A community in transition: the resident perspective in Oak Park

Thesis (M.A., Sociology)--California State University, Sacramento, 2014.Social scientists have attempted to learn how, why and with what level of success residents in low-income communities respond to challenges such as crime, violence, and a lack of resources. Social scientist have examined many factors to learn more about how residents become involved in community engagement, including the impact of concentrated poverty and the role of local neighborhood associations. The many factors studied in community engagement as well as the often contradicting results, point to the complexity of the issue of resident engagement and the need for additional research, including studies using a qualitative approach. One area that is not well represented in the literature is the perspective of residents on how change happens in the community and how residents perceive and evaluate their role in community change. \ud The purpose of this study was to learn how residents in Oak Park, an economically challenged and racially diverse neighborhood in Sacramento, perceived and evaluated their role in community change. Data were gathered through conducting semi-structured individual interviews with 11 residents who had participated in the Neighborhood Association for a minimum of three years. \ud During these interviews, residents shared the importance of connection, both to other residents and to the community. This connection led to their investment of time and energy into the community. Residents also shared the importance of the Neighborhood Association in focusing and directing efforts to make changes to the community.\ud The contributions of this study include providing new information about how gender and length of time in the community affected residents??? perceptions of their role and its subsequent impact. This study also provided information on changes in resident efforts as the community changed over time.Sociolog