Jack Hess

Asu Course

5/5/2021

Final Paper: Civic Engagement, Identity, and Group

Mobilization
 In this class we have extensively researched and theorized about the nature of

identity especially in social groups and projects. And one of the key parts of this is

how organizations mobilize people towards civic engagement with shared identities.

The organization I am covering, The Los Angeles Lgbt center truly capitalizes on this

by mobilizing people around the community of being lgbt and the shared empathy for

struggles of people who are part of that community. They work to provide lgbt people

with help and support in times of crisis and to give them a safety net to rely on.

People within this group are most commonly lgbt or allies of the community. And

even though this gives them a strong shared identity and starting point there are still

many identity divides such as whether you are gay or lesbian, old or young, cisgender

or transgender. What is so special about this organization is that regardless of all of the

identity divides the people of this community band together on the fact that they all

have faced some type of trouble, abuse, or discrimination for their identities. When

dealing with people of other identities though this may cause some divide; if you say

you are involved in this group you would most likely be said of shoving your identity

in their faces or focusing too much on one single part of your identity. But that is why

this is so important, the identity divides within this group do not actually divide them

but rather bring these people closer and make them stronger.

Because this is a non profit group there is far less economic and capitalistic divide.

Members of this group work to bring people together and not draw lines between them

which completely disregards the need for economic distinction. This group is very

engaged and helps the community by helping those in need, providing resources for
those who need them, giving people a community for support, and creating spaces

where people can boldy be themselves.

This group mobilizes members with organized social outreach and standard

messaging types. There are many members so the way that this is done and the types of

outreach that they do is very diverse. Members of this group come together to help

others with a shared identity whether that be by direct help to individuals or

campaigning for the change and betterment of more public social issues. In this

organization with service you are either providing it or receiving it. And while this

organization might not be the most business like compared to other organizations

we've studied in this course they care about what they're doing immensely.

So in summary the Los Angeles Lgbt Center provides support and outreach not

through economic ways but rather personal and heartfelt care for the people they are

helping. This organization helps and mobilizes people towards civic engagement by

collecting upon their shared identities regardless of the identity divides this community

has.