As much as any physical transformation of place has affected the quality of life of those living in Los Platanitos, residents have also built a strong sense of place and community by developing alternative economies and dynamic social support systems.

These economies and support systems represent adaptive capacities that residents rely upon when encountering and mitigating many of the challenges that are associated with daily life in an informal settlement like Los Platanitos.

Organizational life in the community plays a crucial role in facilitating such connections. Residents belong to various religious and social groups. In 2010, the community sought to organize a neighborhood foundation, Fundacion Los Platanitos, to more effectively represent and advance shared community development interests within the settlement. In 2012, Mujeres Unidas was founded as a women’s cooperative in Los Platanitos to provide an additional space for organizing and activism to advance that specifically addresses the needs and concerns of women.

While building connections and organizing internally is an important part of the life of any community, residents of Los Platanitos have also sought to build partnerships with external entities including government offices, educational institutions, and local civil society organizations. The community’s ongoing collaboration with the University of Texas is just one example of this type of external connection.