Neighborhoods within age-friendly cities and communities are an important factor in shaping the everyday lives of older adults. Yet, less is known about how neighborhoods experiencing change influence the ability to age in place. One type of rapid neighborhood change occurring across major cities nationally and globally is gentrification, a process whereby the culture of an existing neighborhood changes through the influx of more affluent residents and businesses. Few studies have considered the impact of gentrification on older adults, who are among the most vulnerable to economic and social pressures that often accompany gentrification. The current study explores one consequence of gentrification, indirect displacement. While gentrification-induced displacement can refer to the physical (e.g., direct) displacement of residents moving out of a neighborhood due to rising housing costs, it also references the replacement of the unique character and social identity of a neighborhood (e.g., indirect displacement). We examine perceptions of the latter, characterized by perceived cultural shifts and housing concerns among adults aging in place in a gentrifying neighborhood in New York City. The implications of indirect displacement for displacement risk and aging precarity are discussed as potential threats to aging in place in age-friendly cities.

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Given the complexities of displacement and resettlement in the United States (US), few resources have been invested in facilitating social relationships, social integration, and social support for recently resettled refugees. Studies indicate low levels of socialization and thus extreme isolation among refugees, suggesting the need to create additional safety nets that encourage social connectivity (Strang & Quinn, 2019). In partnership with a resettlement agency, university researchers developed a pilot study exploring the feasibility and impact of a social participation intervention for a target group of recently resettled refugees. Research facilitators from the A Bridging-Community (or ABC) Project hosted weekly social events for resettled refugees (N=12). Participants were split into three groups and attended social events either two, four, or six times over a four month period. To assess the experiences of participants in the program, survey data were collected at the beginning and end of the program, and semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted upon entry into the program and at the conclusion of the study. Findings suggest that the ABC Project helped cultivate new relationships and a sense of belonging among participants, with stronger results observed among participants who met four or six times. The overall effectiveness of the program was rated highly by all participants, indicating a need for additional research about targeted social interventions among groups at risk for social isolation.

This thesis explores the experience of resettlement and seeks to understand integration from the perspective of refugees themselves. Refugees' own narratives are prioritized in an investigation of the concept of integration. I follow an inductive approach to avoid imposing pre-existing definitions of understanding and instead utilize a model that allows the participants to determine the direction of our conversations. I then seek to identify patterns and emergent themes to bring to light possible facilitators or inhibitors of achieving a successful life in the US. I also seek to address one of the main limitations in refugee literature which is the lumping of all refugees into one category by providing a comparison between two nationalities of refugees. My results show that Iraqi and Syrian participants differ significantly in their engagement with their own ethnic communities. I propose that greater attention should be given to discrepancies in experiences for more targeted policy interventions at the local level. vi Acknowledgment I would like to begin by thanking all my participants who invited me into their homes and allowed me to into their lives. I appreciate the time and energy it took to talk to me. I learned so much from their stories and was constantly inspired by their strength and resilience. This project would not have been possible without them. I would also like to thank my advisor Robert Steele who gave me the freedom I needed to create this project and for always trusting me to make the right decision. Your faith in me was instrumental in the completion of this project.