Investigating pathways to environmental civic engagement for diverse communities

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Sociology
• Civic Engagement Studies

Background:

• Environmental civic engagement is crucial for addressing global crises, but participation is unequal.
• Historically, conservation movements have marginalized Black, Asian, and Latine/Hispanic voices in policy.
• Research often focuses on barriers, with less attention to asset-based supports for engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of community cultural wealth (CCW) in supporting environmental civic engagement.
• To identify factors within CCW that promote participation among Black, Asian, and Latine/Hispanic individuals.
• To apply an asset-based framework to understand engagement influenced by structural racism.

Main Methods:

• Employed qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
• Utilized the community cultural wealth (CCW) model as a theoretical framework.
• Examined predictors of environmental civic engagement among specific demographic groups.

Main Results:

• Understanding systems of oppression emerged as a significant predictor.
• Motivation to change oppressive systems strongly correlated with engagement.
• Organizational, social, and family connections were vital for civic knowledge and opportunity.

Conclusions:

• An asset-based approach, focusing on CCW, is promising for fostering environmental civic engagement.
• Addressing structural racism is essential for equitable participation.
• Leveraging community and social networks can enhance engagement among marginalized groups.