Researchers working with immigrants from El Salvador and India to the U.S. identified seven themes of cultural tradition that can be a starting point for civic programs and communications.
- Cultural remembrance. Traditional cultural ‘roots’ are a source of strength.
- Tradition of service. Concern for the welfare of others is part of many cultures.
- Welfare of their communities. Established immigrants often help new arrivals.
- Assistance to the country of origin. Support for family left behind does not detract from engagement in the U.S.
- Bridging communities. Getting to know their new country better is an important goal of civic activities.
- Building a new social network. Civic involvement leads to new social support structures.
- Appreciation for American democracy. Freedom for civic expression is an important goal.
Barriers to civic participation include reasons that affect everyone: working hard, without enough time or energy to be engaged. But in both studies, there are barriers specific to immigrants: ethnic (or language) exclusion, and not (yet) having citizenship.
The studies also found that a connection to their country of origin did not detract from their affiliation to their new country. They conclude that cultural identity can be a source of strength, helping immigrants engage with a new society, find ways to be fully engaged in civic life, and become full citizens.
Additional details
The researchers held individual interviews with 80 immigrants, 40 each from El Salvador or India, living in the Washington, DC area, asking about their civic experiences. Each group included 20 parents who arrived in the US as adults and 20 adolescents who were born in the US or arrived before starting elementary school.
These cultures were chosen to represent a range of demographics and immigrant experiences. The Indian adults were more likely to hold professional or technical jobs and had higher incomes and levels of education than those from El Salvador. The people interviewed were contacted through Catholic churches and Hindu temples. Interviews were conducted in both English and Spanish (using bilingual native speakers from El Salvador).