On Thursday, August 21st, the Institute for Latino Studies hosted its first annual Faculty Field Day, bringing together ILS faculty, staff, and friends for a full day of community and fellowship in Chicago.
The group of 16 departed campus early in the morning and began with a walking tour of Pilsen murals, led by new ILS director Jason Ruiz. As principal investigator of Latinx Murals of Pilsen, a digital research project devoted to public art in Chicago supported by the Whiting Foundation, Ruiz shared his expertise while faculty contributed their own insights and experiences.
After finishing on 16th Street and Blue Island Avenue at their last mural visit, the group stopped for lunch at 5Rabanitos, providing the perfect opportunity to have more personalized discussions, before heading to visit one of ILS’ Chicago-based community partners.
At the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership (CSPL), faculty met with staff to learn more about the grassroots, spiritually-rooted organization where Notre Dame students intern through the Cross-Cultural Leadership Program (CCLP). Fellows left inspired and eager to share CSPL’s opportunities and resources with their own students.
In the afternoon, the group traveled downtown to board the Chicago Architecture Center’s boat tour, enjoying an amazing view of the skyline from the water near Navy Pier. The boat ride provided a chance for everyone to relax after an intellectually charged morning and before the ride home.
Throughout the day, smiling faces in group photos reflected the excitement and camaraderie of colleagues spending intentional time together outside of campus. The event gave faculty a chance to recharge before the start of the academic year.
Looking back, Ruiz described the significance of the field day:
“The faculty field day was a chance for ILS faculty, staff, and friends of the Institute to have fun and recharge before the onslaught of the academic year by exploring a bit of Chicago. More importantly, it was a chance for us to bond with one another and do some thinking together about what ILS should look like in the coming years. I was so impressed by the turnout at a busy time of the year, which was a real testament to how invested folks are in the Institute.”
He added, “Personally, it was a real pleasure to give my colleagues a tour of the murals in Pilsen, which I have been researching for years. I’ve given many tours of public art in the neighborhood but I have never had a more curious and generous audience.
I hope we can do it again!”
As the Institute begins a new chapter under Ruiz’s leadership, the success of a faculty field day highlights the importance of strengthening ties among faculty. This gathering was an important step in building community within ILS’ faculty fellows and the beginning of what promises to be an annual tradition for ILS.