“Es como una Familia”: Bridging Emotional Support With Academic and Professional Development Through the Acquisition of Capital in Latinx Student Organizations

Abstract

This study explored the ways Latinx-based organizations assist students in navigating college and career preparation. Data consist of in-depth interviews with 17 first-generation Latinx students attending two predominantly White institutions in the Midwest. I employed Bourdieu’s social reproduction theory to examine the ways Latinx student organizations cultivate social and cultural capital among participants. Findings reveal that peers in Latinx-based organizations share capital relevant to navigating college, academics, and career development.