Psychological sense of community and motivation toward collective social change among community coalition members of color in the southwestern United States

Drawing on McMillan and Chavis's psychological sense of community framework among southwestern community coalition members (N = 18), data were examined for narratives of how psychological sense of community and experiences of community manifest among coalition members. We were also interested in knowing how coalition members make meaning of social change. Findings illustrate that dimensions of psychological sense of community (e.g., membership, emotional connection, needs' fulfillment, and influence) are important in how members made meaning of community needs and their own participation in the coalition. Implications are put forward for theory and community programming.