Looking at two of metro Detroit's ethno-religious communities-- Chaldean Catholics and West African Muslims– this session will explore how each group's religious identity has influenced their experience of migration to Detroit and in turn shaped the landscape of the city.
Participants will learn from community members through oral history, observations, and other media, the ways that religious belief and practice have reinforced community identity for two ethno-religious minorities in metro Detroit. As this topic is deeply place-based, participants will be able to look with new eyes at the physical and cultural landmarks around them which bear the marks of these groups' influence.
A couple of years back current and former members of the Latino community in southwest Detroit formed VOCES: Southwest Detroit History Project team in an effort to more completely document the rich history of the Mexican and Latino communities in Detroit which dates back over 100 years. The current team is made up of a journalist, social workers, an educator, a businesswoman, film makers and a museum specialist. A couple members had been documenting the stories of elders, community activists, educators, and musicians going back almost 15 years through filmed and audio interviews as well as through community newspaper articles. Their success generated enthusiam and a desire from other community members to "pick up the mantle" in promoting community based historical research. In a recent community forum, well over 70 community residents from different generations expressed whole hearted support and encouragement for the team's efforts. A number of those present expressed a desire to help this effort.
The team panel will share with session participants their motivations, and successes and challenges in promoting a community based approach. The team understands the need to promote the importance of research and oral history collection among younger community members. It is part of our intergenertional organizing approach. We are in current discussions with some university instructors on how we can recruit undergraduate students in this process. Our hope is that this interest and possible involvement can "trickle down" to high school aged youth.
Latinos have rich and enduring ties to Southwest Detroit. Beckoned by industry, Mexicans and Puerto Ricans arrived in the city at the turn of the 20th century and planted roots—their destinies shaped by shifting policies, promises of work, and social mobility. What ensued was the... Read More →
Wednesday August 13, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT Room 2
Learn from the success story of The DBQ Project and Wayne RESA’s professional development at River Raisin Battlefield National Park, where place-based inquiry connected national history to local events. This session offers practical steps and dedicated time to help you apply inquiry-driven learning to your own community’s history.
John Farris is the K-12 Social Studies Consultant for the Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency (Wayne RESA). John joined Wayne RESA after three years as a Social Studies Training and Support Coordinator for the Detroit Public Schools Community District. Before DPSCD, John... Read More →
Wednesday August 13, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT Room 2
