UC Berkeley Othering and Belonging Institute: Immigrant Belonging Study Santa Clara County

​Santa Clara County’s Office of Immigrant Relations began the Immigrant Belonging Project in February 2023 to understand the needs, contributions, and challenges of their many immigrant communities. As part of this study, Santa Clara County looked to InterEthnica and the UC Berkeley Othering & Belonging Institute to directly engage Santa Clara County residents who were born outside of the United States to learn about their experiences and priorities. From recruitment to moderation, InterEthnica devised a culturally informed and inclusive research strategy that consisting of seven multilingual focus groups with Vietnamese, Spanish-speaking, Korean, African-born, Muslim, and immigrant youth communities. Understanding that many immigrant communities experience disconnection and fear when engaging with government agencies, InterEthnica strategized a recruitment plan that leveraged our community network to reduce communication challenges and build trust. InterEthnica simplified, adapted, and translated the moderator’s guide for greater cultural resonance, and our expert bilingual moderators facilitated the in-language focus groups at familiar and accessible community sites. InterEthnica recorded the in-language sessions and provided back translations and English transcripts for each group, ensuring the accuracy of translations that preserved the nuance and meaning of the original sessions for thorough analysis. The findings from this study will inform current and future policies, funding decisions, and services for immigrants in the County of Santa Clara.