Northeastern Illinois University visits Chicago History Museum for first University-wide field trip

Around 100 Northeastern Illinois University students and employees attended the first University-wide field trip to the Chicago History Museum on Friday, March 27 to view the “Aquí en Chicago” (Here in Chicago) exhibit. 

Northeastern is the longest-standing four-year public Hispanic-Serving Institution in the Midwest. The exhibit celebrates Chicago’s Latiné communities, which represent nearly one third of the city’s population.  The trip was spearheaded by the University’s Council on the Status of Latinés — led by Professor Isaura Pulido, Ph.D., and Director of Proyecto Pa’Lante Angelica Rivera, Ph.D. It was sponsored by President Katrina E. Bell-Jordan, Ph.D.; Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost R. Shayne Cofer, Ph.D.; Executive Director of Marketing and Communications Chris Childers; Vice President of Institutional Advancement Liesl Downey; Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Terry C. Mena, Ph.D.; Vice President of Institutional Advancement Beni Ortiz; Professor and Chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures Denise Cloonan Cortez de Anderson; Director of the Angelina Pedroso Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs DeWitt Scott, Ed.D.; and the Pedroso Center’s Associate Director for Latinx Student Engagement Danny Cortez. It was the first time the University had planned a field trip of this magnitude, with participants attending from the University’s three Chicago locations: Main Campus, El Centro and the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies. 

“Being able to be on site as a community to experience something together is huge,” said President Bell-Jordan. “We’ll all experience it together, remember it together, be able to articulate it together and celebrate it together, and maybe move forward our University in some ways because of this.” She continued, “This activity is bringing us together to engage with histories and stories, particularly of Chicago’s Latiné communities. We are gathered in a space that honors the lived experience, the resilience and creativity, and the deep roots of those that have shaped our city, and in many ways our University.”
Morning sessions included an introduction to the Chicago History Museum from its Director of Education Erica Griffith-Fabicon, an overview of Latiné populations in Chicago presented by University of Illinois Chicago Professor of History Lilia Fernández, Ph.D., and a presentation on how the “Aquí en Chicago” exhibit came into existence by Curator of Civic Engagement and Social Justice for the Chicago History Museum Elena Gonzales. 

“I focus on people who arrived during and after World War II, primarily Mexicans and Puerto Ricans and I was inspired by my own family because this is when they came to the city,” said Fernández, who is also the author of “Brown in the Windy City: Mexicans and Puerto Ricans in Chicago” (University of Chicago Press, 2012). “My grandparents and great grandparents came here in the 1950s and I remember hearing stories of them growing up, what it was like living on Taylor Street, moving to 18th Street. I was curious about learning more. So, for you students, I really want to encourage you to really think about doing research.”

“Aquí en Chicago” is truly a student-driven project. In 2019, students from Instituto Justice and Leadership Academy visited the Chicago History Museum on a class trip and pointed out the lack of Latiné representation they saw within the museum and protested for a change. The museum listened and is working to come to terms with its shortcomings.

“One thing that I want to make very clear is that we need to be learning about how we are one Chicago,” Gonzales said. “There’s not a separate, other, different Latiné Chicago population that’s elsewhere, that’s happening to other people. The Chicago that we all experience every day is Latiné.”

After a break for lunch, all participants had the opportunity to explore not only the “Aquí en Chicago” exhibit, but other parts of the museum as well. The afternoon concluded with a reflection session in which students and employees were able to share what they learned.

"One thing that kind of stuck out to me today was the Black community and Latin community have similar back stories of being mistreated in America," said Dalina Peguse, who is in her second year of undergraduate studies at Northeastern Illinois University.

Faculty and administrators shared insights on how they want to think practically about how they can incorporate more multiculturalism, especially experiences of Latiné communities, into their classrooms.

“Quite often I see titles of books like ‘Steel Barrio,’  ‘Making Mexican Chicago’ and ‘Brown in the Windy City,’ and I say to myself, ‘Of course we have that book in the library,’” said Dean of NEIU Libraries Steven Harris. “Sometimes, I find that’s not always the case. So, I feel like we need to think about this more intentionally in the library to assure that we’re addressing those cultural elements that are important in Chicago.”

Melanny Buitron earned her bachelor’s degree in 2019 from Northeastern in General Business Administration and is currently enrolled in the M.A. Educational Leadership, Higher Education program. She appreciated seeing the University’s administration, faculty  and staff show up to the exhibit and learn alongside students. She said the trip gave her a sense of belonging and boosted her confidence. Her family immigrated to the U.S. from Ecuador when she was a year old.

“Experiencing Aquí en Chicago helped me embrace all parts of my identity,” Buitron said. “I’m proud to be a first-generation Ecuadorian Chicagoan, working in higher education. As I moved through the exhibit, seeing stories that reflected so many Latiné experiences in Chicago, the moment that stayed with me most was the display of Ecuadorian fashion from Kichwa communities. I had never seen Ecuador represented like that before and it meant everything to me. This experience reminded me that our stories deserve to take up space, to be celebrated, and to be honored, because they are a vital part of Chicago’s story too."

Northeastern Illinois University is part of the Chicago History Museum University Partner Groups program. The program allows current Northeastern students and employees with a valid University ID to gain free admission to the museum, access to educational services in the Abakanowicz Research Center, have reduced pricing for private group tours and lectures (based on staff availability), attend programs, and receive a 10% member discount at the North & Clark Café, located inside the museum. Additionally, Northeastern offers a course in Museum Studies (HIST-359), which is open to students in all majors.

“Representation and diversity within museums matters,” Dr. Pulido said. “They create opportunities for stories from underrepresented communities that have been previously dismissed or overlooked to come to the forefront. I think it’s important for our students to know their voices matter in this field.”

Top photo: A group of Northeastern Illinois University students and employees gathered at the Chicago History Museum's “Aquí en Chicago” exhibit.