What Are ASA Communities?
ASA Communities are a member-generated organizational structure approved by the Council on the recommendation of the ASA Task Force on Membership. Communities differ from Sections and other ASA groups in three ways. They:
- Create new spaces for connection, belonging, and networking that transcend research foci.
- Provide new avenues for professional development and mentoring that reflect the wide range of employment contexts and lived experiences of the many diverse groups within our membership.
- Provide a broader range of opportunities for engagement and leadership in ASA.
All Communities are free for any interested ASA member to join.
What Are The Current ASA Communities?
The current Communities are:
Clinical Sociology. This community brings clinical sociologists together to form a network and encourage collaborative activities by encouraging more clinical sociologists to join ASA; help clinical sociologists in other countries see that ASA is an important place to share their work as well as network; and encourage junior sociologists in the U.S. to learn about the possibilities in the field.
Community College Faculty. This Community seeks to build an enduring space for connection, communication, as well as sharing, promoting and celebrating the work of its members.
Community Engaged Scholars and Teachers. This Community supports scholars and practicing sociologists engaged in or interested in community engaged research and teaching (CERT) by providing opportunities for community, networking, support, and discussion.
Filipino Sociologists. Through the Filipino Sociologists Community, ASA is working to create a space for connection, belonging and networking for Filipino sociologists, including those in the diaspora and in the Philippines, and their allies and friends.
First-Generation and Working-Class Sociologists. Sociology is a field that includes many first-generation college attendees and people from working-class backgrounds. ASA is working to learn more about the interests and needs of this group, to foster inclusion and combat elitism, and to help first-generation/working-class sociologists connect with each other and with valuable resources.
Korean and Korean American Sociologists. Through the Korean and Korean American Sociologists Community, ASA is creating a new space for belonging and networking within the ASA and in the field of Sociology within the United States. The Community aims to support its members by promoting networking, mentoring, and collaboration and by providing opportunities for engagement and leadership.
Retired Sociologists. This community works with members as they transition from full-time work to retirement, promotes interaction and creates community among retired members, encourages interaction between retired members and members of all career stages, and provides the means for sharing information about opportunities in teaching, research, and other activities that would benefit from the expertise of retired sociologists.
Sociologists Teaching in Carceral Settings. Teaching sociology in carceral settings is a demanding, yet profoundly rewarding endeavor. This Community offers peer networking and support, professional development, and opportunities for advocacy.
Sociologists Working Everywhere. A lot of great sociology takes place outside of faculty positions and universities. ASA provides resources for students considering a career in non-profit, government, or corporate organizations, as well as ways for sociologists working in these settings to connect and expand their networks.
South Asian Sociologists. Through the South Asian Sociologists (SAS) Community, ASA seeks to provide opportunities for networking, mentorship, and the exchange of ideas among sociologists of South Asian/American/diaspora descent and their allies and friends.
What Resources Do Communities Receive?
Each Community receives the following resources:
- A listserv for notifications and communication.
- A presence on the ASA website.
- One session at the Annual Meeting. This session may be used for activities such as a business meeting, professional development workshop or networking event. A panel with presentations of formal research papers would not be an appropriate use of the session.
- Opportunity to advertise off-site receptions in the Annual Meeting program.
- A baseline budget of $500 per year.
- Voluntary donations made by members.
How Can I Join/Leave a Community?
All Communities are free for ASA members to join. Members can join/leave a Community at anytime during their membership at no additional charge. When joining, members can also make a voluntary donation to a specific ASA Community to help support its activities.
- Login into the ASA Member Portal at http://my.asanet.org.
- Once logged in, along the lefthand menu, click Profile.
- Scroll down through your contact, education, demographic, and interests information until you reach the Community Membership section.
- At the Community Membership section, you can check to add or uncheck to leave the boxes next to each Community name.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the Update Profile button to save your preferences.
How Can I Propose a Community?
The deadline for proposals is June 1 each year.
Any ASA member can submit a proposal for an ASA Community. Proposals will consist of a 1,000-word statement on the nature and purpose of the proposed Community, its planned activities, and the roles and titles for a six-person volunteer leadership team. The proposal must also include the names of 50 individuals committed to joining the Community if it is established (Please contact [email protected] for assistance in creating an online form to collect names). To be considered, proposals must be submitted to [email protected] by the deadline.
Communities can be proposed by groups of members with common professional backgrounds, such as sociologists employed outside the U.S., in community colleges, or sociology faculty in high schools. Communities might also be proposed by groups of members with a shared identity, such as Black sociologists or LGBTQ sociologists.
Grant Calls
Read about ASA Community grants.
Leadership Nomination Calls
Read about open ASA Community leadership positions.
Have questions?
Please contact [email protected].