This qualitative study examines the notion of home as it relates to place making, belonging, and community building. Using a phenomenological method of inquiry, data were gathered through in-depth qualitative interviews with 15 Somali Americans and subjected to transcendental phenomenological analyses. Three major themes were found: (1) the meaning of community: being Somali and Muslim; (2) “We help each other. We are connected”; and (3) “Home is where your root is.” The study findings highlight how Somali participants drew on their faith and culture as foundational to community building and drew on acts of mutual giving and receiving to bind them together even as subjective feelings of “home” could be place based or could transcend geography. Although sometimes disrupted by bias and discrimination, Somalis persevered in defining themselves and pursuing a sense of belonging both within their own community and in the city at large. This study offers an expansive and dynamic view of the meaning of place making, community building, and belonging (home) in the lives of displaced refugees. Both research and practice can benefit from special attention given to the “natural” formation of refugee communities and their role in enhancing adjustment to life in a new land.

中文翻译：

---

“家是你的根”：芝加哥索马里人的地方营造、归属感和社区建设

这项定性研究考察了与场所营造、归属感和社区建设相关的家的概念。使用现象学调查方法，通过对 15 名索马里裔美国人的深入定性访谈收集数据，并进行先验现象学分析。发现了三大主题：（1）社区的意义：成为索马里人和穆斯林；(2) “我们互相帮助。我们是相连的”；(3) “家是你的根”。研究结果强调了索马里参与者如何利用他们的信仰和文化作为社区建设的基础，并利用相互给予和接受的行为将他们联系在一起，即使“家”的主观感受可以基于地方或可以超越地理。虽然有时会受到偏见和歧视的干扰，索马里人坚持定义自己，并在自己的社区和整个城市中追求归属感。这项研究为流离失所难民生活中的场所营造、社区建设和归属感（家）的意义提供了一个广泛而动态的观点。研究和实践都可以受益于对难民社区的“自然”形成及其在加强适应新土地生活方面的作用的特别关注。