Robinson-Wyatt, Edrice. Suburbanites engaged: perspectives of civic engagement in a multi-ethnic community. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-ca2q-6p95
DescriptionCivic engagement motivations and actions are instrumental to society from the local level to the world at large. With a minimal body of civic engagement work within the last decade focused on American suburbs from a resident’s perspective, this study has contributed to that discourse. My observations of community challenged the narratives that suburbanites are less civically engaged and that traditionally White people were more civically engaged than other races. This study offered a new understanding of engagement modes and locations resulting from the impacts of an increasing population of racial/ethnic minorities in suburbia. The research design focused on an evaluation of civic engagers’ motivations to engage, modes of engagement and their intended benefit within the local community. Twenty-seven adults from one, multi-ethnic New Jersey suburban community participated in semi-structured interviews and completed a questionnaire about their engagement experiences. Findings suggested the motivation to engage can 1) begin at an early age, 2) be the result of feelings of marginalization, and 3) satisfy the need to address important issues. Engagers were involved in multiple activities, and life course events played an important role in choosing the type of activities they participated in. Most engagers were involved in group associations, feeling that they offered an opportunity to have a larger impact on the communities they served. The impact of race/ethnicity on civic engagement decisions mattered and cultural diversity beyond race/ethnicity or age was valued. Finally, there was no significant finding that the age of the engager was a factor in engagement decisions. Though the civic engagement journey is unique, engagers were connected by their desire to impact people and where they live. This study also identified concepts that push this conversation forward with a consideration of civic engagement opportunities that shape a community’s identity and future.