Urban Bird Gardens Final Report - Cornell Lab of Ornithology ...

The Community Context
Latinos in the U.S. comprise
approximately 15% of the total
population (U.S. Census, 2002). The
Latino population in the United States
is, of course, quite diverse. U.S.
Latinos, for example, represent more
than 20 different countries, include
both U.S.-born and immigrant
residents, and include communities
with varied levels of acculturation,
socio-economic status, and education.
Furthermore, culture and cultural
identity are not static, but rather
dynamic, y , context-driven processes p
(Chuang, 1994; Gutierrez and Rogoff,
2003); they are mutually shaped by
an individual’s perspectives and values
and their environment (Hirschfeld,
2002).
Thus, when interpreting research
results and determining the
implications of study findings, it is
critical to have a clear understanding
of the specific segment of the Latino
population who participated in a study
and of the contextual issues at play
within those communities. Results
from this study, therefore, should not
be generalized to Latinos as a whole.
Study findings, however, are relevant
for Latino communities with similar
demographics and community
contexts as those who participated in
this study.
Participating Communities
Primarily two-parent
households.
Spanish-dominant .
Immigration status varies.
Working class and low income.
(CBO partners reported that
average average g household income
less than $20,000 per family.)
Low education levels,
including varied literacy skills.
Garibay Group │ Urban Bird Gardens Front-end Evaluation │ Summer 2009 6