The Coalition
In 2020, a preliminary review of Latine/x archives in the city revealed that important primary source materials and collections are scattered throughout various repositories and a lack of a central location makes it difficult to discover them. Additionally, those that form part of larger collections are not easy to find or do not reflect the ample and complex diversity of our history.
In 2021, a more focused assessment of archival efforts by a sample of Latine-run or focused organizations demonstrated that although all organizations that participated in the assessment do document their organizational activity in various capacities and some have projects to document aspects of their community history, the majority of these archives are not accessible to the public.
Furthermore, the assessment revealed that there are multiple barriers preventing them from prioritizing their archival efforts. Some of these barriers include lack of time, funds, resources or staff to carry out the work; lack of proper tools, space or formal organizational system; and a need for professional development to further develop their knowledge, skills and capacity to organize or activate their materials.
After a review and assessment of Latine/x archives in the city, it was clear there is an urgent need to create a formal structure for the collecting, studying, sharing and activating of archival materials.
Additional research on the strengths and popularity of community archives also reinforced that the power of community archives is intertwined with positive cultural identity, empowerment and the idea of belonging. In the case of Chicago Latine/Latinx cultural organizations, they already serve and collaborate with their communities and have a community-centric approach. They understand the complexity and diversity of their communities and have long-standing community ties to further explore. They are also aware of the changing nature of their communities across space and time and acknowledge their responsibility in using their organizations to empower their respective communities and inspire social change as reflected by their missions.
The RAICES Chicago Story Coalition is best positioned from the community archive perspective for multiple reasons. Up to this moment, mainstream museums, research libraries or other archival repositories have not been able to address this historical gap and although there has been a shift towards inclusion and systemic change, a rejection of neutrality in the archives and an acknowledgement of the role of archivists and unexamined whiteness, they’ve not been able to achieve change. Additionally, in the last few decades, community archives have solidified into a movement. They resulted from self-identified efforts of communities to document their own history and access it in their own terms. They interpret their past in the present context and not just take care of old records. They represent history that has been left out while also inspiring and mobilizing change. They operate as a form of activism and help create a sense of belonging while community archivists restore the power and decision making with members of the community.
Thus, the work of RAICES begins with a coalition of support to Latine/x organizations and community groups to document their own history and that of their communities, facilitating and promoting research to activate the community archives, and funding and promoting humanities projects and programs for communities to further document and share their stories with the public.
In 2024, RAICES will formally launch the coalition of participating Latine/x organizations to:
Inventory existing archives and collections to make them more accessible through a central location that can serve as the starting point for research on Chicago Latine/x communities
Identify opportunities and needs for their individual archival efforts and in support of their organizational capacity or professional development goals
Respond to needs and opportunities with access to tools and resources for professional development, research projects, activations of the archives or development of public programs or events to share stories with the public
Connect cultural organizations within and across communities doing similar work and with broader historical initiatives in and beyond Chicago to forge new collaborations and ensure the inclusion of Latinos in various narratives or projects
