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The project seeks to document the ways in which Latino and Latin American immigrants are expressing themselves politically and civically in new communities of settlement in the United States and as transnational actors. The significant influence of Latino voters in the 2008 elections reinforces a need to better analyze the evolving phenomenon of immigrant integration, particularly in regions of the country that are historically unaccustomed to assimilating recent Latino populations.
The project seeks to meet a demand for more knowledge on the practices of political participation and civic engagement by Latin American immigrants, either in ways that are directed toward improving community life or influencing politics in the United States, at the local, state, or federal level, or that better represent expressions of civic engagement in countries of origin. This study concentrates on areas of the country that may not be traditional settlement sites for immigrant communities and whose demographic growth makes them compelling for better charting the demography and geography of Latino migrant political participation and its consequences. Currently, this project involves nine US cities: Charlotte, NC; Washington, DC; San Jose, CA; Las Vegas, NV; Omaha, NE; Tucson, AZ; Los Angeles, CA; Fresno, CA; and Chicago, IL.
To view discussions from the conference on "Latino Immigrant Civic Engagement Trends,'' click here.
The project benefits from the generous support of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
National Report
- Charlotte, NC
Charlotte: A Welcome Denied
Charlotte: Una Bienvenida Frustrada
Supplementary reports:
Mecklenburg County Latinos: Future Demographic and Political Dimensions
Eric Heberlig & Owen Furuseth, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2009
The Heart of Our Difference: Assessing Racial Tensions in Mecklenburg County
Channing Mathews, Duke University, 2007 Chicago, IL
Latino Immigrants in the Windy City: New Trends in Civic Engagement
Inmigrantes Latinos en la Ciudad de los Vientos: Nuevas Tendencias en la Participación Cívica
Supplementary reports:
Mexican Immigration in the Midwest: Meaning and Implications
Rob Paral, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, 2009Washington, DC
Local Goes National: Challenges and Opportunities for Latino Immigrants in the Nation's Capital
De Lo Local a Lo Nacional: Desafíos y Oportunidades para los Inmigrantes Latinoamericanos en el Contexto de la Capital
Supplementary reports:
Latinos in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area: Findings from the 2006 Latino National Survey
Michael Jones-Correa, Cornell University, 2007Latin American Immigrants in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area
Audrey Singer, The Brookings Institution, 2007Fresno, CA
Latino Immigrant Civic and Political Participation in Fresno and Madera, California
Participación Cívica y Política de los Inmigrantes Latinos en Fresno y Madera, California
Supplementary report:
The Context and Dynamics of Civic and Political Participation Among Latino Immigrants in Fresno County
Edward Kissam, JBS International, 2008Las Vegas, NV
Latin American Migrants in the Las Vegas Valley: Civic Engagement and Political Participation
Migrantes Latinoamericanos en el Valle de Las Vegas: Participación Política y Compromiso CívicoLos Angeles, CA
Today We March, Tomorrow We Vote: Latino Migrant Civic Engagement in L.A.
Hoy Marchamos, Mañana Votamos: Participación Cívica de los Migrantes Latinos en Los ÁngelesOmaha, NE
The Omaha Site: Migrant Civil Society Under Construction
Omaha: Una sociedad civil migrante en construcción
Supplementary reports:
The Health-Care Debate And Nebraska's Latino And Immigrant Populations
Lourdes Gouveia and Yuriko Doku, Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) University of Nebraska at Omaha, October 2009Nebraska's Immigrant Population: Economic and Fiscal Impacts
Christopher S. Decker, Jerry Deichert, and Lourdes Gouveia, University of Nebraska at Omaha, October 2008Second-Generation Latinos in Nebraska: A First Look
Lourdes Gouveia, Mary Ann Powell, University of Nebraska at Omaha, January 2007San Jose, CA
Coming out and making history: Latino Immigrant Civic Participation in San Jose
Saliendo de la luz y entrando a la historia: La participación cívica de los inmigrantes latinos en San JoséTuscon, AZ
Arizona’s Legislative-Imposed Injunctions: Implications for Immigrant Civic and Political Participation
Los Mandamientos Judiciales Impuestos Por La Legislatura De Arizona: Implicaciones Para La Participación Cívica Y Política De Los Inmigrantes