Voluntary Organizations, Social Capital, and the Social Incorporation of Asian Indian Immigrants in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex

Abstract

This article addresses the organizational life of Asian-Indian immigrants in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The analysis is framed in relation to the concept of social capital, and more specifically to differences between bonding and bridging social capital, and between ethnic social capital (embedded in ethnic associations) and cross-cultural social capital (embedded in mixed and more mainstream organizations). After a brief discussion of the growth of the Asian-Indian population in DFW, the article draws on examples of five different organizational forms—regional, religious, ethnic, pan-ethnic, and ethnic to mainstream—to explore how different forms of social capital are developed and deployed, as well as how nested hierarchies of identity are manifested and expressed. In the conclusion the article addresses the implications for our understanding of how dispersed immigrant populations in new suburban cities of immigration establish place through associations as well as what an analysis of these organizations contributes to ongoing debates about assimilation, incorporation, and the construction of community.

“Tell Me What I Need to Know”: South Asian Women, Social Capital and Settlement

“…Involvement in such programs helped the new immigrants retain a sense of continuity of culture (and their past) and a sense of purpose, meaning, and self-worth apart from increasing their networks. Recent literature has pointed out the role of religious institutions in providing immigrants with opportunities for cultural maintenance and social interaction with others from a similar culture/religion (Brettell 2005) and with opportunities to participate and contribute to society, find a "safe place" in the light of the hostility and discrimination they perceive, and help in integration (Hirschman 2004). Involvement in prayer through places of worship helped some of the study participants to cope with experiences of racism and discrimination that they perceived around them.…”

Jewish Nonprofit Organizations in the U.S.: A Preliminary Survey

“…There are a few lists of organizations within ethnic, racial, or religious communities [Funchion (1983) on Irish American organizations, Gonzales (1985) on Hispanic Americans, and LaPotin and Armand (1987) on Native Americans], a small number of studies of particular types of organizations within communities [e.g., Skocpol et al (2000) on African American fraternal organizations] and a few studies of voluntary organizations in particular localities (e.g., Pichardo 1988-1990, Brettell 2005. But no studies try to describe comprehensively the organizations of ethnic, racial, or religious communities.…”

The New Indians

“…By the end of the decade, the literature concerning Indian immigrants shows that ethnic organizations were proliferating and the process of layering-having multiple identitieswas beginning. Although these works provide ample details on various Indian organizations, they rarely point to the competing nature of identity formation and the tensions inherent in it (Brettell, 2005;Fisher, 1980;Helweg & Helweg, 1990;Khandelwal, 2002;Lessinger, 1995;Rangaswamy, 2000;Rayaprol, 1997).…”

“…Pointing to this, Grover (1978) wrote, "A temple is not merely a place of worship but also a social and cultural center, a symbol of our rich heritage" (p. 14). The literature on Indian immigrants in the United States concurs with this viewpoint (Brettell, 2005;Helweg & Helweg, 1990;Khandelwal, 2002;Kurien, 1999;Lessinger, 1995;Rangaswamy, 2000;Rayaprol, 1997).…”