The Holyoke Ethnic Studies program partnered with Wistariahurst Museum and the UMass College of Education this past summer, employing six former and current Ethnic Studies students from Holyoke who were tasked with archiving the important history of the district’s Ethnic Studies program from 2013 to 2022.
The Holyoke Ethnic Studies program seeks to empower all students to engage socially and politically and to think critically about the world around them.
During the month-long program in July, the six participants worked alongside professionals in public art, education, historical research, and other fields, gaining valuable workplace skills and deepening their understanding of Ethnic Studies while forging new connections within their community. Over the course of their work, the youth archivists cataloged more than 500 digital artifacts into an archive collection that will be available to the public for future research.
The 2023 Youth Archivists for Social Change include:
Heisha Alers
Zaire Burton-King
Qua’Nae Golston-Thomas
Jamieliz Hafer
Evan Kennedy
Marjorie E. Pagán Robles
The culmination of their efforts will be showcased during the Youth Archivists for Social Change exhibit that runs through October 14 at Wistariahurst Museum. The opening program is scheduled from 5:30-7:30 p.m. tonight, Friday, October 6, 2023, with the six archivists present to share and talk about their work that is showcased in their “Shining Light on the Truth: Uncovering the Counter Narrative” exhibit. The event will also include music, refreshments, and other fun activities. The exhibit will remain open during regular museum hours through October 14.
For more information, please email nrobles@hps.holyoke.ma.us or follow the students on Instagram @YouthArchivistsForSocialChange.