Sense of belonging

Sylvia Hurtado I do have a piece in Sociology of Education that talks specifically about the sense of belonging among Latino students, understanding what the environment is like for those students, and creating that larger sense of belonging. 

There are a lot of things that can contribute to a more general sense of belonging, which translates into attachment to the institution and, therefore, retains students. There is a body of research on sense of belonging and how that is created in the transitional experience. We have empirical data that show that link you have observed. The strongest, probably most replicated, finding of all the retention literature has dealt with how the extent to which individuals are socially and academically integrated into the institution results in eventual retention. 

There may be many different ways. Certainly a lot of the programs we are talking about in this workshop are ways to increase that sense of belonging, engage with the subject matter, and achieve students long-term goals. 

Yet along with this feeling had come a deep sense of belonging to a national community. The Westerner who developed a farm, opened a shop, or set up in business as a trader could hope to prosper only as his own community prospered—and his community ran from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from Canada down to Mexico. If the land was settled, with towns and highways and accessible markets, he could better himself. He saw his fate in terms of the nation s own destiny. As its horizons expanded, so did his. He had, in other words, an acute dollars-and-cents stake in the continued growth and development of his country. 

Being an integral part of a group can create a sense of belonging "I have friends who understand and accept me."... 

Love - To have a sense of belonging, be accepted, and feel in community with others. When we sign up for forums with other like-minded people, we are seeking love ... 

An organization is inclusive when everyone has a sense of belonging feels respected, valued and seen for who they are as individuals and feels a level of supportive energy and commitment from leaders, colleagues and others so that all people—individually and collectively—can do our best work. ... 

Some employees and managers accepted that they were included simply because the organization told them they were included. About 15 years ago. We were told we were part of a family, and that first was God, second was family, third was work at Big Store]. Other times, it was the physical artifact of organizational membership that triggered the sense of belonging. A part-time Big Store employee recalled that when I received my Big Store] uniform... it made me feel like part of the team. A Big Store District Manager had nearly an identical experience in that his most inclusive moment occurred, When i got my company shirt with the company name and also my name. This was a peak moment because] I just felt i was apart of something, a team. ... 

Being needed and wanted by the guys in charge was what made this manager feel a sense of belonging. Being valued for sharing his experiences with others has remained as a peak moment of inclusion in his career thus far. This comes as no surprise since there is a universal element of humanity that is activated when we help others. In fact, this humanity is one of the foundations upon which Ubuntu is based. 

Early in my time as an assistant manager My h=husband couldn t get a job were we were located. I called my District Manager told him what was going on and that we need to move to a higher populated area. He said no problem give me a few weeks and I ll see what we can do. A few weeks later he called to tell me that another position was open at a bigger store closer to population. I posted for it, interviewed and moved. This really stands out in my mind as a time when I felt a deep sense of belonging because I was so new to the company however they took care of me and my family as if I was a 30 year employee. I realized that this is the most loyal company there is to work for. 

Reminiscent of the movie " RuDr, this Big Store sales representative s most inclusive moment occurred When I won a top level award] at the Sales Meeting and the guys carried me up to the stage. This stands out as a peak inclusive moment because I had] a since of pride and accomplishment. As we said at the opening of this chapter, being celebrated by one s peers provides a deep sense of belonging, a basic human need. A store manager recalled a moment that occurred two years before he shared it with us ... 

I felt a sense of belonging... Almost every customer knows me and trust my judgment in most situations, says this Big Store District Manager. Another District Sales Manager recalled experiencing a similar deep sense of belonging with his customers ... 

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