We’re excited to announce the recipient of our first ever Spirit of Community Geography Award: PARqueologia Migrante. The project website describes it in this way:
PARqueologia Migrante es un lugar de intercambio. Es el estudio del parque, los recreos, los pasillos, y lugares entre clases. Es el lugar donde pasamos el rato, charlamos con amigos, tenemos platicas sinceras, compartimos chismes, es un lugar donde puedes hablar o expresarte con otra persona. Los jóvenes inmigrantes no se sienten inseguros al venir aquí y podemos compartir y conocer a otras personas. Es un lugar hecho por y para nosotros.
(English translation: PARqueologia Migrante is a place of exchange. It is the study of the park, the hallways, and places between school classes. It’s the place where we hang out, chat with friends, have heart-to-heart talks, and share gossip. Here, you can talk or express yourself with other people. Young immigrants feel safe coming here, we can share and meet other people. It is a place made by and for us.)
More specifically, PARqueologia Migrante is a youth engagement project that seeks to counter stereotypes of Immigrant Latin American children by using participatory methods to amplify youth voices. The program also connects children to city resources and builds communities of solidarity and care. In addition to public presentations to media, neighborhood organizations, and elected officials, the group also has a peer-reviewed article currently in revision.
The team behind this project included:
- Melisa Argañaraz Gomez. Ph.D. Candidate. Department of Geography and Environmental Systems. University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
- Yolet Fabian Perez. Baltimore City Community College
- Carmen Galindo Varela. Patterson HS
- Yamilex Acosta Cruz. Community College of Baltimore County
- Tatiana Segura. Benjamin Franklin HS
- Linny Diaz Marquez. Benjamin Franklin HS
- Yanni Lucresia Najera. Benjamin Franklin HS
We had multiple great submissions for this award. Congratulations to this team for their work and for being our inaugural Spirit award winners!