Focusing on the experiences of middle and high school educators from Chicago Public Schools who integrated visits to the Aquí en Chicago exhibit into their curricula. Teachers will share how they meaningfully planned for these visits using a lesson planning tool—preparing students beforehand, guiding reflection throughout the experience, and connecting exhibit content and curricular resources to broader historical themes such as immigration, identity, civil rights, and urban change.

In conversation with these educators, scholars of Latinx history and education will speak to the importance of integrating local and community-centered history into public education. They will discuss how initiatives like Aquí en Chicago offer powerful models for culturally sustaining pedagogy and illustrate the broader role of state and district policies and public history institutions in supporting inclusive historical education. Professionals from the Chicago History Museum and leaders from Chicago Public Schools will discuss how they supported this initiative and reflect on the impact of their partnership in advancing shared goals for Chicago youth.

This session invites educators, historians, and museum professionals to consider how experiential learning can transform history education and better reflect the diverse pasts of American communities.