Abstract
The U.S. South has experienced rapid Latinx growth; yet, little is known about how Latinx residents are civically integrating into new communities. This article explores whether, where, and why Latinx in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina, are civically engaged. Participants in a Latino Civic Engagement Project conducted 382 surveys with fellow Latinx residents in a county with Latinx growth rates over 1,800% from 1990 to 2014. Among respondents, 58.5% had volunteered in the past year and 47.0% were members of a faith-based or charitable organization. Household income, educational attainment, and English proficiency were most strongly correlated with civic engagement (r = .456, r = .453, and r = .464, respectively). The main reason for engagement was the betterment of the Latinx community. Main barriers were lack of information (37.1%), limited time (17.2%), disinterest (7.8%), and documentation status (4.3%). Findings can shape conversations about Latinx engagement in ways that include, but go beyond, voting and political representation.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
