immigration

Not Newcomers

“The Latinx communities have been instrumental both as workers, as community members, as beacons of cultural institutions.” Historian Emiliano Aguilar, doctoral student Northwestern University Transcript for Not Newcomers I think one of the most important things to know about the Latinx communities in Northwest Indiana is that these are not newcomers. This is not a […]

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church

“That duality of culture…” Nicole Martinez-LeGrand, Multicultural Collections Coordinator, Library and Archives Division, Indiana Historical Society. Transcript for Our Lady of Guadalupe Church I feel like the Irish or the Eastern European, like, Slovaks, the Croatian, the Hungarians – they all have their own churches. And so, the Mexicans had their own church, and it […]

Pick Up That Slack

“The tradition of the mutual aid society dates all the way back to the earliest days of the Mexican colonies in Indiana Harbor and Gary, Indiana.” Historian Emiliano Aguilar, doctoral student Northwestern University Transcript for Pick Up That Slack TITLE CARD: In 1956, two groups, the Benito Juarez Society and the Cuauhtemoc Society, merged to […]

Me Coming Home

“…the Mexican-American community in the United States – it wasn’t really taught in high school.” Transcript for Me Coming Home That’s another mentality, too. Growing up in East Chicago, everyone wanted to know where you were. And you always mentioned, you know, “I’m north side. I’m south side. I’m from the Harbor. I’m from Sunnyside. […]

Mexican Colonies

“You have a delightful mix of people starting over fresh and I think the notion was that, ‘We are Mexican. We will always be Mexican first and maybe American second.’” Nicole Martinez-LeGrand, Multicultural Collections Coordinator, Library and Archives Division, Indiana Historical Society. Transcript for Mexican Colonies So, this is my mother’s side of the family. […]

Cuba: La Salida (Cuba: It Was Time To Leave)

“Nada más que he extrañado siempre a la familia.” | “The only thing is, I have always missed my family.” Mirtha Cuza | interviewed and produced by Melissa Avila Transcript for Cuba: La Salida | Cuba: It Was Time To Leave I was born in Matanzas [Cuba]. I think it was a pretty place. From […]

Down the Block

“Grade school was good; y’know, everybody got along, and then they started to have fights in Tolleston park.”   This story is part of our Flight Paths initiative. Hold a Conversation Can you imagine leading a conversation about this story? Where? With whom? What kinds of questions would you pose? (See How to use the […]

Real Dreamers

“It’s especially important for students that have grown up here and don’t have another home.”   Hold for Conversation Can you imagine leading a conversation about this story? Where? With whom? What kinds of questions would you pose? (See How to use the questions for reflection for one approach.) Please email your questions to us or post […]

Neither Mexican Nor American

“More importantly than bilingual in my mind is bicultural.” Hold a Conversation Can you imagine leading a conversation about this story? Where? With whom? What kinds of questions would you pose? (See How to use the questions for reflection for one approach.) Please email your questions to us or post them in the comment box for our […]