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LOC StoryMaps

Welcome to UHD’s Discovering Afro-Latino Heritage: A Reflective Story Map Project! 

 

LOC Welcome Banner

Introduction


Our Mission

Our mission is to enhance student belongingness and learning by creating digital, interactive Story Maps that vividly illustrate the origins of Afro-Latinos. Through the creative remixing of engaging maps, photos, recordings, narratives, and other digital materials from the Library of Congress, we aim to bring history to life in a dynamic and accessible way. 

During the Fall and Spring 2024 semesters, faculty and their student participants contributed to the creation and curation of content with the support of the Library of Congress and our project team. Together, we explored innovative pedagogical strategies and storytelling techniques, enhanced by Esri's GIS-based Story Map technology. 

We invite you to explore these Story Maps and celebrate this journey of discovery and reflection with us, as we foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of Afro-Latino heritage. Together, we are building a richer educational experience that connects and empowers our communities.  

 

The Core Grant Team

LOC Core Team

  • Gregory A. Dement, PI and Executive Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence at UHD oversaw grant operations and integration of the Afro-Latino Story Map project into existing CTLE programs
     
  • Raquel Patricia Chiquillo, CO-PI and Faculty Lead for the project. She is professor of Spanish in the Department of History, Humanities and Languages at the University of Houston-Downtown, where she has taught since 2002. She worked closely with faculty and student translators in the planning and development of the projects. 

  • Fabiola Vacatoledo, Instructional Designer with the UHD CTLE, provided support and guidance in the development and implementation of the project to faculty, student contributors and translators. 
     
  • Jennifer Fuentes, UHD Online Learning Librarian provided research guidance for resources from the Library of Congress and outside resources. She also provided support on copyright, accessibility and technical needs for faculty and students.  

 

Statement of Racial Sensitive Language 

A clear and respectful statement addressing the use of racially sensitive language. 

Please be aware that this project contains language and terminology that reflect historical contexts and perspectives, which may be sensitive or offensive to some readers. Some of the words associated with slavery and race in historical documents are considered offensive as they objectify the Afro-Latino people who were enslaved, disregard their own perspectives on this period of history, and often reduce individuals to a single term that fails to acknowledge the multiple strands of their ethnic/racial heritage. 

Knowing the most appropriate language to use when teaching and discussing the history of slavery and race can be both confusing and challenging. This is particularly true for Afro-Latino heritage, where the language remains controversial, and its meaning is not universally agreed upon. This complexity is also present in the Spanish language, where terminology is still in development in each country. Translating these terms adds another layer of difficulty, as the United States has a specific experience with slavery that differs from that of Latin American countries. 

As we strive to represent Afro-latino heritage with respect, we will be open to learning and updating our language choices as needed.  

Collections of Storymaps 

 Brief descriptions and links to each of the collections. 

 

 

CCDI Grant Collection 


Events Related to Our Grant 

Upcoming and past events 

  • Afro-Latino Day 
  • LatinFest 
  • Showcase 
  • Author presentation 
  • Summer Fuse 

 

Press Related to Our Grant 

 

Why Story Maps? 

The pedagogical rationale for creating Story Maps is grounded in Self-Determination Theory (SDT), a motivational framework that identifies three universal human psychological needs: relatedness, competence, and autonomy. These needs are essential for fostering intrinsic motivation, engagement, and learning. 

A central focus of this project is the universal need to feel connected and a sense of belongingness with others (i.e., relatedness), which is also an institutional priority at UHD. By establishing belongingness as a core component, we aim to build a strong community. This objective aligns with empowering students to share their stories and giving them a voice. 

Faculty involved in this project worked with their students to curate and create Story Map content and propose specific activities and strategies to help students contribute to the Afro-Latino Story Maps.  

More information about Esri ArcGIS Story Maps Software: https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-storymaps/overview 

 

Translation and Translators 

Information about the translation process and the translators involved.