Learning from Place: St. Paul’s West Side Mexican American Culture

Overview

Once

Discover the stories, history, and vibrant culture of St. Paul’s West Side, the heart of Minnesota’s Latino community. This immersive experience focuses on The Flats and the Latino Cultural District, a neighborhood shaped by generations of Mexican Americans, and now home to the future Minnesota Latino Museum.

Minnesota is home to more than 400,000 residents of Mexican and Latino heritage, two-thirds of whom trace their roots to Mexico. Since 2000, Minnesota’s Latino population has grown by 288%, contributing to the state’s cultural, economic, and civic life in countless ways. During this program, participants will learn directly from Latino community members and leaders, exploring the past, present, and future of this important neighborhood.

This Learning from Place experience with the Minnesota Humanities Center is guided by Larry Lucio Sr., a long-time resident of St. Paul’s West Side, and Larry Lucio Jr., a descendant of the West Side Flats. Larry Sr. brings a legacy of pioneering educational leadership and systems change, while Larry Jr. engages the next generation through music, poetry, and the arts. Together, they offer a compelling intergenerational perspective that bridges their community history and lived experiences on the West Side.

Event Highlights:

Historical overview of St. Paul’s West Side and future developments

Personal stories from West Side residents

Visit to local businesses in the community

Sampling of Mexican cuisine

K-12 Educators will receive 3 clock hours

This event begins at Neighborhood House in the Wellstone Center and participants will visit places of significance by bus and light walking.