"Latino National Survey - Connecticut Sample" Released

The overall findings on incorporation and acculturation were split and to this extent were inconclusive. About half (50.8%) of the Latino respondents indicated that they believe it is possible to incorporate into the state while simultaneously sustaining bilingual and bicultural values. Latinos in Connecticut reported that although their attachments to the Spanish language, Latino American identities, and transnational activities  decrease over time, they feel that they can maintain these attachments while living in Connecticut.

 

Close to two-thirds (61.1%) of Latinos reported that they have not experienced discrimination while residing in Connecticut. Puerto Ricans (8.7% of respondents) and second-generation Latinos (8.7%) were more

likely to have experienced discrimination in Connecticut than naturalized citizens (1.7%) and noncitizen immigrants (3.9%).

 

The overall findings on civic and political engagement were split and to this degree were inconclusive. However, the survey suggests that most Latinos are likely to pursue low to medium levels of civic and political  engagement. This finding suggests that while Latinos may not be active in regional or statewide activities, they may be involved in local civic and political activities.

 

The overall findings on transnationalism and rootedness were split and to this degree were inconclusive. However, the findings suggest that naturalized citizens and noncitizen immigrants sustained higher levels of transnationalism than U.S.-born Latinos and Puerto Ricans. Compared with Hartford, for example, residents of the New Haven metropolitan area, a residential area with a higher proportion of immigrants and migrants,

reported higher levels of transnationalism (43.9%) than Hartford(25.3%).

 

Only about 45.1% of Latinos reported a high degree of efficacy in terms of their ability to influence politicians. Latinos residing in the Hartford metropolitan area are, the area with the second highest concentration of Latino elected officials in the state of Connecticut, reported the highest degrees of political efficacy (54.8%) and those residing in  Bridgeport metropolitan area, the area with the highest number of Latino elected officials, reported the lowest (39.8%).

 

Only 121 respondents answered questions related to school engagement. However, most Latino parents (81.1%) who answered these questions responded that they participate in Parent Teacher Association meetings and are actively supporting their children’s

educational activities.