STRC Summer Institute Introduces DePaul Students to Chicago

This summer, the STRC, co-directed by Dr. Julie Moody-Freeman of the Center for Black Diaspora and Dr. Bill Johnson González (CLR), hosted the first annual Summer Institute for newly admitted and transfer students. 26 students were admitted to attend a weeklong academic program from July 24-July 29th. The STRC students lived together on campus and attended a daily class led by Dr. Monica Reyes and Dr. Juan Mora-Torres. The course included visits from nationally renowned scholars and artists, as well as two days of field trips into the city for students to become familiar with various Chicago neighborhoods. The course explored inequality in Chicago, and while students learned about physical and economic barriers that keep communities separated throughout the city, they also connected with community leaders and activists who are working to build solidarity across various racial and ethnic groups. Yu Yu Zander, one of the STRC students, shared her description of the week with us.

by Yu Yu Zander

Amidst field trips and lectures, students of the STRC (Social Transformation Research Collaborative) Summer Institute were bonded by education and newly found friendships. Over the course of five days, students were invited to move past the awe of the Loop and Lincoln Park and delve into the political, socioeconomic and racial divides that the city of Chicago delicately rests upon.

Dr. Monica Reyes, STRC Peer Mentor Rodrigo Malgarejo, and STRC student Gerardo Avila take a closer look at materials about Black veterans in Chicago's DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center.

A mural walk in Pilsen led by Professor Juan Mora-Torres, a luncheon in Ping Tom Memorial Park with Rep. Aaron Ortiz, and a tour of the DuSable Museum were learning experiences that the select group of new DePaul scholars participated in. When students were not out and about, many brilliant speakers came to them; Rashad Shabazz discussed how his life experience influenced his book, Spatializing Blackness: Architectures of Confinement and Black Masculinity in Chicago; artist Tonika Lewis Johnson shared her Folded Map Project, and Maira Khwaja explained the work that happens behind the scenes at the Invisible Institute.

STRC students visit the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen. Dr. Mora-Torres, one of the faculty co-leads for the Summer Institute course, speaks in front of a mural by artist Mario Castillo.

In addition, staff from across DePaul visited the class to share the wealth of resources available to students. These presentations included: The Office of Health and Wellness, The Office of Multicultural Student Success, The Career Center, Financial Aid Services, and many more.

DuSable Museum Docent Perry Diggs discusses the history of the 1919 Race Riot.

By the end of the week, students were well-equipped with education and resources to tackle their first years at DePaul. Students from the Summer Institute benefited greatly from the program and are looking forward to sharing their experiences at the STRC Symposium in October and with a new cohort of students next summer.

The STRC is a new initiative funded by a generous grant from the Mellon Foundation. For more information, see: go.depaul.edu/strc

Representative Aaron Ortiz speaks to STRC students during lunch at Ping Tom park.

Dr. Julie Moody-Freeman, co-director of the STRC, talks with STRC student Jacinda.

Dr. Monica Reyes, one of the Faculty Co-Leads for the Summer Institute course, poses near public art in Ping Tom park.

Public mural on 18th St in Pilsen.