Reclaiming Cultural Heritage in the Borderlands

FAIN: ZPA-283658-22

Arizona Board of Regents (Tucson, AZ 85721-0073)
Javier Duran (Project Director: May 2021 to January 2026)

The creation of two writing specialist positions and the hiring of five student workers to support a cross-institutional program at the University of Arizona that would bolster a variety of humanities programs about American borderlands cultural heritage. 

Reclaiming Cultural Heritage in the Borderlands is a one-year project that bolsters vital humanities research, education, and public engagement programs rooted in the cultural identity and history of the borderlands region as well as in UArizona’s designation as Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). This project will 1) support research and educational resources via the digitization of hundreds of UArizona Press books highlighting Latinx and Indigenous communities but currently only available in print, 2) create an archive of stories focused on efforts for racial justice and equality among underrepresented borderlands communities, 3) preserve UArizona’s cultural and historic spaces like the Norville Gem & Mineral Museum which connects with the Humanities via public programming on the history of mining in Arizona and Mexican communities, and 4) revamp Humanities skills resources for UArizona’s underrepresented students through writing workshops and mentorship programs.