Community and Regional Planning Program
Date of this Version
Winter 12-2013
Document Type
Article
Citation
Shirinova, Pakiza "The Role of Multicultural Planning in Rural Nebraska: Case Studies of Four Mid-Sized Cities." Master's Thesis, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2013
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to analyze multicultural planning practices in rural Nebraska towns. Due to the increased influx of Hispanic population in Schuyler, Lexington, South Sioux City and Crete of Nebraska in the period from 1990 to 2010, this research focuses on uncovering social and economic impacts that Hispanic immigration is leaving on receiving communities. Also, this study reviews current comprehensive plans of the communities selected for this research to determine whether multicultural policies are being defined and incorporated into the vision of community development. A survey of planning consultants, city administrators and community members further contribute to the understanding of planning practice in rural Nebraska towns. The comprehensive plans were evaluated using the Policy Index of Multicultural Planning developed by Qadeer and Agrawal. The results of the study reveal that none of the selected four comprehensive plans exhibit strong orientation toward multicultural planning policies in their jurisdiction. Only small indication of multicultural policies was found in the areas of ethnic specific service needs, housing, ethnic entrepreneurship, as well as accommodation of ethnic sports. While communities continue to work on encouraging Hispanic communities to participate in the planning process, planning methods such as appreciative planning and multiculturalism are recommended for planners to expand their practices toward more inclusive and comprehensive planning.
Adviser: Gordon Scholz
Comments
A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Master of Community and Regional Planning, Major: Community and Regional Planning, Under the Supervision of Professor Gordon Scholz. Lincoln, Nebraska: December, 2013
Copyright (c) 2013 Pakiza Shirinova