Uncovering Typologies of Civically Engaged Latina/o College Graduates at 4-Year Institutions of Higher Education

ABSTRACT

This study sought to examine how Latina/o¹ college graduates engage civically. Through a four-step quantitative design, we found that Latina/o college graduates vote, volunteer, advocate, donate money, serve as cultural and political resources, and run for elected office. We also identified five typologies, or classes, of civically engaged Latina/o college graduates: Activistas, Mentores, Politicos, Votantes, and Indiferentes. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Family
• parent & community
• activism
• quantitative research
• post-secondary education
• Latino/a children and families

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

² We relied on Excelencia in Education. Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs): 2019–20 to identify the type of institution attended.

³ Those six items pertained to running or holding state or national elected offices.

⁴ The four items were serving on nonprofit boards, teaching English classes to immigrant communities, participating in cleanup efforts, and giving to the church or a religious organization.

⁵ IRT information functions are not reported due to space limitations. However, IRT information functions are available upon request.