STRC Newsletter - Fall 24 - Winter 25

SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE FALL 2024 - WINTER 2025: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

ABOUT

THE SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION RESEARCH COLLABORATIVE ADVANCING THE HUMANITIES OF HEALING AND RESTORATION

DePaul’s Social Transformation Research Collaborative (STRC) supports research in the humanities as a source of justice and healing for communities historically shaped by, and continuously facing, racism, violence, and dispossession.

Through interdisciplinary research in literature and language, history and culture, the STRC demonstrates how the humanities deepen our understanding of ourselves and our society, and empower us to act, ethically and responsibly, to counter racism, dismantle violence, and build a more just and equitable society.

Our 2024 theme—Anti-Racism, Transformation, and Healing through the Humanities—provides a focal point for STRC activities in 2024, including a Summer Institute for incoming DePaul students, quarterly convenings, and a fall conference.

The STRC is generously funded by a threeyear grant from The Mellon Foundation.

LEADERSHIP TEAM Julie Moody-Freeman Faculty Director

Bill Johnson González Faculty Director Associate Professor, English Director, Center for Latino Research

Alejandra Delgadillo Project Coordinator

STEERING COMMITTEE Li Jin Professor, Modern Languages

Amor Kohli Associate Professor and Chair, African & Black Diaspora Studies

Lourdes Torres Vincent DePaul Professor and Chair, Latin American and Latino Studies

Margaret Storey Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Tracey Lewis-Elligan Associate Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

WHO WE ARE

Associate Professor, African & Black Diaspora Studies Director, Center for Black Diaspora

LETTER FROM THE CO-DIRECTORS

Last fall, in an effort to respond to our current era of book banning and attempts to distort historical truths, our STRC Symposium focused on the right of marginalized communities to tell our own stories. Our guest speakers stood up not only for the right of free access to books, but also for the dignity of the communities who are hailed by those books--communities that are nourished, nurtured, and sustained by being able to read, converse, deliberate, disagree and build consensus in the free exchange of ideas.

Since then, the STRC has continued to try to bring attention to the many ways in which the Humanities help contribute to intellectual liberation and healing for BIPOC communities. Our 2024 Summer Institute, held in July, welcomed 23 new students to DePaul; they explored sustainable communities gardens in Englewood, the mural art of Pilsen, and discovered history at the YMCA in Bronzeville. The STRC also named several cohorts of new fellows for summer and fall: We have three Professional Development Faculty Fellows who are working on topics as diverse as the rhetoric and neoliberal policies of Chicago politicians, the documentation of contributions made by service workers, and an analysis of the online political dynamics of Asian diasporic communities. Our undergraduate and graduate fellows are continuing work on their summer research projects, which will be completed this fall. And finally, we are looking forward to our 3rd annual symposium this October, which will explore the theme, "Writing, Race, and Memory." Our guest speakers this year will explore how different modes of writing —the romance novel, the essay, and the memoir --- all help us tell our stories and provide important vehicles both for bearing witness to our histories and experiences and boldly imagining ways to live, love, and heal.

Dr. Julie Moody-Freeman Dr. Bill Johnson González

SUMMER INSTITUTE 2024 ANTI-RACISM, HEALING, AND TRANSFORMATION THROUGH THE HUMANITIES

In July of 2024, the STRC welcomed its third Summer Institute cohort, a group made up of 20 incoming students from across the university. Co-directors Dr. Julie Moody-Freeman and Dr. Billy Johnson González worked together as colead faculty and invited a stellar group of guest lecturers to teach 90-minute lessons centered on their respective areas of expertise. This list included Dr. Monica Reyes (WRD), Dr. Yoalli Rodríguez Aguilera (LALS), Dr. Miguel Castañeda (LALS), Dr. Amor Kohli (ABD), Dr. Taurean J. Webb (ABD), Dr. Laura Kina (ART), artist Mia Park (TTS), and Distinguished Writer in Residence Mark Turcotte (ENG).

The group visited the neighborhood of Pilsen, where Dr. Juan Mora-Torres (HST) gave us a walking tour of the neighborhood, going over its history, and even made a stop at the studio of artist Hector Duarte. The day ended with dinner at 5 Rabanitos.

Later in the week, we took a trip to Bronzeville, where we got a tour of the Historic YMCA and learned about its important history as well as the plans that The Rennaissance Collaborative has for the building. This time, we ended with dinner at Pearl’s Place, which has been around for over 30 years!

On Friday, the last day of the program, we took a morning trip to Englewood to visit Sistas in the Village, an urban farm cofounded by DePaul alum Bweza Itaagi and her colleague Mecca Bey to bring fresh, affordable produce to the community. To close the program, our students shared a late lunch and then submitted their final projects. A successful week all-around!

At Sistas in the Village in Englewood. July 26, 2024. Photo credit: Jacinda Akins

In line to board the Wendella architecture boat tour. July 22, 2024. Photo credit: Gigi Lara

Summer Institute 2024

“During my time at STRC, I experienced a world of culture and learned a plethora of things about my own community as well as other communities. Through this program, I got to not only learn about, but also experience the cultures of the area and gain new perspectives. STRC was an amazing opportunity to connect with not only the culture around me but also with myself and the communities I align myself with. It was a very holistic experience and I feel like I was able to work through and gain understanding on different parts of myself and how I interact with the world around me. I was also able to meet people that shared similar ideals and passions to me. Our similar need and hunger for justice connected us on levels that I felt are more than physical and closer to a calling we all have. Despite our different backgrounds, upbringings and culture, this program allowed us to come together and fight oppression, make calls for social change and learn about each other and the way our cultures connect. STRC also emphasized that although we can strive to make change as individuals, doing it as a team is far more impactful. That as well as the many other meaningful messages that STRC taught me was the highlight of my summer and an amazing beginning to my journey at DePaul.”

Mickey Roland, Psychology

Originally published in the Center for Latino Research’s Fall 2024 issue of their newsletter, “El Centro.”

Outside Hector Duarte’s artist studio in Pilsen. July 23, 2024. Photo credit: Gigi Lara

At the Historic YMCA in Bronzeville. July 24, 2024. Photo credit: Gigi Lara

Summer Institute 2024

“I first joined the Summer Institute program as an incoming freshman in 2022 and was so honored to return this year as the STRC Social Media Student Assistant. I was so happy to return because of the impact this program had on me as a new student. I was originally drawn in by the important themes studied, such as gentrification in Chicago, social justice, and untold/misrepresented history. I was so moved by my time with the program because I learned a lot about those themes, as well as what to expect living in Chicago and attending DePaul.

Coming back after two years, I feel that the Summer Institute has only gotten better!

The adjustments made to the scheduling, field trips, and final project made for an amazing experience for me, my peers, and the students.

Since the program takes place in July, it was hot almost every day we went out. That being said, the staff planned weather-appropriate activities that were enjoyable despite the heat. For example, we took an amazing tour of the Pilsen neighborhood led by Dr. Juan Mora-Torres. It was planned so well because we were able to see the beauty and history of the neighborhood and still had moments to cool off, decompress, and take in our surroundings. The field trips also consisted of eating excellent local food which was a huge hit with students and staff alike. My favorite was Pearl’s Place in Bronzeville.

We had some really talented guest lecturers this year. I could tell that the students were genuinely impacted by what they were learning. By the end of the week, the students seemed to have a better understanding of each other and their differences. I was so moved by this because I could tell that the students were having the same experience I did, despite having different assignments and field trips.

Overall, I had an amazing time and I am thankful for the opportunity to participate again. I really connected with the students and feel confident that we set them up for success as academics and Chicago residents.”

Jacinda Akins, Film

STRC faculty and staff. July 24, 2024. Photo credit: Gigi Lara

Faculty, staff, and students on the boat tour! July 22, 2024. Photo credit: Jacinda Akins

Summer Institute 2024

“Over the summer, I participated in the STRC Summer Institute program at DePaul. During my week there, I got to listen to guest speakers and go on field trips related to restorative justice. One of my favorite trips was going to Sistas in the Village urban garden. It was inspirational to see a community come together to break the cycle of generational racism in order to live healthier lives. Another field trip that was fun was the Chicago boat tour. As pretty as the architecture was, it was interesting to see how differently people can live but be from the same city. Beyond the educational aspect, I found a community at STRC. Before attending the program, I was nervous about not being able to make friends in college. That fear went away the minute I stepped foot on campus. I automatically clicked with students and formed some of the best friendships. I found people who not only uplift me, but challenge me to be a better person everyday. To this day, the people I met there are consistently in my life. The staff were also so kind and took time to talk to students individually. I loved my peer mentor, Taylor, because they not only heard students' concerns, but did their very best to address them properly. One night I had really bad allergies, and when I told Taylor, they went and got me Allegra for the rest of the week. It is that sense of care and love that made STRC so comforting. STRC is a transformative program for students to explore their identity and embrace new perspectives. I am grateful for the experience and the chance to meet so many amazing people.”

Olivia Hanif, Journalism

Summer Institute 2024

“The STRC summer institute was a wonderful experience and my introduction to DePaul University and its students. My presentation was titled Self-Determination as Healing: Las Chicanas and the 1972 Chicanas Seminar where I talked to student about the Chicana/o student movement, in particular the role of feminism and community, in addressing legacies of racial exclusion from US universities. To present this work to in-coming students of color is important so they can grasp the significance of their presence on campus and the agency they have as youth to change the world. I also attended the Pilsen walking tour; with Dr. Juan MoraTorres, it was an opportunity for students and myself to learn about this historic Chicago neighborhood and the struggles of ethnic Mexican peoples of the city.”

Dr. Miguel Angel Castañeda, Latin American and Latino Studies

“I was honored to participate in this year's Summer Institute as part of the Social Transformation Research Collaborative where I discussed the social, political and artistic importance of Black popular music, especially up through the 1960s. This session covered some of what I teach in my ABD class, "Black Music in American Culture."

I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation and was impressed with the energy and participation of many of the students. I wasn't sure what to expect, given that most of the students had never been in a college classroom, but I was gratified to encounter so much intellectual energy in that room. I was ready to carry the discussion if needed, but so many of the students were ready and raring to go. It was obvious that a lot of the Summer Institute students in attendance were prepared, engaged, and ready to get deep into the ideas that came up” Dr. Amor Kohli, African and Black Diaspora Studies

Taking a short break at the Historic YMCA. July 24, 2024. Photo credit: Gigi Lara

Summer Institute 2022 (left), 2023 (right), and 2024 (middle)! July 23, 2024. Photo credit: Gigi Lara

Summer Institute 2024

For my STRC “Asian American Art and Activism” class, I introduced students to two contemporary Asian American artists with connections to Chicago who are dedicated to social change South Korean American artist Aram Han Sifuentes’ “Protest Lending Library” and Cambodian refugee artist Anida Yoeu Ali’s 2024 solo show at the Seattle Art Museum “Hybrid Skin, Mythical Presence.” Both artists talk back to power and offer a pathway to healing by using play, joy, humor, vibrant color, hyper visibility, queerness, and an ethos of generosity. Ali’s work directly addresses Islamophobia and Han Sifuentes’ work addresses labor and immigrant issues.

For the workshop portion of our class, students worked in two groups to create protest banners using instructions from Han Sifentes’ Protest Banner Lending Library. Their banners slogans were “The Future is Our Right” and “Land of the Free Brave.”

Dr. Laura Kina, The Art School

FACULTY RESEARCH FELLOWS: 2023-2024 COHORT Dr. Rocío Ferreira Modern Languages, Women’s and Gender Studies “Women Shoot: Poetics of Political Violence in Contemporary Peruvian Culture”

Dr. Juan Mora-Torres History “Mexicans in Babylon: Barrio Making in Chicago’s West Side, 1917-1983”

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FELLOWS: 2023-2024 COHORT Dr. Maria Ferrera Social Work “Journey to Safety and Belonging: Narratives of Asylees”

Dr. Jacqui Lazú Modern Languages “Archival Collection Development and Management”

FACULTY RESEARCH FELLOWS: 2024-2025 COHORT Dr. Kalyani Menon Religious Studies “Making Hindus Right: Hindu Supremacy in the Diaspora”

Dr. Sanjukta Mukherjee Women’s and Gender Studies “Pedagogies of care: An oral history of service workers at DePaul University“

Dr.Carolina Sternberg Latin American and Latino Studies “Inclusiveness and Equity in Chicago? An Analysis of Lori Lightfoot’s and Brandon Johnson’s Rhetoric and Policies”

GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWS: 2023-2024 COHORT Sophia Burns Sustainable Urban Development “High Stakes, Rising Tides: Reclaiming Narratives of Urban Redevelopment Policy and Climate Justice in Atlantic City”

Claudia Cisneros Méndez Women’s and Gender Studies “Art and Culture as Resistance: Indigenous Communities Defying State Violence and Racist Repression in Peru”

Samira Kassem Sustainable Urban Development “The Power to Move: A Comprehensive Analysis of Black Chicagoans’ Access to Public Transportation from 1915 to Present Day”

Elizabeth Wallace Spanish “With an Empathetic Lens: Understanding the Causes of Forced Migration in Mexico through Film’s Storytelling”

STRC UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWS: 2024 COHORT

Abigail Flores English, Latin American and Latino Studies “Migration, Displacement and the Performance of Puerto Rican Identity in Chicago”

Naomi Love Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies, African and Black Diaspora Studies “Redefining Religion: Challenging Eurocentric Narratives through African American Spirituality”

Chris Sifri Sociology, The School of Art “Art of Resistance: Reclamation Through Art”

STRC UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWS: 2024 COHORT Sifa Muderhwa International Studies “Green Imperialism: The Hidden Costs of the Green New Deal in the Global South”

Aidan Tennant Philosophy, Religious Studies, School of Public Service “Machine Realism: The collapse of Bring Chicago Home and Chicago’s Radical Black Politics”

Jo Trasowech Criminology, International Studies “Western-Liberal Epistemology, Indigenous Sovereignty, and Postcolonial Discourse”

Click to be taken to recap photos.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the STRC's third annual fall symposium! Special thanks to all our wonderful speakers: Graduate fellows Elizabeth Wallace, Claudia Cisneros Méndez, and Sophia Burns; our postdoctoral fellows, Dr. Miguel Ángel Castañeda and Dr. Taurean J. Webb; author Beverly Jenkins and Dr. Carole V. Bell; undergraduate research fellows Abby Flores, Naomi Love, Sifa Muderhwa, Chris Sifri, Aidan Tennant, and Jo Trasowech; author Karla Cornejo Villavicencio and Dr. Lourdes Torres; faculty fellows Dr. Maria Ferrera, Dr. Jacqui Lazú, Dr. Rocío Ferreira, and Dr. Juan Mora-Torres, and last, but definitely not least, author David Mura.

@strc_depaul

Dr. Julie Moody-Freeman, co-director Dr. Billy Johnson González, co-director Alejandra Delgadillo, Program Coordinator Jacinda Akins, Student Assistant