My project reflects on my childhood memories living in Boyle Heights. Working on this project revealed my place in my neighborhood, new information about my neighborhood that I couldn’t see when I was younger, and the changes we experience. This project also helped me learn to appreciate my neighborhood and the people in it. It has helped me process my experiences as stories. In addition, my work reflects on how people and places in Boyle Heights have shaped me into who I am today. My project at Las Fotos has helped me move from the background in someone else’s story to become a storyteller of my own. It shows my new role as a placekeeper in the neighborhood I grew up in. I want the viewer to think back on their memories and become storytellers. I also want them to think about the positive and negative impact of change on their neighborhood.
Walk of Wonders: I spent most of my time in Boyle Heights with my mom going to different events, eating, and more. She is an advocate and organizer for the community and has used her platform to bring awareness and help others. She has raised me to have an understanding of the world with compassion and without boundaries. She has helped push me out of the comfort of my shell, to share my own story and place to my community.