“Like They’re My Same People. They’ve Probably Been in My Shoes. . .”: Community-Based Organizations’ Role in Fostering Social and Organizational Ties for Latino/x Immigrant Youth

Abstract

This is a critical qualitative case study of foreign and native-born Latino students from immigrant households who participated in an immigrant-serving community-based organization (CBO). The authors draw from Mario Small’s concepts of network ties and organizational embeddedness to examine how Latino youth talk about the impact of a CBO on their belonging and identity, the formation of social and organizational ties in shaping their educational futures, and how Latino youth perceive the organizational impact. Qualitative interviews from participating Latino immigrant youth are leveraged to illustrate social and organizational tie formation. The authors argue that CBOs that broker social and organizational ties for immigrant youth can potentially reduce inequality through creating structures and spaces that foster belonging and provide direct services. Implications are discussed.