New Study on Mexican Immigrants

By Rachelle Bowden in News on Mar 2, 2005 3:34PM

From food to art and music to politics, there's no doubt that the Mexican population in Chicago has affected the culture of the region. So it's interesting that the Field Museum is collaborating with the University of Illinois and using a $100,000 grant from The Rockefeller Foundation for a one year ethnographic study and analysis of how recent Mexican immigrants had impact on life in Chicago.

The number of Mexican immigrants in Chicago steadily keeps growing and this study will look at the nature of their identity formation, community building, and creative potential. The thought is that if we understand immigrants better it will help government officials, politicians and social service organizations formulate better policy and programs both artistically and economically.

Also, these days many Mexican immigrants are transnationals, meaning they cross the border frequently and live with "one foot in each country." So researchers are hoping to find out how transnationality stretches to family networks. And how local associations maintain social ties in Mexico. And how immigrants use public rituals, festivals and gatherings to improve their quality of life.

For more information on the project and how the it's being conducted, go here.

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