St. John Fisher College Fisher Digital Publications Education Doctoral Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education 5-2020 Civic Political Engagement of Sub-Saharan African Naturalized Immigrants Chol-Awan A. Majok [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/education_etd Part of the Education Commons How has open access to Fisher Digital Publications benefited ou?y Recommended Citation Majok, Chol-Awan A., "Civic Political Engagement of Sub-Saharan African Naturalized Immigrants" (2020). Education Doctoral. Paper 441. Please note that the Recommended Citation provides general citation information and may not be appropriate for your discipline. To receive help in creating a citation based on your discipline, please visit http://libguides.sjfc.edu/citations. This document is posted at https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/education_etd/441 and is brought to you for free and open access by Fisher Digital Publications at St. John Fisher College. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Civic Political Engagement of Sub-Saharan African Naturalized Immigrants Abstract Civic political engagement is an intentional and empathic leadership behavior, especially toward engaging minorities and populations that are usually not seen and heard. Research has shown that civic political engagement helps foster better communities, people, organizations, all levels of government, and private and non-profit entities. Engaging sub-Saharan Africans as a disadvantaged population requires that they are met where they are, and because this does not happen often, they have continued to be ignored and understudied compared to other immigrant groups. This qualitative study has been an effort to see and hear sub-Saharan African stories and experiences. The study used a descriptive phenomenology approach. There were 24 participants in four focus groups to examine how sub-Saharan Africans naturalized immigrants engage in civic political processes. The study used Hanna Pitkin’s political representation theory as a lens to approach the research. In the findings, the following themes and subthemes emerged based on three research questions. The first question investigated participation, and activities and behaviors modeled emerged as the theme. Subthemes were: voting, campaign and mobilization, advocacy/activism, and volunteering. The second question examined the influence of lived experiences, and the theme was perception and attitude. The subthemes were: opportunity, resilience, representation, and fear of politics. Finally, the third question investigated motives with the theme of ubuntu (“I am because you are”). The subthemes were: collective community responsibility, and dignity and identity. Document Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Education (EdD) Department Executive Leadership First Supervisor Kim VanDerLinden, Ph.D. Second Supervisor Robert DiFlorio, Ed.D. Subject Categories Education This dissertation is available at Fisher Digital Publications: https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/education_etd/441 Civic Political Engagement of Sub-Saharan African Naturalized Immigrants By Chol-Awan A. Majok Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Ed.D. in Executive Leadership Supervised by Kim VanDerLinden, Ph.D. Committee Member Robert DiFlorio, Ed.D. Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education St. John Fisher College May 2020 Copyright by Chol-Awan Majok 2020 Dedication I want to thank almighty God; without his infinite love, I would have never had a chance to dream and to pursue all that I am today. To the smartest, most patient, motivator, and caring, my dissertation chair, Dr. Kim VanDerLinden, whom I owe my scholarly voice and leadership journey to her able guidance. And to my committee member Dr. Robert DiFlorio whose daily strategies of three hours helped me finished. To Dr. C. Michael Robinson, who recruited and mentored me all the way to the finish line. To Dr. Grant Reeher, who was my executive mentor and a good friend. To Dr. Steven Blatt, whose steady friendship and love is pure. To my big brother, Eliezer Hernández, whose encouragement never seized, and to my Cohort 5, we have been through a lot in the program. And to those who prayed for me in my village of Gol and along the rough and smooth journeys. Thank you. To my hero, my father, Majok Aguto Chol, may his soul rest in peace, who cared for me when I had no mother, and faithfully believed that I would someday be somebody. To my oldest brother Aguto Majok Aguto, who without him, I would have never made it out from the desperate days of “Lost Boys” and refugee camps. And to the entire family of Ngong Lok, who has inspired me to set the bar high. To the most faithful, loving, forgiving, and to whom I am the father and a hero, my children; Akuch, Gop, Majok, Akau, and Yar. To Abiei Akau Gai, the woman of my dream, my chick, my number one cheerleader, whom I owe much of my essential being to, and that without her, I would be iii words and not actions. May God always give her the mercy and the courage she needs for her kind heart. iv Biographical Sketch Chol Majok is current the Director of Supported Employment Program, Alliance for Economic Inclusion, Onondaga County, and the purpose is to help reduce poverty in the unemployed and underemployment. Chol is also a city of Syracuse councilor representing the Third District Council. Chol attended Syracuse University from 2004 to 2008 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Psychology. Chol attended Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy at the University at Albany and graduated with a Master of Arts in Political Science with a concentration of Public Law in 2015. Chol took leadership training through Leadership Greater Syracuse and graduated in 2016. Chol started his doctoral studies in the Ed.D. Program in Executive Leadership at St. John Fisher College in May of 2017. Chol’s dissertation research was Civic Political Engagement with Naturalized sub-Saharan African immigrants. The dissertation was completed under the supervision of Dr. Kim VanDerLinden. Chol completed the program and graduated with the Ed.D. in May of 2020. You can reach Chol-Awan A. Majok at [email protected]. v Abstract Civic political engagement is an intentional and empathic leadership behavior, especially toward engaging minorities and populations that are usually not seen and heard. Research has shown that civic political engagement helps foster better communities, people, organizations, all levels of government, and private and non-profit entities. Engaging sub-Saharan Africans as a disadvantaged population requires that they are met where they are, and because this does not happen often, they have continued to be ignored and understudied compared to other immigrant groups. This qualitative study has been an effort to see and hear sub-Saharan African stories and experiences. The study used a descriptive phenomenology approach. There were 24 participants in four focus groups to examine how sub-Saharan Africans naturalized immigrants engage in civic political processes. The study used Hanna Pitkin’s political representation theory as a lens to approach the research. In the findings, the following themes and subthemes emerged based on three research questions. The first question investigated participation, and activities and behaviors modeled emerged as the theme. Subthemes were: voting, campaign and mobilization, advocacy/activism, and volunteering. The second question examined the influence of lived experiences, and the theme was perception and attitude. The subthemes were: opportunity, resilience, representation, and fear of politics. Finally, the third question investigated motives with the theme of ubuntu (“I am because you are”). The subthemes were: collective community responsibility, and dignity and identity. vi Table of Contents Dedication .......................................................................................................................... iii Biographical Sketch ............................................................................................................ v Abstract .............................................................................................................................. vi Table of Contents .............................................................................................................. vii List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 Problem Statement .......................................................................................................... 7 Theoretical Rationale ...................................................................................................... 9 Statement of Purpose .................................................................................................... 11 Research Questions ....................................................................................................... 11 Potential Significance of the Study ............................................................................... 12 Definitions of Terms ..................................................................................................... 13 Chapter Summary ........................................................................................................