Emerging ethnic agencies: Building capacity to build community

Ethnic agencies are important components of multicultural community systems, providing vehicles for community empowerment and self-determination in communities of color. Based on data from a qualitative study of emerging ethnic agencies, this paper explores the communities-building activities of ethnic agencies, describes the characteristics of ethnic agencies that position them to be effective in building communities, and describes what emerging agency leaders perceive they need in order to strengthen their organizations. Recommendations are offered for ways in which mainstream organizations can assist in building the capacities of emerging agencies so that they can become full partners in community-building efforts.