The social & policy implications of meaningful community engagement in racialized immigrant communities in Halifax : Social and policy implications of meaningful community engagement in racialized immigrant communities in Halifax

This research study examines the challenges that immigrant communities in Halifax experience accessing, integrating into and participating in the social, educational, health, employment, and economic sectors of Halifax. A particular focus is on how the intersections of nationality, race, culture, immigrant/citizenship status, religion, language, low-income and poverty, gender, age and other social factors shape these experiences. The research also examines the policy implications of immigrant integration by identifying some of the ways in which immigration policies serve to deter or facilitate immigrants' access to, integration into and participation in these four sectors of society. Frisken and Wallace (2000) argue that it is the government's responsibility to assist in the elimination of structural barriers that impede access to resources and services. Following this, this research examines governmental strategies geared towards the elimination of structural, institutional and everyday barriers facing immigrant communities in Halifax.