From visits to a jaripeo in Joliet to excursions inside the Chicago History Museum, throughout Spring Quarter a group of 16 students had the opportunity to explore the history of and the ways in which specifically Latine communities in Chicago have shaped the city.
It was all part of Chicago CIV, one of the College’s newest three-class CIV sequences that takes place within a single quarter. Each spring, the class focuses on a particular theme, promoting critical reflection with the city of Chicago while also encouraging civic literacy. This quarter focused on Latin American/Latinx Chicago.
“The city of Chicago is remarkable, both on its own terms and in relation to the history of the Americas,” said Diana Schwartz Francisco, associate instructional professor in history and the College, one of three professors who led students through the CIV sequence. “By learning not just about the city but with and in the city, students in the Latin American/Latinx Chicago sequence had a visceral, personal experience as they contemplated the ways Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx neighbors are part and parcel of the city’s story.”
We asked undergraduates to share their experiences from Chicago CIV with us.