PAH 200 Introduction to Applied Humanities



Public & Applied Humanities (PAH) 200 Introduction to Applied Humanities “El Pueblo Urban Humanities Studio” S2023: students deployed urban humanities methods to co-create photo-essays narrating the past, present and future of El Pueblo.

This pilot course focused instruction about the public and applied humanities methodologies and signature case studies using the framework of an experiential urban humanities field studio. With a core community partner (“client”), the Sunnyside Foundation, whose mission centers on service to Tucson’s Southside and with support from a campus arts partner, the Center for Creative Photography, the Experiential Learning Design Accelerator Program, and excitingly, an artist-in-residence sponsored by the HSI—Initiatives Seed Grant Program, Dr. Leigh-Anna Hidalgo, students applied a suite of urban humanities methods to produce photo-based projects about the El Pueblo Center, a site established within the historical context of the Chicano movement of Tucson in the 1960s and 70s, that serves as a hub to this day for social and metropolitan services and cultural empowerment in a predominantly Latinx Southside community. 

Beginning with photography modules led by the CCP team (inspired by the CCP’s upcoming exhibition on Linda McCartney and her teacher —Hazel Larsen Archer’s groundbreaking approach to photo education), students will begin a semester-long investigation of El Pueblo through examining case studies, going on site visits, conducting class interviews and designing photo-shoots with community storytellers, culminating in final projects that will be featured in public-facing events open to Southside and campus communities, a double-exhibition to be held at El Pueblo and the CCP. 

Selected “mini digital exhibitions” produced by student teams from PAH 200 Spring 2023: “The El Pueblo Urban Humanities Studio.” Guided by stories community members shared, and the philosophies of artists they studied, students created images about themes that intrigued and inspired them, from intergenerational celebrations held at the patio to traces of a lifetime of public service at the Congressman’s office,  from pride in bilingual culture at the Frank de La Cruz - El Pueblo Library, to the dynamic flows of public transit through the Laos Transit Center.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

We would like to acknowledge funding for this project from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA);  the Marshall Foundation; the UArizona Experiential Learning Design Accelerator; UArizona Hispanic Serving Institute (HSI) Faculty Seed Grant, which supported sessions with Latinx digital humanist scholar and course artist-in-resident, Dr. Leigh-Anna Hidalgo; Arts|Humanities|Resilience Grant from UArizona College of Fine Arts (CFA) Research, Innovation & Impact (RII) and the Arizona Institute for Resilience (AIR), which is providing support for our newly inducted community documentarians and artists-in-residence, Luis Gonzalez and Jessica Wolff. We want to thank community and teaching partners, collaborators and storytellers from Sunnyside Foundation; the Office of Congressman Raúl Grijalva; Nuestras Raíces Pima County Public Library (PCPL) and Frank de la Cruz-El Pueblo Public Library; Raúl Council Member Lane Santa Cruz and Ward 1; Council Member Richard Fimbres and Ward 5; Supervisor Adelita S. Grijalva - Pima County Board of Supervisors, District 5; City of Tucson Parks and Recreation, UArizona, especially the College of Humanities (COH) and the Department of Public and Applied Humanities (PAH), College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (CAPLA), Center for Creative Photography (CCP), UArizona Libraries Special Collections.  None of this would be possible without members of our communities who participated in our Community Reinvestment Days, site visits, storytelling panels, community photo-shoots, workshops, pin-ups and reviews, who took the time to help us learn and share the story of El Pueblo. 



SS22.STSTORIES SOUTH OF 22ND INFO
FEEDALL GALLERY
CATEGORIES
Intergenerational Families: El Pueblo
Arts & Culture
  Research
  Exhibition
  PAH 200
  
Piper Kilb, Kyle McBee, Frankie Batiz, Alex Maldonado, Calvin Welch
This digital exhibition titled "Intergenerational Families: El Pueblo” explores the familial connections and traditions that have been passed down through generations in the El Pueblo Center community.  The project was executed through a series of photographs taken by the team, featuring a diverse range of families and individuals that have memories at the El Pueblo Center. The project aims to capture the essence of the relationships between grandmothers, mothers, and granddaughters within the community, as well as preserve the stories and memories of the old community through the eyes of the storytellers. While the photographs showcase the warmth, love, and strength of the intergenerational relationships that are deeply rooted in the community's history and culture, the storytellers share their experiences of growing up experiencing El Pueblo Center, the challenges they faced, and the traditions that have been passed down through generations. Through this project, we hope to promote and celebrate the importance of intergenerational relationships in the preservation of cultural heritage. 


Lupita & Her Family | Frankie Batiz | 2023 | Digital

In this heartwarming photograph, Lupita, Julissa, and Illiana stand together near a family tree at the El Pueblo Center. The three generations of women are a beautiful testament to the power and importance of intergenerational families. The family tree behind them serves as a reminder of their deep roots and rich history, connecting them to generations that came before and those that will follow. This tree represents the strength, resilience, and continuity of their family, passed down from one generation to the next. As they stand together, Lupita, Julissa, and Illiana embody the timeless values of family, love, and respect, a beautiful example for all to see. In a world that often seems focused on individualism, this photograph serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of family and the powerful bonds that connect us across generations. Lupita Robles is Council Aide with Ward 5, Council Member Richard Fimbres and local leader
Lupita’s Family Tree | Calvin Welch | Source photos taken by Frankie Batiz | 2023 | Digital Collage

Shown here is a digital collage created by Calvin Welch using fellow teammate photographer Frankie Batiz’s original photographs. Lupita’s Family Tree is included in the digital collage “Intergenerational Families: El Pueblo,” which explores the El Pueblo Center’s community wide impact on individuals from different generations. The collage is composed of visual images created by Calvin Welch, originally taken in various locations throughout the main patio at El Pueblo Center on March 23, 2023. 

With the help of both community members and staff who together form the deep, unbreakable roots that give life to the El Pueblo Center,  I hoped to illustrate not only the center and community members past and present, but also draw attention to their future. By lowering the opacity, the intention was to use the filter along with the decreasing transparency (left to right) as a measurement for time between each generation. This particular tree behind Lupita and her family is planted in the center of the patio and provides all visitors with shade and protection that will last for generations. 

Alfonso’s Stories | Calvin Welch | 2023 | Digital Collage 

This digital photograph is of local community member and City of Tucson Parks and Recreation Communications Supervisor, Alfonso Romero, after he shared with me a few stories of his childhood at El Pueblo. The interview/conversation that I personally had with Alfonso covered a variety of subject matter ranging from anecdotal stories of playing pick-up basketball with his friends in the patio (shown behind him), to volunteering for community relief events such as “Thanksgiving in the Barrio.” By creating a collage using photos including a group of children's basketball game, the 2016 “Thanksgiving in the Barrio” event held at the center, and Alfonso himself, I was able to blend them together by manipulating the opacity of each photo. Using Photoshop, I was then able to smoothly blend each photo together in order to create a natural transition between borders. Playing basketball with his friends and serving community members on Thanksgiving are not just memories of the past, these things are not behind him as much as they are within him. What I found to be most meaningful during our conversation was the moment Alfonso reflected on the impact that these events had on the younger generations. These events were so meaningful and helped so many peoples families that years later, the very children who attended them returned in order to volunteer and help their neighbors and southside community. Stories like Alfonso's really encapsulate the special bond that this center holds with all generations it has seen and will see. 
David Garcia | Alexander Maldonado | March 31,2023 | Digital

This photograph is of David Garcia, resident Fairgrounds Neighborhood and Founder of Barrio Restoration. I got to know more about David, from when he started the local community clean up group, Barrio Restoration, to his passion for lowrider style bikes and even his early days in Tucson and specially at El Pueblo Center, where his family and the whole community would gather to bond together. He said that he has known the staff here for many years now ever since he was a child and now works together with the Sunnyside Foundation to lead community clean up campaigns around the community and help gather more support to restore and conserve the “beautiful area that is El Pueblo,” He says that he wants to restore the neighborhoods of Tucson that have fallen into decay and neglect. He feels proud of the advancements his organization has made.

For this image, I took a more content-based approach to capturing an image of David and his custom built Barrio Restoration bike in full display. I wanted to not only capture David being present at the FUGA Southside bike ride, but also how he is contributing to the cause by bringing his bike along with him.
Selina & Gracie | Frankie Batiz | 2023 | Digital

In this beautiful photograph, Selina Barajas and her mother, Gracie Rodriguez share a tender embrace on the patio of the El Pueblo Center. The two women are a powerful reminder of the importance of intergenerational families, a theme that has been a part of El Pueblo for generations. As they hold each other close, Selina and her mother embody the deep bond that connects families across time and generations. Their embrace is a symbol of the love, support, and strength that has been passed down from one generation to the next, through the families that have been a part of the El Pueblo community for many years. For Selina and her mother, the El Pueblo Center has been a place where they have formed lifelong connections with other families, and where they have celebrated the rich cultural heritage that is an integral part of their identity. They are surrounded by the history and traditions of the community that has nurtured them and that they, in turn, have helped to shape. Through their embrace, Selina and her mother show us that the bonds of family and community are timeless and enduring. They remind us that we are all connected, and that the strength of our families and communities lies in the love and support that we offer to one another, across generations and across time.
David and Deborah | Alexander Maldonado | March 31st,  2023 | Digital

This photograph is of local community members and avid cyclists, David and Deborah Ortiz.. It was splendid to get to talk to this couple who came to the FUGA bike event to not only show their support, but also assist other cyclists in preparing for distant bike ride. They told me that they have been avid cyclists for the almost 45 years they have been married. They have traveled all places with their bikes and enjoy teaching other cyclists about the sport and how it can help foster communal unity in a community. David and Deborah mentioned that activities likes sports, hobbies, or any that just brings people and places together helps foster multigenerational bonding by bringing everyone together for a great and social cause. For this image of the harmonious couple, I went with a more compositional and contextual approach. I didn’t just focus on capturing the couple and their bicycles, but I also wanted to reflect the environment in which the image was taking place. I was able to photograph the surrounding set up, with all the bikes and cars in the communal surrounding of the event.
Julie and Her Friends | Alexander Maldonado | March 31st, 2023 | Digital

This photograph is of University of Arizona student Julia (front), who came with her friends, Sarah and Angela ( back ) to the FUGA bike event. I had a chance to talk to them and they said that they came to the FUGA bike event to have fun biking alongside other participants in the event. Julia was telling me about how she finds biking as a way to relax from work and studies and brings her new energies into her works. The group described to me about how powerful it is to witness the community unity at a place like El Pueblo Center and come together to learn about each other and share stories and experiences with each other, no matter their age or backgrounds. When photographing these students, the idea of having context became essential. In the context of this image, I am not just capturing Julia and her friends riding their bikes, but I am also emphasizing their excitement and commitment to joining the FUGA bike ride and riding alongside other cyclist for a good purpose. The context of images like these is that family are those with whom we share precious moments like these.
Selina’s Girls | Piper Kilb | March 23rd, 2023 | Digital

“Selina’s Girls” is part of the digital collection, “Intergenerational Families: El Pueblo Neighborhood Center.” In this project, several photographers and artists work together to compose images of intergenerational families from El Pueblo Neighborhood Center to show the impact that generations can have on a community and society. This photograph shows Selina Barajas, her mother Gracie, and her two daughters: Mia Sol and Sofia Luna. Working with Selina Barajas throughout this project all semester has been very rewarding. Our class hears her talk all the time about how important El Pueblo is to her and her family and you can tell how much she loves the site because we see how much work she puts into this project for our class. Seeing and talking to Selina’s mother and her two precious daughters about all of their memories with El Pueblo was very special. The comfort and security that the children felt there was very visible and I think this photo depicts that as well. In this photo, I captured Selina and her family in front of this tree which is very special to the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center. Our project as we focus on Intergenerational families and so it represents the concept of “family trees.” This photo was my favorite to capture because you can see the personality shine throughout each person in the photo. To see all of the personalities of one family and how different they are in the photo is very special and I was grateful to take part in it.

The Littles | Piper Kilb | March 23rd, 2023 | Digital

This photograph is of Mia Sol, Sofia Luna, Khloe and Sam. I love this photograph because I think it perfectly encapsulates the youngest version of our subject which is Intergenerational Families within El Pueblo Neighborhood Center. Watching the children interact with each other and show how deep their bond was with one another was super cute as well as important. It showed not only myself as the photographer but everyone in El Pueblo Neighborhood Center that day what family, neighborhood/community, and time can do. The littles showed their gratitude for El Pueblo Neighborhood Center throughout that entire visit. They ran around and played with each other, engaged in conversation, and were open to photography and what we were trying to capture. As you can see, this photo was also taken of the little ones next to the tree in the courtyard/patio of El Pueblo Neighborhood Center. This tree as I explained in the other photo description is very important to El Pueblo Neighborhood Center as we focus on Intergenerational families and “family trees”. This photo was super fun to capture because you can see the personality shine throughout each little one in the photo. They made the day so fun and they were a perfect example of intergenerational families and how love and support to one another can grow through multiple generations.

Ladies of Sunnyside Foundation | Piper Kilb | March 23rd 2023 | Digital

These four ladies from Sunnyside Foundation were very nice to talk to during our site visit. Karla Toledo, Veronica Cruz Mercado, Laura Corrales, and Elizabeth Soltero are pictured in this photograph taken at the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center patio/courtyard. The Sunnyside Foundation does many things for the community including having various funds that help invest in various projects that contribute to a better community for the families, students, and teachers in Tucson’s Southside. The ladies from Sunnyside Foundation showed their support and love for everyone that has a connection to El Pueblo Neighborhood Center. They spend their every day trying to do good for the community and Southside of Tucson so speaking to them about how many communities they have touched and helped really speaks volumes about their work. I photographed them in front of the tree on the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center patio/courtyard because they are a family within their own and what they do for the community and especially El Pueblo is very special not only to them but to everyone who gets a chance to witness it.
Shaping of Alfonso | Kyle McBee | Creative Direction by Calvin Welch| 2023 Digital

Shown above is a picture of Alfonso Romero at the El Pueblo Center. El Pueblo, which means "the town" or "the village" in Spanish, refers to small, tight-knit communities where people know each other and look out for each other. Since our group’s topic is on multigenerational families, this is the perfect representation of El Pueblo and how it stands as a pillar for the youth . For many children like Alfonso, growing up in such a community can have a significant impact on their childhood and creating a positive future. Whether having positive role models and becoming one in the future, or just remembering the good old days having fun with friends and family like Alfonso’s stories portrayed, times like these will have a lasting impact. One of the key benefits of growing up in El Pueblo is the sense of community and belonging it provides. Children who grow up in such a community often develop strong relationships with their neighbors and fellow community members. This was very evident from the very first time we visited El Pueblo and saw how everyone on the community storytelling panel interacted like family members who hadn’t seen each other in awhile. Alfonso’s stories from when he was a child was a pleasure to hear and document, and with the center full of life I have no doubt many others will have similar experiences to share.
Lupita and Family | Kyle McBee | March 23rd 2023 | Digital

As shown in the picture above, after meeting Lupita and her beautiful family we had the creative idea to take a picture under the tree to represent a family tree and show how El Pueblo is a community full of family. As many can relate nothing is more important than keeping up with everyone around us and El Pueblo is a center where the main goal is to interact like a family to everyone whether you are young or old. In the photo, not only did we capture how El Pueblo is represented but we depicted how Professor Barrios has treated each group. Our group is always communicating about projects and how we should represent our work and always including each other. I think has been a really positive for myself and my fellow group members about how team projects should feel.









Who Is El Pueblo?
Arts & Culture
  Research
  Exhibition
  PAH 200
  
Maelyca Drazkowski, Neylan Jeffreyes, Tyler Green, Lauren Fields
The Hidden Side of Tucson’s El Pueblo Center: This digital exhibiton is centered around the El Pueblo Center as a whole. We hope to show how time changes and influences not only the physical buildings and environment, but the community and the culture as well. El Pueblo is rich and full of life, and we hoped to be able to demonstrate that to someone who has never seen the Center before, through artistic imagery and descriptions. We will focus on Congressman Raύl Grijalva, and the time he spent with El Pueblo from its inception, all the way to now, as well as the buildings, the architecture and the infrastructure. We hope to show the physical differences in design, colors, and liveliness. Additionally, we hoped to communicate future innovations as well as the currently present culture  and how this is visibly manifested. It is important within our project that we demonstrate the importance of the center and the history that made it possible. We will pull text from literature of the Chicano movement literature as well as  images from the establishment of the center as well. Our project is a story of time, change, positivity, belonging and activism. 
   


Library Traditions | Lauren Fields | 2023 | Digital

The El Pueblo community's enduring traditions are depicted in this image, which narrates a compelling story. Upon scrutinizing the photograph, one may notice that all the books in it are written in Spanish, a testament to the community's deep-rooted cultural heritage. However, the fifth book from the left appears to be out of place, implying that someone may have moved
it. During our tour, Ms. Anna Sanchez, a retired librarian with many years of service informed me that such occurrences are commonplace in the Spanish section of the Frank de la Cruz- El Pueblo library. She further explained that the Spanish-speaking community harbored a long-standing fear of damaging or losing books, so they return them to their original positions if they cannot finish reading them. Ms. Anna Sanchez’s revelation is indicative of how the El Pueblo community has remained true to this  tradition over the years.
Future Congressman | Lauren Fields | 2023 | Digital

During our tour of Congressman Raύl Grijalva’s office, a particular frame caught my attention as it aligned perfectly with our project's overarching theme. I sought to capture images that not only accurately depicted the El Pueblo community but also reflected the perspectives of its diverse inhabitants. This photograph resonated with me because the word "Future" stood out prominently in its context. The photo, taken on March 28, 1974, featured Congressman Grijalva and depicted his efforts to change the election method for school board members from a districtwide system to a ward-type system. The image not only represented Grijalva's future as a congressman but also symbolized the future of the El Pueblo Center and surrounding community. The photograph composition and accompanying description helped tie together our project's overall theme.

Sage | Tyler Green | 2023 | Digital

This photo was taken within Congressman Grijalva’s Office, and showcases something of particular importance to him. We were told that sage such as this helped him and his staff through tough times, and helped them all keep a constant spiritual support and general sense of hope in the air. While in his office, and hearing about the significance of the sage, I remembered what we learned from Kevin Lynch, again, about nodes in urban design. While something small scale such as an individual office might not strictly fall within the wider context of urban design, many of the same principles apply. In this case, the sage in his office very much acted as a node for the people in his office as well as himself. Offering a point around which to gather and let the troubles of the day wash away. As very similar to the concept of a node, it acts as the glue holding together the office space. In my photoshop edit, I wanted to show how this sage emanates much more than just a particular scent, but also defines and shapes the space within which it resides. In this case, Congressman Grijalva’s Office is reshaped in a profoundly spiritual way through the use of this sage, and that reverberates back to moments when the office and Grijalva were going through tough times, as well as promises toward the future during which this sage will continue to serve as a reminder of a consistent calming spiritual aura.
a corridor of hope | Tyler Green | March 23 2023 | Digital

This photo was originally of an empty hall near the main plaza. While walking through this hallway, I got a distinct sense of melancholy and something resembling nostalgia. After hearing the thoughts of the community members, I realized that the space itself gave off an inherently saddening effect, almost in a liminal sense. One gets the impression of a distant past vibrancy hinted at and echoing through the space. I was inspired particularly by the work of Kevin Lynch’s The Image of The City, in that this space is very much a transitive connection, and one that has been left off to the side as a result of the closing off of the area. My attempt with this edited final version was to show hints of how the spatial organization of the area could be completely different, and that it isn't written in stone. The hints of brightness and polka dots on the walls show little windows into a more lively space that could be created. The green door at the end of the hallway could thus be interpreted as a goal to be strived for, an ideal version of the area that is filled with vibrancy even more than the hints of which are already present. It gives a contrasting sense of both the past and present being within spaces all at once. Most aren’t actively looking for them, but people such as those who are leading El Pueblo do, and they are doing everything they can to bring out these hidden and reflected glimmers of hope and vibrancy. All it takes is imagination, and hope. Both of which the leadership of El Pueblo have a lot of. a corridor of hope.
Mirror Pillar | Tyler Green | 2023 | Digital

El Pueblo is more than the sum of its image in the moment. Reflections of its hope for the future can be found anywhere, in every brick and every pillar. I was inspired by the artist and scholar Annette Kim’s Sidewalk City, a spatial study of a sidewalk in Vietnam that we learned about earlier in the class, and I wanted to create something in a somewhat artistic manner to reflect this type of study. My interest in this project has mostly been around the spatial development of El Pueblo both in terms of its current state as well as its relations to other times and ideas. This photo was taken during our second site visit and was of one of the pillars in the square area reflected into a pool of water. Originally I thought this was a great opportunity to show the idea of spatial relationships reflected in the spatial construction of a place, and thus the connection through time between past and present. I expanded on this in my photoshop final edit, which added some highlighting to the pillar, and I also added the words “hope” and “community,” as well as a small scene of El Pueblo and the central plaza out of the bricks. This is to show that there is possibility for a truly lively and revitalized El Pueblo around every corner, and that the traces of the love that has and will go into El Pueblo are in every brick, every pillar, every building.
Community Center Memories | Neylan Jeffreyes | 2023 | Digital

As we were wrapping up our tour of Congressman Grijalva’s Office, Ms. Becerra found a couple more pictures and I admired the brilliance of the lighting and space captured. After looking at this picture, one could say it looks like the perspective of another child watching their friend try to hit the piñata. Seeing the kid standing blindfolded gives me a sense of trust and warm comfort for the people who visited El Pueblo. Similar to many other spaces in the El Pueblo Center, the courtyard is another important spot where many gathered. I would say the courtyard is a staple of the community of El Pueblo. Many have gathered here to not only celebrate their culture, but also beautify the space with traditional decorations. El Pueblo Center really gave parents and families the opportunities to give their children a place away from home to have fun. It is fortunate that these pictures resurfaced so that we could circulate the history of this community and hopefully get others to visit and see what the center is truly about.
Multi-Purpose Leadership | Neylan Jeffryes | 2023 | Digital

As with most of my photographs, this was taken in Congressman Raύl
Grijalva’s office. I noticed it immediately as we were in the same room on
the day of our first site visit. It was captured decades ago in the same
multi-purpose room that is still in use today. Before Representative
Grijalva was in Congress, he spent a lot of time at El Pueblo as the
Director. With the help of the community, the liveliness and culture of the
center spread and more people kept visiting. As the popularity of the El
Pueblo Center started to rise, they wanted to start more programs.
Congressman Grijalva played a big part in these ideas, leading with those
around him. Although many important and monumental meetings were
held in this “multi-purpose room,” so many other events took place. Many
residents of the neighborhood would celebrate their families’ birthdays,
weddings, and other social events in this very room captured in the
image. There is an important connection between El Pueblo and the
Congressman  as he is a man serving his community.

El Pueblo Youth | Neylan Jeffryes | 2023 | Digital

This photo was taken in the office of Congressman Raύl Grijalva with the
gracious help of Cassandra Becerra, Director of Public  Engagement, Rep. Raúl M.
Grijalva. My goal and inspiration when we visited was to be able to capture the
homey and vibrant essence of the past in the community center’s spaces. This
image was taken during one of the shows that the staff and volunteers put on
for the kids at the El Pueblo Center. They used to put on comedies, puppet
shows, and different cultural events. I loved how eager and focused these kids
look together. The youth of El Pueblo found great joy in going to this center every
week. It was a place they could be around friends and family, but also a place to
learn and know that you were safe. Many kids and parents found a sense of
comfort coming to El Pueblo Center and was a great way to keep growing the
culture of the community.  You can really feel from looking at this picture how
much life has been in this community for many decades. I was very lucky that
Ms. Becerra was able to find this picture so that I’m able to share it and
continue the circulation of the past of El Pueblo.


Limpia | Maelyca Drazkowski | 2023 | Digital

This image that I have titled Limpia features many  cultural fragments. We see the sage that is burnt before the Congressman is to return from Capitol Hill by his staff and burnt again by him upon return as well.  I felt as though this picture was important when displaying who El Pueblo is because it shows the traditions and cultures behind the space. El Pueblo is more than just a space for the community to go, but a safe haven for its employees and staff members. Another element of this image that I really enjoy is the Virgen de Guadalupe candle that is placed right beside the sage. This candle cleanses your space, and is believed to bring positive energy. I believe that  the entirety of this image shows just how dedicated El Pueblo is to bringing positivity to Tucson, and fulfilling a desire for its community to feel and see greatness. With that being said, I thought it was important to keep this image as raw and unfiltered as possible so that it would accurately display how this area is not only seen but how it is interpreted by each
individual that comes into contact with the scene.
Light in the Dark | Maelyca Drazkowski | 2023 | Digital

This image is of a  shadow from one of the remaining banners hanging from the Dia De Los Muertos celebration that was held at El Pueblo Center. Dia De Los Muertos directly translates to Day of the Dead. It is a celebration of remembrance for those that came before you whether they be loved ones or historical figures that paved the way. I was moved to take this photo because the courtyard pillar in which this shadow is so perfectly placed, the courtyard being a part of the original building of El Pueblo Neighborhood Center.  I feel as though this image is the perfect celebration of the center that used to be,  and what it has become–the little library that started in an office size building and the multi-purpose room they are starting renovations on.Throughout this photo-project we refer to El Pueblo Center as a who, personifying its  presence in the community and continuing this sentiment. I feel as though this photo represents the current El Pueblo Center, celebrating the person that came before it, almost like a daughter celebrating her mother and who she encouraged her to become.

Supremo | Maelyca Drazkowski | 2023 | Digital

This photo was taken in the El Pueblo Center at the Frank De La Cruz - El Pueblo Library. This
book is a part of the Frank De La Cruz Collection that focuses on U.S./Mexico Borderland
history, culture and traditions; literature that is so important to the community and
culture of El Pueblo Center. I took this photo without moving or changing the position of the
book as I wanted to display what it looks like to visitors at the library. Yo El Supremo is a
fiction novel by Augusto Roa Bastos that details the true story that is known all too well of
the dictatorships faced by many in Latin America. Yo El Supremo displays the belief that
your story can be told and heard no matter what your background is and I believe the idea
of a strong community despite your circumstances is exactly what El Pueblo embodies for
those that frequent the center. The work  has a strong themes of language and power, two
themes that are also strong within Chicano activism. A quote that I believe is very
descriptive of what I hope to display through these images from this literature is as follows
"The man with a good memory remembers nothing because he forgets nothing." I want to
display not just who El Pueblo Center started as but what it will grow into and how it will be
remembered, that go beyond the news articles and televised events.
Collage of the Past | Lauren Fields | 2023 | Digital

Through this photograph, I have managed to capture numerous glimpses of the past, all depicting events that occurred at the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center. The image I have chosen encapsulates the essence of the past and the aspirations of the community to return to it. It portrays events that highlight the community's emphasis on family values and providing a secure space for all its members. During our initial site visit, the storytellers expressed their desire for the community center to revert to its former state. These pictures showcase the events that fostered a familial atmosphere that the community aims to revive in the present.







REVOLUTION: The Re-Activation of the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center

Arts & Culture
  Research
  Exhibition
  PAH 200
  
Gillian Franks, Justin Miller, Lily Reese, Riley Swindall
This digital exhibition focuses on the somewhat meta documentation of our work within the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center in working towards the reactivation of the space. Though our time together has been brief, our interactions with community members have been memorable and this project aims to showcase just that. While memories may not last forever, they can certainly persist when used as a jumping-off point for future endeavors. While the El Pueblo Center may never be exactly what it once was in those fond memories, it has the potential to become something far greater if given a proper new life. These images focus on the use of space by the people within it, both physically and emotionally. Utilizing candid, unedited images, our hope is to spread the memories that have already been formed as well as help to create a space where new memories can be made. 

Community starts with people. It is also about people having a place to meet and engage with each other. This photograph shows a small celebration in the courtyard. The space is simple: a few trees, cement block walls framing the enclosure, and stone tiles on the ground. These are the bones of the space. 

The people and their stories are the lifeblood that creates the energy of El Pueblo. The term “placekeeping” refers to the “active care and maintenance of a place and its social fabric by the people who live and work there” (Manklang, 2018). The key to placekeeping is not just about physical care but the cultivation of cultural memories as well. Keeping cultural memories alive helps people maintain their social roots and their chosen way of life. 

These celebrations create the memories that hold a community together. 

I’m Listening, Lily Reese | 2023 | Digital

For Cassandra (left), the center has been part of her life since she first came here from Mexico. One of her first memories in the center is that of taking English classes with her mother, a service that is still offered for both children and adults.

Hear Me | Lily Reese | 2023 | Digital

For Cassandra (left), the center has been part of her life since she first came here from Mexico. One of her first memories in the center is that of taking English classes with her mother, a service that is still offered for both children and adults.
Unexpected Conversation | Lily Reese | 2023 | Digital

It’s hard to host parties and celebrations if buildings around are not maintained. Much like Selina, Alfonso Romero (right in the second image) is someone that grew up at the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center. It’s one of the primary reasons he finds himself working there and helping to maintain what they can with what they have. Despite the center’s neglect, Congressman Grijalva moved his office back to the heart of the community, El Pueblo Center. The office moved into the El Pueblo Center in 2017, before the fences had been installed. Cassandra expressed her hesitations when he first came to her with the idea. Despite this, Congressman Grijalva insisted they move into the center, as this was his first step in bringing the center back to life. His dream is to have the center be a safe and useful space for those who need it once again.
Beyond the gates | Lily Reese | 2023 | Digital

It’s hard to host parties and celebrations if buildings around are not maintained. Much like Selina, Alfonso Romero (right in the second image) is someone that grew up at the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center. It’s one of the primary reasons he finds himself working there and helping to maintain what they can with what they have. Despite the center’s neglect, Congressman Grijalva moved his office back to the heart of the community, El Pueblo Center. The office moved into the El Pueblo Center in 2017, before the fences had been installed. Cassandra expressed her hesitations when he first came to her with the idea. Despite this, Congressman Grijalva insisted they move into the center, as this was his first step in bringing the center back to life. His dream is to have the center be a safe and useful space for those who need it once again.

Mama Mirector | Lily Reese | 2023 | Digital

Selina Barajas (right) has been coming to the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center since she was a young girl attending school in the Sunnyside School District at Elvira Elementary. Selina took folklorico classes with Parks & Recreation inside the multipurpose room. As an adult with her own young daughter (Mia Sol, pictured alongside her), she now finds herself working to reinvest in the center that she remembers so fondly. During one of the photoshoots on-site, she worked hard to make her daughter feel comfortable around cameras and strangers. Though we may never know what she was telling her daughter, there is a clear bond between the two in this image that is hard to capture with words. Behind them sits the multipurpose room, one which has held all sorts of parties from weddings to quinceñeras. Alongside the patio in which most of these images were taken, the multipurpose room sits within the older area of the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center that is now, unfortunately, surrounded by gates and fences. Though not as exciting as a quinceañera, the multipurpose room still finds use in meetings and theater rehearsals.

Highs and Lows | Riley Swindall | 2023 | Digital

For this image, I titled it Highs and Lows.” As our group did not have a certain person or area that we specifically wanted to photograph, I have a wide range of people, places and moments. One of my favorites to capture was this one. Here you can see Jesse, essentially the caretaker of the Frank de la Cruz- El Pueblo Library. His job is to mend and replace books, keeping this rather charming library in order for anyone who wishes to pay a visit. A quote he said that really stood out to me was, “replacing and fixing books throughout the library is my way of helping the community.” Even through these small acts, Jesse is paving the way for a better community and center for everyone. Although small, its a key aspect to maintaining the liveliness and character of the library. Though this image you can see Jesse looking for books that are damaged or broken, doing his part for the community. I took this image as a true representation of that.

Community | Riley Swindall | 2023 | Digital

Similar to “Two Dimensional”, this image titled “Community” is another photograph that truly embodies what El Pueblo is made to do. Many of my classmates, myself included, have never been to the center or probably a center like it. And to be able to meet so many amazing members of the community and actually sit down and have real, meaningful conversations with them is new and exciting. This image has so many different aspects to it, from a few classmates chatting with a community member to the banner and conversations going on around them. The filling of the space and abundant usefulness of it was what I was going for in this image. I wanted to again show the liveliness a space like this can produce if you just bring people together. No matter who they are or what their background is, everyone is welcome at El Pueblo to celebrate and converse and just be in a space of so much positivity and warmth.
Forgotten | Riley Swindall | 2023 | Digital

In contrast to the image above, “two dimensional”, this image “Forgotten” is a little more eerie and not as lively in comparison. To reflect on the warmth and togetherness of the first image, I thought it would be best to also reflect on the past of El Pueblo. I really wanted people to look at this image and the one before and revel in the fact that it could go from almost abandoned to full of life and love. I thought having this contrast from this image to the first was important to understand the everlasting changes being made to such an important place in the community.
Two- Dimensional | Riley Swindall | 2023 | Digital

I specifically titled this image “Two Dimensional” because of not only the two perspectives you get upon examining but the angle or story each person is telling. You receive my view and angle of some of my fellow classmates taking their own angle and view of essentially the next generation of El Pueblo. This photo also represents the activation of the space, from our class, to the community members who were kind enough to participate, to the balloons and chairs all in the frame, creating almost a scene of life. The space radiates liveliness and warmth upon view. This image truly captures the new life that has been brought into the space and how we are reactivating the “heart of neighborhood.” I chose to capture this image because it embodies the past, present, future of El Pueblo. The “lifeline” of the community doing exactly what it was intended to do, bring people together.

Flower Blossom | Gillian Franks | 2023 | Digital

The image Flower Blossom depicts and alludes to the aspects of the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center that people may not pay as much attention to or notice. The flower blossom that is the subject of the photograph was only one of many flower blossoms in a tree located in the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center patio. However, when there are so many beautiful components it is easy to not appreciate them or notice them. When in reality, it is these little components that are what give the El Pueblo Center unique and individualistic character. The significance of this image lies within the knowledge of knowing that this particular flower represents all of the other beautiful flowers that give the El Pueblo Center a sense of life even when it is not being used. The overall goal that Congressman Grijalva has for the Center is for it to be revamped and for it to thrive. The flower blossoms (along with many other components) help to keep the El Pueblo Center’s originality and help to maintain the unnoticed original characteristics of the Center.

Company | Gillian Franks | 2023 | Digital

In contrast to the image Solitude, the image Company is in reference to the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center’s patio being used by the community. The image depicts the space being used to its full potential and illustrates a sense of fullness within the space. Instead of contributing to the theme of emptiness, the image represents the idea of the importance of the space. The content and context of this image go handin-hand because of the way they both correlate with each other. The content of the image refers to the people being seen who are actively using the space, the papel picado that is along the beams surrounding the patio, and the different shadows and lighting that give the image a little bit more of a positive emotion. The context of this image refers to the the reason why everybody is at the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center, which also sparks the idea that no matter what the reason is that people are at the Center, El Pueblo is still being used to its fullest potential, and it is fulfilling the purpose that it was meant to have. This image is very compelling because it only enhances the clear happy and positive emotions that the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center brings to the community, and demonstrates the completeness that is within the Center while it is being used.
Solitude | Gillian Franks | 2023 | Digital

The image Solitude refers to the lack of activity that the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center has been experiencing for the past few years. This photograph displays the papel picado around the patio, which illustrates the undying culture that encompasses the space…The content in this photograph adds a more emotional note to the scene because it represents the all of the happiness and joy that occur within the space, even if it is not being physically used. The El Pueblo Neighborhood Center is used for a multitude of events that include quinceañeras, bachelorette parties, bridal showers, baby showers, birthday parties, graduation parties, and even divorce parties. While all of these event usually occur in the El Pueblo Center’s Multipurpose Room, the patio is a reflection of those events in terms of its hospitality and overall atmosphere. The patio is a central hub within the center that invited the community to talk and connect with each other, which created a greater bond within the neighborhood.

Flags in the Sun | Justin Miller | 2023 | Digital

This photograph is about hope. The way the flags caught the light was important in communicating the possibility of hope for the El Pueblo Center. he creation of this photograph was about capturing the light on the flags in the midst of shadows cast by the surrounding buildings. The composition of the pictures is about focusing on the contrasts of light and dark and the emotional content that is contained from that juxtaposition. In terms of content, it is an image of a few small flags hung up to create some color in a drab environment.

Old and New | Justin Miller | 2023 | Digital

This photograph brings out the concept of imageability. According to Lynch, imageability refers to “that quality in a physical object which gives it a high probability of evoking a strong image in any given observer” (Lynch, 1960). Perhaps a green plant growing in an old pot does not evoke a strong image in some people but, for me, this image symbolizes El Pueblo Center. The clay pot is the physical space of El Pueblo. The living plant represents the activities and life that El Pueblo tries to foster. El Pueblo has several decades worth of history…and the clay planter remains, ready for a new plant, ready to foster new life.
Community | Justin Miller | 2023 | Digital

Community starts with people. It is also about people having a place to meet and engage with each other. This photograph shows a small celebration in the courtyard. The space is simple: a few trees, cement block walls framing the enclosure, and stone tiles on the ground. These are the bones of the space. The people and their stories are the lifeblood that creates the energy of El Pueblo. The term “placekeeping” refers to the “active care and maintenance of a place and its social fabric by the people who live and work there” (Manklang, 2018). The key to placekeeping is not just about physical care but the cultivation of cultural memories as well. Keeping cultural memories alive helps people maintain their social roots and their chosen way of life. These community celebrations create the memories that hold a community together.



















Moving Forward
Arts & Culture
  Research
  Exhibition
  PAH 200
  
Stephanie Husman, Juliana Tobar, Mireya Ballesteros & Cara Buchanan 
Moving Forward is a digital exhibition recognizing the Laos Center as a transit haven for many in the Southside neighborhood. The images were taken from a bus ride from the Ronstadt Transit Center Downtown to Laos Transit Center to arrive at El Pueblo Neighborhood Center.  Public transit has been stigmatized and viewed as an undesirable way to get around the city and the misconceptions associated with this view only reinforce the stigma. Speaking with fare-free transit activists, FUGA, and bus riders shows that this is simply far from the truth. To create a visual representation of this narrative, we created collages of everyday sights one sees as a bus rider and bicyclists, 3 set depicts of a first-time bus rider, and a map collage following the Bus 18 route. 

La Calle Fugista | Cara Buchanan | 2023 | Digital Collage

In La Calle Fugista, FUGA bike riders ride across W Irvington Rd, surrounded by community member Selina Barajas and her daughters, Mia Sol and Sofia Luna. This image imagines a celebration overtaking W Irvington Rd, full of community members, bikers, and children playing. Papel picado frames the scene, creating a party atmosphere. The background is full of movement, the blurriness creating a sense of unreality. This collage disrupts the car-centric street to optimistically imagine what a more community-centered and sustainable transit system might look like.

Family Ride | Cara Buchanan | 2023 | Digital Collage

In Family Ride, Sunnyside Foundation’s Selina Barajas, her mother, Gracie Rodriguez, and two daughters, Mia Sol and Sofia Luna, overlay an image of bus 18 over busy W Irvington Rd. Surrounding them are images of papel picado, an El Pueblo mural, and the Ronstadt Center welcome sign. This image highlights how transit justice is a family-centered issue. Those who rely on and fight for accessible transportation in Tucson do so primarily to support and care for their families and communities. The papel picado and mural artwork also create an atmosphere of celebration and reference cultural aspects of El Pueblo. The bus overlays W Irvington Rd, directly across from the Laos Center, El Pueblo, and FUGA’s gathering place.
FUGA on the Map | Cara Buchanan | 2023 | Digital Collage

This image features participants in a Familias Unidos Ganando Accesibilidad/Families United Gaining Accessibility (FUGA) bike ride riding across the Tucson bus map towards a sunset. The sunset is made up of an image of ‘Tugo’ bike wheels, a program creating rentable bikes for Tucsonans and free bikes for Fugistas, as well as iconic Arizonan clouds. Shadows of community members and visitors to El Pueblo Neighborhood Center are shown in the bottom left corner, framing the scene. The bikeriders ride across a road made up of a mural featured at El Pueblo, depicting the mountains and natural beauty of the Tucson area. The image aims to capture the forward-looking aspirations of the FUGA organization, which is organizing to secure fare-free transit in Tucson and sustainable infrastructure. FUGA takes up road space to make bikeriders visible on the southside while breaking stigmas about bike riding. This is captured in the image by overlaying the Fugistas across Tucson bus routes– putting them literally ‘on the map.’
Camino de Paz | Juliana Tobar | 2023 | Digital Collage

My digital Collage Camino de Paz is a representation of El Pueblo, and how the community has an impact on Public Transportation. El Pueblo Neighborhood Center has been a beacon of light in the southside community since its opening. By providing essential services to the surrounding community this center has become a crucial aspect of many people’s lives. Some of the people who use the El Pueblo services use the bus as their main form of transportation. Not only that, but they also must the bus to commute to other essential places like the grocery store, or the El Rio clinic. For this project, I interviewed an important member of the community, founder of FUGA, Vanessa Gallego. Through this interview, I was told multiple examples of how other members of El Pueblo use the buses to commute to the senior center or the El Rio Center. This shows how much public transportation aids the El Pueblo and the surrounding community, and how connected they are. In my piece, I have placed the viewer in a bus trip, looking out the window. I used multiple elements of El Pueblo and the neighborhood in my background. The original picture included the Cesar Chavez bridge Over I-10 on Sixth Avenue. Vanessa expressed how big of a symbol that was to the Southside, so I included an outline of it in my image to symbolize the everyday routes that are taken by people living there.
Viaje Común | Juliana Tobar | 2023 | Digital Collage

My digital collage Viaje Comun is a demonstration of the daily lives of bus users. Since my team was focusing on the Laos Transit Center and its impact on the El Pueblo Center and surrounding community, I thought it would be appropriate to create a work that highlighted this important aspect of the southside. Through this piece, I wanted to capture the community of bus users of the Southside. Many times this community tends to be highly stigmatized. These misconceptions can be extremely harmful to those who use public transportation as their main form of transportation. By breaking down the stigma of bus users and putting ourselves in their shoes we can better connect with the El Pueblo community as well as the Southside. Bus commuters are great reminders of the resiliency of the Southside, as well as examples of why Public transportation should remain free in order to be more accessible to those who need it. My digital collage Viaje Comun is a demonstration of the daily lives of bus users. Since my team was focusing on the Laos Transit Center and its impact on the El Pueblo Center and surrounding community, I thought it would be appropriate to create a work that highlighted this important aspect of the southside. Through this piece, I wanted to capture the community of bus users of the Southside. Many times this community tends to be highly stigmatized. These misconceptions can be extremely harmful to those who use public transportation as their main form of transportation. By breaking down the stigma of bus users and putting ourselves in their shoes we can better connect with the El Pueblo community as well as the Southside. Bus commuters are great reminders of the resiliency of the Southside, as well as examples of why Public transportation should remain free in order to be more accessible to those who need it.

Navigating Through Two Cities I | Stephanie Husman | 2023 | Digital Collage

My digital fotonovela spread Navigating Through Two Cities is a summation of the multilayered journey of this project. Fare free transit is an essential service that
eliminates the mobility barriers for many people in the city. Truly in our and especially bus riders everyday lives we are trying to overcome so much more and having one less barrier lifts up an immense weight. Many bus riders are traveling to different destinations with a purpose that varies from each other and through poetic text and the bus ride I took to get to the Laos Center I
wanted to encapsulate that. A student who wants to learn can be applied to students whose only form of transportation is public transit and in a similar vein myself too. I wanted to learn how public transit impacts the Southside, especially the surrounding neighborhoods of El Pueblo. The pioneer in question is Roy Laos who was labeled as “Transit Pioneer '' during the time he owned a private bus line that transported people from the south to the west of Tucson. The “Man” is a more general representation of people who use the bus to get to work. Another crucial part I wanted to incorporate in the text is the unizonation between this class and El Pueblo Neighborhood Center and alongside reflect the connection between Tucson and the Southside of Tucson through a bus route. When communities unite, we heal each other and that’s what we need moving forward.
Navigating Through Two Cities II | Stephanie Husman | 2023 | Digital Collage

My digital fotonovela spread Navigating Through Two Cities is a summation of the multilayered journey of this project. Fare free transit is an essential service that
eliminates the mobility barriers for many people in the city. Truly in our and especially bus riders everyday lives we are trying to overcome so much more and having one less barrier lifts up an immense weight. Many bus riders are traveling to different destinations with a purpose that varies from each other and through poetic text and the bus ride I took to get to the Laos Center I
wanted to encapsulate that. A student who wants to learn can be applied to students whose only form of transportation is public transit and in a similar vein myself too. I wanted to learn how public transit impacts the Southside, especially the surrounding neighborhoods of El Pueblo. The pioneer in question is Roy Laos who was labeled as “Transit Pioneer '' during the time he owned a private bus line that transported people from the south to the west of Tucson. The “Man” is a more general representation of people who use the bus to get to work. Another crucial part I wanted to incorporate in the text is the unizonation between this class and El Pueblo Neighborhood Center and alongside reflect the connection between Tucson and the Southside of Tucson through a bus route. When communities unite, we heal each other and that’s what we need moving forward.
Navigating Through Two Cities III | Stephanie Husman | 2023 | Digital Collage

My digital fotonovela spread Navigating Through Two Cities is a summation of the multilayered journey of this project. Fare free transit is an essential service that
eliminates the mobility barriers for many people in the city. Truly in our and especially bus riders everyday lives we are trying to overcome so much more and having one less barrier lifts up an immense weight. Many bus riders are traveling to different destinations with a purpose that varies from each other and through poetic text and the bus ride I took to get to the Laos Center I
wanted to encapsulate that. A student who wants to learn can be applied to students whose only form of transportation is public transit and in a similar vein myself too. I wanted to learn how public transit impacts the Southside, especially the surrounding neighborhoods of El Pueblo. The pioneer in question is Roy Laos who was labeled as “Transit Pioneer '' during the time he owned a private bus line that transported people from the south to the west of Tucson. The “Man” is a more general representation of people who use the bus to get to work. Another crucial part I wanted to incorporate in the text is the unizonation between this class and El Pueblo Neighborhood Center and alongside reflect the connection between Tucson and the Southside of Tucson through a bus route. When communities unite, we heal each other and that’s what we need moving forward.

Bus #18 | Mireya Ballesteros | 2023 | Digital Collage

Bus #18 is a digital image consisting of photographs taken while riding bus #18 from the Ronstadt Transit Center to the Laos Transit Center. I edited these photographs onto a basemap of Downtown Tucson, South Tucson, and the southside from center to center. My goal with this was to bring attention to how important the Laos Center is to people who attend El Pueblo Community Center, and Tucsonans overall. Bus #18 is the most used bus in all of Tucson. In an interview with local artist, Luck Salway, he enlightened me on how this bus has impacted his life and the lives of others. From this, I wanted to represent the many people who utilize this source of public transportation, especially the Latino/a/e community and the Indigenous community. I wanted to give perspective on what one might see while they are on bus #18, from different people to different views, and both transit centers. This digital collage comes from a place of gratitude that public transportation is free for the citizens of Tucson. As well as hope for the future, and that the Roy Laos Center will get recognition through this exhibition.