Psychological sense of community and motivation toward collective social change among community coalition members of color in the southwestern United States

Abstract

Drawing on McMillan and Chavis's psychological sense of community framework among southwestern community coalition members (N = 18), data were examined for narratives of how psychological sense of community and experiences of community manifest among coalition members. We were also interested in knowing how coalition members make meaning of social change. Findings illustrate that dimensions of psychological sense of community (e.g., membership, emotional connection, needs' fulfillment, and influence) are important in how members made meaning of community needs and their own participation in the coalition. Implications are put forward for theory and community programming. K E Y W O R D S community belongingness, community coalitions, psychological sense of community, social change 1 | INTRODUCTION Participation in community coalitions is an effective method to address concerns related to public health (World Health Organization, 2017), social justice (Christens et al., 2019; Wolff et al., 2016), and other systemic social problems (e.g., poverty and education). In 2020, we are observing the resurgence of community coalitions and mutual aid groups engaged in collective support during the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the United States (Tolentino, 2020). These examples highlight that coalitions serve as important catalysts for change in policies and practices by enabling communities to address concerning issues (Cicognani et al., 2020). Effective community coalitions support individuals, organizations, and the community itself, to take on larger and more difficult social problems, address long-term challenges, and ultimately create stronger networks and alliances among stakeholders (Huang & Seldon, 2014; Kanok et al., 2015). From an empowerment perspective, community coalitions enhance the self-efficacy and leadership capacity of members to enact a critical social change (Christens et al., 2019). Community coalitions are an important setting to create hope, social change, and shared collective belongingness in underserved communities. Studies indicate that these organizational settings serve as fertile ground for cultivating voice and participation in social change (Christens & Speer, 2015; Lardier, Bergeson, et al., 2018; Peterson et al., 2019). For underserved urban and rural communities, coalitions offer a grassroots perspective for change that not only bridges and bonds resources (i.e., connecting, supporting, and facilitating; see Stanton-Salazar, 2011), but are grounded in community needs and perspectives. Coalitions are also structural settings that have the potential to facilitate leadership development and political consciousness among members (Christens et al., 2019; Saadi et al., 2019). From a liberation psychologist's perspective, coalition development and outward action are rooted in healing, particularly when people develop a deeper understanding of their social oppression and begin resisting (Moane, 2003; Prilleltensky, 2008). Community coalitions are critical settings for solidarity and collective acti...

Psychosocial benefits and costs of activism among female migrant domestic workers in southern Spain

“…Meeting people consistently appears in the literature as a positive outcome of activism (Gomes, 1992; Harré, 2007; Renn & Bilodeau, 2005), including that carried out by DFMW (Lai, 2010). In line with our findings, different studies regard meeting people as an intrinsic reward of activism (Corning & Myers, 2002; Roth, 2005), fueling activists' belongingness (Lardier et al, 2020) and social well‐being (Earnshaw et al, 2016; Gomes, 1992; Harré, 2007). Social ties and intimate relationships resulting from meeting people are particularly relevant to DFMW's well‐being, considering their experiences of isolation and loneliness because of their migrant status and, in most cases, live‐in work (Ayalon & Shiovitz‐Ezra, 2010; Dutta et al, 2018).…”

A southwestern grassroots community coalition of undocumented Mexican community members: A location for bridging resources and sociopolitical action

“…Low‐income, often immigrant communities have historically navigated a terrain of limited resources and social segregation (Putnam, 2015). Formerly, these communities could rely on touchstones of support in neighborhood programs for both youth and adults that provided a space of safety, support, and comfort (Lardier et al, 2020). Today, however, these communities have fallen deeper into poverty and become more segregated.…”

“…Research examining grassroots community coalitions highlights that these are versatile locations for leveraging resources, developing strategic partnerships, and transferring, as well as bridging resources in marginalized, segregated, financially‐strapped communities (Christens & Speer, 2015; Christens et al, 2019; Lardier et al, 2018; Saadi et al, 2019). Coalition‐based work, particularly for undocumented Hispanic/Latinx communities, creates space for individuals to develop and find meaning and ways to change the social circumstances that oppresses them (Chávez, 2011; Enriquez, 2014; Lardier et al, 2020).…”

“…Positioning grassroots coalitions as an important nexus point of social change for undocumented Hispanic/Latinx community members may help these members view themselves as not “objects of history, but rather subjects of history, willing to put forward their own selves and bodies to construct a new nation [or community]” (West, 1993, p. 134). As numerous scholars put forward, through coalitions, community members develop a capacity to pursue and contribute to a common goal and collective social change for both their community and themselves (Cacari‐Stone et al, 2014; Lardier et al, 2020; Martín‐Baró, 1994; Wiley et al, 2012). Therefore, while grassroots coalitions may be rare in undocumented Hispanic/Latinx communities, these locations are important for cultivating power, leadership, self‐efficacy, and social change in an environment that is often turbulent and has limited resources (Gates, 2017; Muñoz, 2018; Negrón‐Gonzales, 2014; Seif, 2004, 2014).…”

“…Most importantly, this liberating process centers on the "power to do," bringing to the forefront the need for action-oriented approaches to social change driven by the voices of the community members, themselves (Christens & Speer, 2015;Gutiérrez et al, 1995). Furthermore, there is evidence that community coalitions represent a unique venue for not only developing strategic partnerships, but (co)facilitating the transfer or bridging of resources in marginalized, segregated, financially-strapped communities (Christens & Speer, 2015;Christens et al, 2019;Gates, 2017;Lardier et al, 2018;Saadi et al, 2019).…”