepreneur, and has long-term experience in office management, project management, field research in a wide variety of topics (business related as well as sustainable and unconventional areas), website development, research and writing skills. Sharon is a wife and mother of three, and a student. She continues volunteering with Border Interfaith (broad-based community organizing for social justice) even though her official UTEP internship was finished in 8/2007, which was the last requirement for her certificate in applied anthropology at UTEP (University of Texas at El Paso). Sharon has an AA degree, is currently working towards her BA degree in anthropology (minoring in sociology), belongs to the UTEP honors society, and is a member of Phi Kappa Phi.

For more information see Sharon's Resume

Read Sharon's 2007 Report on Border Interfaith Internship for the Canutillo (colonia) Water Project
(She stays highly involved with Border Interfaith, working on social justice issues in the El Paso community as part of her community service...
community service being a part of life which she highly recommends everyone should do)

How can you help me?

Please write or email me with your request: Contact Sharon

More information on anthropology:

SunStar Solutions strictly adheres to the anthropological Code of Ethics: http://www.aaanet.org/committees/ethics/ethcode.htm

American Anthropological Association: www.aaanet.org

The Society for Applied Anthropology: www.sfaa.net

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world;
indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
Margaret Mead, 1901-1978
Anthropologist

www.sunstar-solutions.com