ABSTRACT
Since 2000, Latino urbanism has emerged as a theoretical and practical approach to community development and planning policy that seeks to understand how socio-economic and political change affects the nature and functioning of cities with large Latina/o populations over time. While the planning literature has historically ignored Latino urbanism, Davis, and Diaz have produced a collection of books and addressed urban areas predominated by Chicana/os and Mexican immigrants in the Southwest. New urbanists promote design that fosters security and community interaction, and respects local history, culture, and regional character. The chapter describes three types of community-centered approaches to change: community organizing, community coalitions, and participatory action research. Community activists have advanced the notion that co-ethnic officials are more likely to understand and attend to the interests of racial and ethnic groups than members of other groups. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
