Today, we’re highlighting a winning submission from the 2019 AEPP Finding Chicago: Global Perspectives project. The AEPP-Writing students wrote blog posts on an issue in North American or Chicago culture that captured their attention. Today’s featured blog is from Yuxin F., a Master of Arts Program In the Humanities (MAPH) Masters student. Congratulations, Yuxin!

In this blog, Yuxin discusses the Chicago neighborhood of Pilsen, the largest community of Mexican Americans in the Midwest, and a potential future shift in the demographics of those living there: “Is this a good sign for the development of the neighborhood? The answer could be more complicated than we may think. One clear issue is, the gentrification of this neighborhood will bring in new blood that could contribute to this once tightly knitted community, yet it is decentralizing the distinct identity of Pilsen by driving residents out. New residents will occupy this once Hispanic dominated place.”

Read his full blogpost on our Finding Chicago: Global Perspectives website: https://voices.uchicago.edu/findingchicago/2019/08/27/the-identity-of-pilsen-spanish-language-presence-cultural-appropriation-and-gentrification/

Also, check back next Wednesday for our next featured post!

📸: courtesy of Yuxin F.

What do you think? Tell us in the comments!