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Singing with a mariachi band at a family gathering, preparing tamales to raise church funds, or attending a dance performance at a local school—what do these activities have to do with the challenge of building a new life in Chicago as a recent Mexican immigrant? More than you might imagine, according to a study by The Field Museum’s Center for Cultural Understanding and Change (CCUC), the University of Illinois’ Team Engineering Collaboratory (TEClab), and the Science of Networks in Communities (SONIC) research group.
This innovative study of social networking practices of Mexican immigrants in Chicago reveals that:
 1) Mexican immigrants in Chicago possess a wealth of artistic and networking assets that contribute to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of neighborhoods, organizations and institutions in the Chicagoland area.
- 2) Cultural and artistic practices contribute to identity formation, strengthen collaborative bonds, and extend social networks—processes that benefit individuals and institutions alike.
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- 3) Participation in cultural and artistic activities stimulates economic activity, especially in the music industry and service sector.
Continue to About the Study >>
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