Indiana Historical Society Premieres Beyond El Barrio

The Indiana Historical Society invites you to a special evening of celebrating Hoosier Latino history with the premiere of the groundbreaking documentary, “Beyond El Barrio: Early Cultural Contributions to the City of Indianapolis, Seen and Unseen.”

The premiere will be held on Thursday, May 1, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick History Center. The evening will begin with the documentary screening, followed by a panel discussion with the film’s creators and leading scholars.

“Beyond El Barrio” explores the rich, untold history of Indianapolis’ Latino community and the lasting impact of the city’s once-thriving Latino neighborhood – El Barrio. A vibrant community in the 1960s, El Barrio made profound cultural contributions to Indianapolis before being displaced by urban development and the construction of major highways. The documentary unearths the stories of the people who lived there, highlighting their legacy in shaping the city’s spirit and culture.

The post-screening discussion will explore the importance of preserving the history of El Barrio and how its cultural influence continues to resonate in Indianapolis today. Moderated by Daniel Gonzales, Director of Exhibitions at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, the panel includes Nicole Martinez-LeGrand, Curator, IHS Multicultural Collections; Grace Ping, Intern, IHS Education and Engagement; and Maria Quintana, Reynaldo Riojas, and Connie Hamm (former residents of El Barrio).

Following the discussion, guests are invited to a special reception to celebrate the history of the Latino community.

The estimated runtime of the documentary, “Beyond El Barrio” is 20 minutes and will be shown in English with Spanish subtitles. The event is free, but registration is strongly encouraged. Guests can reserve their experience online here.

This program is made possible through a grant from Indiana Humanities with additional support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and The Indianapolis Foundation.

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