Public & Applied Humanities (PAH) 420 Innovation & the Human Condition “The Murals of El Pueblo” F2023, S2024: students deployed urban humanities methods to produce design concepts and prototypes to activate murals of El Pueblo. Prototypes include intergenerational activation strategies, interactive directories, recipe zines inspired by mural iconography, bilingual children’s activity books, Route 18 - 6th Avenue landmark bus tour and many. Brief: This course equipped students with the skills to use the humanities’ intellectual and analytical traditions to identify and pursue strategic responses to opportunities for innovation in the human condition. In collaboration with a community partner, the Sunnyside Foundation (SF), whose mission centers on service to Tucson’s Southside, this course will focus on SF’s efforts to revitalize and reactivate El Pueblo Neighborhood Center, a hub for recreational and public services, neighborly exchange and community place-keeping in the area and beyond. A key El Pueblo project SF is directing is the restoration of El Pueblo’s historic murals. These cultural treasures are visual expressions of the legacy of the site, especially its spatial identity as a node of Latine/Indigenous/mixed heritage cultural and political empowerment-- contextualized such forces as the historic Chicano movement the 60s and 70s, the vigorous environmental justice advocacy sparked in 80s that continues to this day, and the center’s dynamic leadership in spearheading intergenerational services for a diverse Southside community. Along with additional community and campus partners, we will apply a suite of applied and public humanities engagement strategies to co-produce prototypes for well-researched (visual, spatial and collaborative, archival), multi-sensory and immersive activation ideas, with a focus on digital or print publication (i.e. zines and fotonovelas etc) and mapping (counter-tours, thickmaps, StoryMaps etc), to connect the public to the rich languages and visions contained and inspired by the murals of El Pueblo Center. A program of the final course review can be accessed here.
Acknowledgements:
Fall 2023 Liz Soltero & Selina Barajas (Sunnyside Foundation); Cassandra Becerra & Netza Aguirre (Office of Congressman Raul Grijlava); Brianna Velador, Martha Diaz & John
Munoz (Frank de la Cruz Library), Nicholas McCullough, Keith Bagwell and Elvira Suarez Din (Office of Supervisor Adelita Grijalva, District 5); Adriana Gallego, Abby Christensen, Wylwyn Reyes (Arts Foundation of Southern Arizona); Jessica Wolff (Artist, Los Niños Elementary); Alfonso Chávez (Flowers and Bullets); Denisse Britto (CCP); Brittney Crawford, Stephanie Springer, Suzanne Panferov, Giulia Negretto (PAH); Alba Fernandez-Keys (Special Collections); Jennifer Nichols, Niko Sanchez, Mona Nakamura (CATalyst Studios).
Spring 2024 Veronica Mercado, Laura Corrales & Selina Barajas (Sunnyside Foundation); Cassandra Becerra & Netza Aguirre (Office of Congressman Raul Grijlava); Nicholas McCullough (Office of Supervisor Adelita Grijalva, District 5); Jasmine Chan (and Mila) (City of Tucson, Parks and Rec), Jessica Wolff (Los Niños Elementary); Anna Sanchez; Brianna Velador & Martha Diaz (Frank De La Cruz Library, Marcos & Nicky Cardenas (El Pueblo Senior Center); Gia del Pino, Lizzy Gueverra (CCP); Judd Ruggill, Brittney Crawford, Stephanie Springer, Lily Reese, Giulia Negretto, Chase Crehan, Jasmin Lopez (PAH); Lisa, Duncan, Michelle Boyer Nicole, Bob Diaz, Alba Fernandez-Keys (Special Collections); Jennifer Nichols, Rachel Castro, Gerald Zivic, Niko Sanchez (CATalyst Studios); Abby Christensen (Arts Foundation of Southern Arizona); Aika Adamson & Rebecca Ballinger (World of Words); Heather Froehlich (UArizona Libraries); Kathryn Yahner (Western National Parks Association); Feng-Feng Yeh (Chinese Chorizo Project); Alisha Vazquez (Mexican-American Museum-Sosa Carillo House)
Emily Major, Olivia Green, and Edoardo Gottardi Zamperla
El Pueblo Center Activity Book/Libro de Actividadesis a children’s activity book with Leo the Librarian bringing you along through the activities. Inspired by the legacy of Frank De La Cruz, a local late librarian who was a strong and influential advocate for justice, community engagement, and literacy, we introduce “Leo the Librarian” or “Leo el Bibliotecario” as the protagonist and guide for our young readers in this interactive activity book designed for El Pueblo. In this project, we aim to cultivate a meaningful connection between young visitors and their cultural heritage. Leo is meant to personify Frank’s passion for literacy, equity, and the creation of community spaces that bring together people and literature. Through a variety of puzzles, games, and bilingual content in both English and Spanish, this book presents the artistic and cultural importance of the center’s murals in a way that is fun and educational, and encourages kids to explore the outdoors. By blending entertainment with cultural education, this activity book acts as a tool for cultural engagement.