Jessica Wall
Graduate Student, Goucher
College
Baltimore, Maryland
Capstone Reflective Paper
Fall
2012
Exploring the Monterey Peninsula through the Eyes of Locals
I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.
-Maya Angelou
Introduction
Angelou’s words not only speak to me, they inspire me; especially as a military wife. Just as I get comfortable somewhere, I am forced to pick up and move on. I must leave behind a life that I have built, only to make new friends, find a new job, and establish a new life for myself. I must learn how to navigate my way through my new home, both figuratively and metaphorically. Not only do I have to learn how to get around and where things are, but I also need to learn about the community I find myself in. What sort of resources can I find that will help my family quickly adjust? Will we be able to find a neighborhood that we feel comfortable in? What is there to do for fun or recreation? What are locals passionate about? What do they do in their free time? What drives people to live here? Why do they stay? What types of opportunities are there to truly experience the culture of my new home? Once I start to answer these questions, I finally start to feel like I am a member of a community.
However, this integration into the local culture often takes time and understanding. As someone who recently moved into a new community, I am experiencing these challenges right now. I moved to the Monterey Peninsula on the central California coast, and until now I had never been here before. I had no connections here, and knew nothing of the local area. As I searched for literature about the area, I quickly found that the majority of the available information was focused on tourist activities such as golf, wine tasting, outdoor recreational adventures, and shopping. While these things are certainly important, as someone trained in anthropology, I wanted more. I knew that by digging a little further, I could start to piece together a more comprehensive picture of the peninsula. I wanted to know the history of the area, as well as who the settlers were and where they came from (and why they came). I wanted to know how families have made a living here throughout the years, how they made this place their home, how they fit in, and I wanted to know about their struggles and successes. I wanted to understand what exactly it is that makes this place so special, and what sets it apart from every other city or town I have lived in or passed briefly through.
As I started to do research however, I noticed that the information available was fragmented at best. Every organization in the area had their own website, but the history I found was not always the same, depending on the source. It was hard to find information regarding specific cultural events I had heard about, and the information I did find was often incorrect or contradicted by another website. As I tried to get out and navigate my way through the community, I would find signs which pointed me in the direction of a major cultural landmark-only to find out the signs were old and the landmark was either gone or had moved somewhere else. It was frustrating, and I often gave up and decided I’d try again another day.
As I learned about the history of the area, I became familiar with the different groups who settled in the region. I started looking for evidence of these groups in the local landscape, and found that often times, many traces of this area’s unique
heritage had been wiped away by widespread commercial development and accompanying residential turnover. Since I knew this area is home to various programs and schools which cater to international scholars and professionals, I knew that other people coming to the area might have a difficult time identifying with the culture of the area based on the confusion I experienced. While there was no language barrier for me personally, I am well aware that it is often even more difficult to find adequate resources if someone does not speak the local language, or is unfamiliar with the traditions, histories, or
prominent cultural attributes of an area. In reflecting on my own experiences moving to the area, I knew I wanted to do something that could make a difference for other people moving here. When I was trying to put together a capstone
project, I expressed my interests in the local culture and that I was having a difficult time piecing together the information available. It was suggested to me that I do a cultural guide to the Monterey Peninsula, and instantly I knew that this would be the perfect project for me. My capstone committee and I decided that this project would be broken into two phases with the first phase being the formation of a local community advisory committee who would assist me in developing the content for a blog which would ultimately be used by newcomers (and visitors alike) to the Monterey Peninsula in California. Working together, we would develop a consensual work plan and come up with desired outcomes. The second phase would be the development of an interactive website (or whatever form my committee decided on) that would serve as the repository for the data I collected.
Since it’s been difficult to find things to do that match my interests, as well as places that make me feel like I’m at home, I knew that we would need to focus on creating a product that I kne would appeal to people with various interests and backgrounds. I wanted to do this project for not only myself, so I could learn about my new community- but also for those who come after me, so that they might transition easier. I wanted to create something so that they not only feel welcome, but rather they feel as if they are an important and contributing member of the local community- because they are. Whether they’re only in a new place for a few years at a time (as I often find myself), or plan on staying indefinitely, they need to be aware of where things are, as well as the resources available to them. As I created this cultural guide, I tried to keep these things in mind.
This project identifies and serves multiple goals and objectives, including allowing me to explore the different ways in which cultural sustainability work benefits different communities, as well as advocating for and actively promoting the different ways
we as community members can become more integrated and representative of our own unique heritage. In creating a
product that is beneficial to the community, the goal has consistently been to let the people address how the researched content could best flow from- and benefit the community; thus sustaining the cultures which are important to them. Further, this project allows locals to share their stories of what is important to them with a broader audience, and gives newcomers a sense of the values, traditions, and cultural influences of the area. It may also inspire newcomers to become involved within the community as they are excited about (and build upon) their own cultural connections and experiences.
Finally, it has been my intent through this work to build an effective model of community collaboration and cultural heritage awareness and promotion that I can take with me and use in other places my family is stationed at in the future.
Methodology
In a project like this, I tried to understand and apply many theoretical concepts, including (but not limited to): What are the processes of integration into a new community, and how do people orient themselves into a new community? Specifically, how do people identify and form relationships with others, and what are the social bonds which bring people together? What do people identify with in their landscapes, and what puts people more at ease when transitioning to a new place? What are the ways people adapt, when everything they know is different and changing? Ultimately, what are the things people value the most-in others, and places? What are people passionate about and why do they feel so strongly about those places they identify with?
My first step was to seek out and create a community cultural advisory committee, who could help me pinpoint those cultural values and places which the locals are most passionate about. What do they like most about living here? What do they feel are the resources that are most valuable and useful to them? What are the things the community is lacking? What are the ways I, as a cultural sustainability worker, can help the community overcome any perceived lack in resources?
In order to effectively work with a cultural advisory community (and gain the most information possible), I needed to seek out those community members who met a specific criteria. I sought out people who worked for organizations that are integral to the cultural landscape of the region, as well as people (working independently) who had a vested interest in preserving the culture and history of the area. I knew in order to do this successfully I needed to research who the prominent cultural organizations are here, as well as their mission and success stories. Starting on the internet, I started looking at organizations such as the Monterey Historical Society, the Museum of Monterey (MOM), the Monterey State Historical Parks, the City of Monterey, the Arts Council for Monterey, the Monterey Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, the Monterey Public Library System, and the Monterey Bay Property Management Company. Through varied emails sent to these different entities, I was able to identify three key individuals, including Thom Diggins, Nancy Selfridge, and Tish Sammon.
Thom Diggins is the owner/operator of Historic Monterey Walking Tours (http://www.walkmonterey.com/), and has been a Monterey area resident for over fifty years. In creating a walking tour here, he has conducted countless hours of local historic research in an effort to create his business, and is consistently educating himself further to improve the cultural experience and accuracy of information that he provides to people on his tours. He is passionate about the history of the area, and I was able to feel his enthusiasm when I went on one of his tours with my family. He has daily contact with personnel working throughout the community in different cultural preservation organizations, and is familiar with the connections and working
relationships between these entities.
In addition to Mr. Diggins, I have also met with Nancy Selfridge, who is a city council member for Monterey. Mrs. Selfridge has been a great resource, as she is an integral part of the local community and has been heavily involved in events and historic site promotion here in the area. She has worked with various organizations in the area, including the Cultural Arts Commission, Colton Hall Museum, and Monterey Vista Neighborhoods (an organization dedicated to preserving and cleaning up local neighborhoods through community funds), and has actively stood up for cultural awareness and action through her position as a city council member. As a Monterey council woman, Nancy Selfridge has been heavily involved in community debates, city council meetings with community stakeholders, and personal meetings with Monterey County community members. Her public position is why I asked her to work with me, as I knew she would have the unique perspective that comes only with listening to and having frequent conversations with people from the community.
Finally, I met with Tish Sammon, who works for Historic Monterey. Historic Monterey is a collaboration between public and non-profit organizations within the city of Monterey, whose mission is to “promote and interpret Monterey’s rich history to its visitors and citizens, as well as to safeguard Monterey’s cultural heritage by preserving and protecting Monterey’s its historic buildings and collections for the betterment of generations to come”. Due to her position as a liaison between multiple cultural organizations and non-profits that specialize in heritage preservation and management around the region, she is consistently meeting with members of these organizations in order to evaluate their individual and collective goals as well as methods of conducting successful community outreach. She is familiar with general community heritage preservation issues, and has been heavily involved in community cultural events and preservation projects in the past. Mrs. Sammon has been vital to my research, as she has been able to not only fill me in on different community projects already taking place, but also point me in the direction of many other community stakeholders who have been able to help me in my research. Through my work with Mrs. Sammon, I have been able to meet and converse with other community members from different organizations including the Monterey Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Cannery Row Company, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Steinbeck Center, the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, the Association of Monterey Area Preservationists, Naval Postgraduate School, California State Parks, the Japanese Association of Monterey, the Monterey Chamber of Commerce, the Monterey Cultural Arts Commission, the Monterey Historical Society, the Museum of Monterey (MOM), Monterey State Historical Parks, the Arts Council for Monterey, and the Monterey Bay Public Library. These meetings and conversations have been central to identifying the major issues and themes which are important to the community, as well as coming up with a strategic plan to help to address them. Equally, they have allowed me to see the issues from various perspectives and vantage points, as each of these organizations often have different priorities and operating procedures.
After putting together my advisory committee, the first thing we did was sit down and discuss how the content of this project would best flow from and benefit the community. In order to do this, we took into account the concerns and discussions my committee members have heard (and been a part of) over the past couple years. Since all three of my committee members have been well-versed in community concerns and perspectives, I knew that their individual skillsets and knowledge (along with extensive experience) made them especially well-suited to inform me of what I should include in my research. Throughout this process, I feel that they have been a reliable source of insight, and by collaborating with them I feel that my research is reflective of the desires of the community.
Afterwards, we collectively identified multiple community values. They are listed and explained as follows:
Collective History and Identity:
There is shared community interest in preserving the structures and buildings which have played an important part of Monterey’s history as the locations of major historical events (both for the state of California and the United States). Many locals feel strongly connected to these structures, and desire to not only preserve them for generations to come, but also share their importance with outsiders (and even locals who are not aware of them).
There is also a strong shared community interest in preserving the stories and cultural influences which have strengthened the area’s diversity. This community prides itself on having a strong background and identity rooted in various industries such as fishing, canning, whaling, military operations, academia, and tourism. Many immigrants have come to the area to make a living in these industries since European explorers first arrived here, and this has resulted in the community being a place where many voices have come together to tell a unique story which is not often seen in other communities.
Cultural Richness:
The Monterey area has a strong love of culture that has been celebrated through the public art displays and cultural events (theater performances, history reenactments, musical and dance performances, community festivals, etc.). Monterey County residents are passionate about their talents and artistic backgrounds, and host many events in order to showcase their skills throughout the year for locals and visitors alike.
Local Trade and Community Sustainability:
The Monterey Peninsula’s commitment to buying local is especially notable, as there are many resources for supporting local farmers and merchants. The region hosts many fresh produce stands, and there are strict laws which prohibit the building of national chain stores in areas around the county. Residents are passionate about keeping their money within the local community, as well as sustaining local small business ventures.
After discussing community values (based on my informants’ experiences and input), the next logical step was to talk about issues the community is currently facing. These issues are seen as a hindrance to the values identified, and serve as the foundation for this project. They followed some very specific themes, and provided insight as to how exactly we could orient this project so that it was filling some of the objectives and goals of the community.
Some of the recurring themes are as follows:
There is a strong perceived lack of cohesion and collaboration throughout the many local cultural organizations, and a general lack of history and cultural education resources available (while there are many festivals throughout the summer time, the city’s cultural resources- existing historic structures, places- are not well advertised or organized). This was reflected in voiced concerns that people are often not able to access the historic structures and buildings which locals feel a strong connection to. This is mainly due to a lack of resources and funding within the community, as well as these culturally significant locations being managed and operated by different organizations not affiliated with one another (state parks, federal government, etc.).
Resources available to visitors and residents were lacking in either content or difficult to use. Maps and brochures are hard to follow, and websites dedicated to the Monterey area’s cultural assets are limited, and often not telling the “same story” as others.With the large number of tourists and incoming international residents this area experiences yearly, it has been unfortunate that most resources are only printed in English (with very few exceptions). This sentiment has been expressed extensively by my committee members, and is based on their discussions with members of the public.
There is a significant lack of representation of many cultural groups in the area, although some of these groups have been important in developing and strengthening the community into what it is today.
In reflecting on our discussions, it did not surprise me that these issues were identified as being major community concerns, as this has been exactly my personal experience as well.
Following our identification of both community values and issues, we discussed the benefits of collaboration in a project like this as well as what each of us would essentially get out of participating. I knew that by working with this specific group of people, I would gain the unique perspectives that would make my research meaningful. Also I knew that by doing a project like this, I would be able to connect with my community on a level that I have not experienced in other communities I’ve lived in. In addition to the above benefits, we also listed the following:
My blog would provide free advertising for community members to spread the word about their businesses (this was a benefit Thom Diggins identified, as he is constantly looking to increase the popularity of his walking tours).
An interactive project (such as a website) would allow all of us to add content we feel is especially important- as well as give the community a chance to tell their own stories and be keepers of the cultures they are passionate about.
This collaboration would give us a chance to sit down and articulate community assets, issues, and possible solutions in an informal way; where everyone has something to input and everyone is treated respectfully and listened to equally.
My individual blog would help my committee members (especially Mrs. Sammon and Mrs. Selfridge) by providing a cohesive list of culturally significant sites, events, organizations, and businesses. Mrs. Sammon and I talked about how this work specifically would benefit her in her work with Historic Monterey, as they conduct work with many people and organizations that might be able to utilize my research in the future.
In considering the dynamics of our collaboration and the benefits of working together, we also identified our desired outcomes. These are listed below.
Increased recognition of culturally significant places within the community
Increased awareness in the community about where are cultural assets (buildings, landmarks) are- and the stories, people, and events which define
them
Increased participation in cultural events by locals and non-locals
Increased awareness and education about the diversity of the area
Increased patronage at community family-owned small businesses
Increased ease of finding resources by newcomers to the area
Increased public input in heritage preservation efforts and organizations that would be able to utilize these lists in the future.
After listing our desired outcomes, we also discussed and listed the following set of task descriptions:
These tasks were not assigned to anyone specific, but instead have served as a list of steps we would apply to our collaboration and project. Since a lack of cohesion was a major issue, we decided that two achievable objectives would be to 1). make contact and devise a plan with local organizations in order to spread awareness about the community’s cultural resources, and 2). make a list of cultural events and history in my blog so that the information is accessible in one convenient location. By listing these objectives, we were able to come up with pragmatic approaches to eliminating these community concerns in a way that serves to sustain the community’s values of having a collective identity and history.
In an effort to identify theculturally significant buildings and sites around this community, I have conducted internet research as to what exists and what roles they have played in the region’s historic past (in addition to what they mean to the community today). I have listed them in my blog according to where they are, their cultural significance, and any relevant websites or contact information I have been able to find. With regards to the various cultural events, I have followed the same methodology in order to provide a comprehensive and centralized user-friendly resource that newcomers to the area could access.
Additionally, I found out that Historic Monterey has already been working on bringing various organizations together in order to promote the cultural heritage of the area. They have recently submitted a grant proposal, that if approved will provide funding for the renewal of collective cultural outreach and promotion efforts, as well as identify ways of “weaving together” the story of Monterey. This process is broken up into two phases, with the first one being to “review, assess, and develop an action plan for better collaborative outreach, community education, and promotion of Monterey as a historic place, and the second phase being the“implementation of prioritized activities of the plan (which will probably include a website portal and calendar, but could include a new program “History Happened Here” which would engage businesses, residents, and others- depending on the needs and interests of the group). Tish Sammon (of Historic Monterey) and I then sat down to discuss how the content of my blog could aid in this overall goal, and we decided that I would proceed with gathering community information, stories, and data that could ultimately be used in these community programs and help aid in building a large comprehensive website in the future.With regards to what will be featured on this website (or whatever form the larger project takes), we will ensure that the story we are telling is as authentic as possible by including as many community member’s voices as we have access to. In order to do this, we will solicit input from community members through public meetings about what should be included and the way it is presented (the details of these meetings have not yet been decided, as we will ultimately be conducting this research after the grant has been received).
In order to identify resources that could help raise awareness about our cultural assets, we specifically focused on organizations and tools that were widely available, and would appeal to both residents and tourists alike. To ensure a wide dissemination of the collected materials, we decided we would need to reach out to local media sources such as community online forums and newspapers/magazines, and organizations which promote tourism (e.g. Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau). We are currently working on plans to utilize these resources, and hope to achieve a working relationship with these organizations as we proceed in the future.
To combat the issue of a language barrier for many incoming residents, we have been working to identify and locate community members who may be interested in collaborating long-term to translate the literature which presently exists (in conjunction with the data I have been gathering throughout the creation of my blog). At this time, I do not have any specific sources I can mention; however, this will be an ongoing collaborative goal. It is my hope that as I build my blog, we will be able to incorporate the translations that will allow more people to utilize this project in the future. By locating and working with individuals who can help us translate the content of our project so that it is accessible to a larger segment of the community, we are helping to promote cultural awareness by eliminating any lack of representation of cultural groups within the community.This is especially helpful in maintaining the community’s values of cultural richness and wanting to promote local trade and community sustainability. Bypromoting cultural assets in languages other than English, this project would ultimately allow a larger demographic to participate in the local community culture.
Since there has been concern voiced about various cultural groups not being represented in local historic sites and community events, I have contacted some key local individuals who represent these groups (and have a strong interest in maintaining their cultural identity throughout the community) in order to conduct personal interviews in the future (which will ultimately be used in the final website). Although I cannot specifically name them at this point (due to interviewing standards set by the Goucher Institutional Review Board), I hope to include voices representing the local Native American, Portuguese, Hispanic, Japanese, and Chinese communities. I am confident that the inclusion of these voices will help to better tell the story of the area.
In addition to meeting with various community stakeholders, I also put together a series of questionnaires which I will distribute to willing participants at Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) here in Monterey at a later date. Since my husband is currently a student there, I have been able to gain access to a very specific group of newcomers (military and civilian families alike who are associated with the school). By interviewing these members of the community (many of them are also used to moving frequently), I will be able to gain a new perspective on what these families look for when they arrive to a new location. Since many of the students who come to NPS are foreigners, I will be able to discern thoseresources and qualities of a community which are most valuable to international residents. Upon successfully obtaining this information, it is our collaborative goal to eventually work with other education organizations here(as well as organizations that cater to incoming residents) in the further development of this project.
Naturally, my individual research has been greatly influenced by the many different resources available to me. I have used the internet to locate everything from different ethnic stores and restaurants, to historic landmarks and various cultural events. Influenced by the suggestions of my advisory committee, I have focused on locating landmarks representative of the underrepresented cultural groups here. Specifically, I have researched the history of, and walked through the neighborhood lovingly referred to as “Spaghetti Hill” here in Monterey that Spanish, Portugese, and Sicilian fishermen first called home in the early 1900’s. The neighborhood was built to house these immigrants as they came to the area to work in the local sardine and fishing industry which was booming at the time (Lyons). The director of the Central Intelligence Agency Leon Panetta is from Monterey, and also grew up in Spaghetti Hill as the son of Italian immigrants. His parents owned Carmelos Café in Monterey, where he often washed dishes as a young child (Fertig
Panneton). Today this neighborhood is an eclectic mix of architectural styles and influences, and this character is being preserved through recent efforts by city planners through zoning initiatives that would deem the area as historically significant.
I have walked along and photographed the shore of Point Alones on the eastern boundary of Pacific Grove where there once stood a thriving Chinese village which was the home of immigrant fishermen and their families. I toured the remaining cannery buildings (across from where the village was located) and looked through the pictures taken of this village before a suspicious fire burned it down in 1906. Today the buildings stand as a small
shopping mall. Where shoe and candy stores now stand, there used to be rooms which provided the space where canning machines once whirred and provided a moderate income for the wives and daughters (primarily) of the Chinese and Japanese fishermen who worked in the bay.
I have walked through and taken notes and photographs of the old Japanese section of Monterey where the Nihonjinkai (Japanese Association) building still stands. The California Japantowns organizations states that the first floor of this building is primarily devoted to a large hall with a raised stage where traditional Kabuki theater was performed and Japanese language movies were screened, and classrooms take up much of the second story ("Preserving California's Japantowns"). They also state that this building was used as a National Guard Armory during the war, and as a hostel for returning Nikkei in the post-war period. Today, it serves as a meeting place for the Japanese American Citizens League ("Preserving California's Japantowns"). In addition to exploring and documenting this building, I walked the nearby streets where there once stood a thriving section of town which served as the local Japanese community before World War II. This area boasted two general stores, a cleaner, a hotel, three restaurants, two insurance offices, a beauty shop, barbershop, three pool halls and bathhouses, an art goods store and a net shop (all owned by Japanese Americans) ("Preserving California's Japantowns"). Although nothing remains of these buildings now, I found that by simply walking around where they used to stand, I somehow felt a connection to the Japanese Americans who used to live there.
I have attended and photographed multiple festivals in Monterey over the past few months, including the Greek Festival, the Italian Festival, and the Turkish Festival. At these festivals I had the opportunity to taste region-specific food, enjoy culturally significant music and entertainment, and browse unique handmade gifts and wares being sold at vendor booths. I spoke with people at these festivals who explained to me that this was their “opportunity to showcase their culture for everyone else”.
Recently I attended and photographed the Christmas in the Adobes event which is a joint collaboration between multiple cultural organizations here in the area, and features 22 historic structures (some public, some private) which are all tied to Monterey’s history as a Spanish port town and military community. At this event, I had the opportunity to experience Monterey’s unique heritage as a Spanish community prior to Americans claiming the area-and the state of California in 1846), and explore some of the gardens that are associated with these adobes. In a recent article about the event posted in the San Francisco Chronicle, Michael Green, manager of Monterey State Historic Park, said “There's something about a strong community spirit, about something everyone does during the holidays. You see a really happy community, families out together, with their children, seeing these buildings in a different way," he explained. "It's a different experience than going into a business that's operating out of the adobe during the day. When you see it at night, decorated with volunteers in historic wardrobe that are eager to share their history of that place, it means so much more, and it sheds new light in our community” (Cooper).
During this event, I enjoyed watching reenactments of Spanish dances at the custom house (the first American built building in California), and listened to local narrators and historians explain how California’s first theater was originally built as a hotel for military officers to spend the night, but then evolved into a theater (performances were conducted by these young officers in order to make the money necessary to buy weapons and uniforms) and a bar. I visited the Monterey Hotel which opened in 1904, and was described as “the most unique and elegantly furnished European hotel west of Chicago” ("Monterey History"), as well as Casa Soberanes where my family and I were treated to traditional Mexican Horchata (a drink made with milk, rice, vanilla, and cinnamon) and pastries. Casa Soberanes was originally built in the 1840’s by Rafael Estrada, and has been the home of various other community members through time. Today the gardens of this elegant home feature wine bottles, whale bones, and abalone shells. On display inside
are beautiful furnishings which are a blend of early New England and China pieces mixed in with modern folk art ("California Department of Parks and
Recreation ").
Another unique opportunity I had was to participate in Thom Diggins’ Historic Monterey Walking Tour, which snakes through downtown and the adobes and tells the story of the area; starting with the Native Americans that first lived here. Mr. Diggins spoke extensively about the history of Monterey, and about how the Spanish conquistadors claimed the area for Spain- only to be ousted by the Mexicans after Mexico gained independence from Spain. Pledging allegiance to Mexico,Monterey becomes part of Mexico until the “Treaty of Guatalupe Hidalgo” is signed, ceding California and other Mexican territories to the US ("City of Monterey California "). He explained how Monterey served as the state’s capital (originally called Alta, California) until 1849 when the capital becomes San Jose. He took us through the adobes (that were open to the public), explaining each one’s significance, and who lived in them. He showed us the remnants of the local whaling industry which was booming in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s here, which included a stop at the Old Monterey Whaling Station. The whaling station is now a landmark owned and operated by the California Department of Parks and Recreation, and features a sidewalk made entirely of whale vertebrae (the last remaining one of its kind) ("California Department of Parks and Recreation "). He also took us up to Colton Hall (among other places not mentioned), where the constitution of California was written and signed, and now houses authentic artifacts and replica documents relating to these proceedings. It was a unique experience as a newcomer, because it got me out of my vehicle, and allowed me to retrace the steps of the famous men who fought to make the state what it is today.
In addition to attending these events and exploring these culturally significant sites around the community, I have also been able to eat at various local family-owned ethnic restaurants which have given me a glimpse of how food traditions have been carried on by immigrants to the area. A few of the restaurants I ate at were Pepper’s Mexicali Café (a favorite among locals, and consistently ranked as the number one Mexican restaurant in Pacific Grove by locals), Gianni’s Pizza in Monterey featuring authentic Italian food, and the International Marketplace in Monterey which offers traditional Greek gyros, falafels, and other staple Mediterranean foods. I was not able to interview the owners of these establishments during the capstone period, but I will be including interviews with them as part of my blog in the future.
With regards to how I chose to visit and document these events, businesses, and cultural sites, there was no specific methodology I followed. However, I tried to concentrate on exploring a variety of events and places so that I could get a feeling of not only how the community has perpetuated the cultural roots of the people who have made this area unique, but also so I could see how the local landscape has changed and evolved over time. This has helped me to understand my greater theoretical questions involving processes of community integration, who the original settlers of the county were (and why they came), their struggles and successes, and what makes this place so much different than other places I’ve been. Throughout this journey, my documentation through photographs, notes, and speaking with others has helped me better understand not only the places I have gone and the people who made these places significant, but also what it means to truly be a part of this community.
Finally, I have conducted community research at local libraries, including the Mayo Hayes O'Donnel Library, and the Monterey Public Library, as well as visited the Monterey Historical Society and various community museums and art galleries. Similar to my experiences in locating culturally significant places and events, I also decided to go to these galleries and museums based on what I had either heard about them (from locals I talked to), or their perceived influence on this project. Although the decision to document certain aspects of this community has been mine individually (in the creation of my blog), I will most certainly seek the advice and recommendations of my advisory committee on what will ultimately be contained within the larger project. It is my intent that we will work to seek input from various community members on which specific stories we tell, and how they are conveyed. Unfortunately the documentation of an entire region is a large and time consuming project, and thus I was not able to find nearly as much information as I would have liked. In the future, I would like to continue my research, while building upon the content of the blog. Specifically, I would like to work with my committee in order to identify more of the local Spanish and Mexican culture, as well as Native American culture. These two groups have not been intentionally left out of my documentation; there simply was not enough time to physically get out and gather as much data as I wanted to. I was able to include some information about the Native American cultural influences and history in the region, but it is specifically from the internet, and does not reflect any personal documentation (which I would prefer to do in the future). In addition to showcasing more of these specific groups through my blog (and our eventual larger project), I would also like to collect more photographs and notes about the communities I was able to document through this journey. Clearly I have barely scratched the surface of what actually exists here, but I am confident that my research and documentation has paved the way for the considerable work which needs to be done in the future.
My advisory committee has been in integral part of my research plan, as we have collectively decided who the underrepresented cultural groups are in the area (Native Americans, Chinese, Japanese, and Hispanics, respectively) and what I could specifically focus my ethnographic documentation on. In the beginning of this collaboration we sat down and identified the various ethnic groups who have settled the region, and talked about the different resources I could utilize in order to learn about their history and presence in the area. Some of the key resources we listed were local libraries, various Monterey-specific websites, and even the contact information for different community members I could interview as the project progressed. As I conducted my fieldwork, I continuously advised my committee on what I was researching as well as any difficulty I was having finding resources. We conversed regularly about my progress and if there were any changes to my research plan they felt I should implement. I have shared my blog address with them, and welcomed suggestions on the format and content of my blog throughout this project. As of yet there have been no major disagreements
regarding the specific data I’ve collected, and I have allowed my fieldwork to change directions as I have had different opportunities to experience local
culture. This is mainly due to the fact that after successful completion of phase 1 of this project, we will be working together closely to ensure the information we include in the larger community project is reflective of the desires of the committee members (as well as any participating community members). At this time I do not know what specifically will be included or excluded (of the research data I’ve already collected), as we will make decisions about this in the future as we see fit.
My Findings
My ethnographic fieldwork has given me a great new insight into the lives of the people who have made the Monterey Peninsula their home. Through my research, I have learned about people like Roy Hattori who was born and raised in Monterey before having to relocate to a Japanese Internment Camp in 1942 as part of Executive Order 9066. In the interviews I watched, Mr. Hattori details what life was like in Monterey and what it was like to be one of the first abalone divers in the area. He speaks eloquently about how difficult it was to make a living as an abalone diver, as well as how tight the abalone diving community was.
My research has also taught me about the fire of 1906 which wiped out the Chinese fishing village at Point Alones. The fishermen who lived in this village made their living by catching cod, halibut, flounder, yellowtail, sardines, squid and shark- as well as oysters and mussels from the bay waters (Kemp). They harvested these fish and sold them to fishmongers in San Francisco, as well as the miners in The Sierra Nevada Mountains. Whatever fish was not sent to these places usually ended up being shipped back to their home province of Canton, China (Kemp). Their success fueled animosity and conflict between them and the Italian-American fishermen, as they were seen as competition. Due to anti-Chinese sentiment in California, many laws were passed that greatly restricted Chinese fishing operations in Monterey Bay. The fire that started on May 16th, 1906 not only was of suspicious origin, but also revealed just how much animosity was present between the Chinese community and the non-Chinese locals. As the fire burned and people scrambled to save their loved ones and possessions, non-Chinese locals stood above the village, laughing and pointing as they watched without offering any assistance. In the morning after the flames had been extinguished, many of these same people looted what was left of the village in search of valuables. Despite this experience, the village’s resilient Chinese people sought work in other industries around the peninsula and continue to thrive in the area today.
In researching the local Native American culture, I learned about how there were three major groups; the Ohlone, the Esselen, and the Salinan, and that these Native groups traded extensively with others throughout the state (and beyond). They often traded items such as obsidian and seashells, and ate a diet mostly consisting of fish, seeds, grasses, and a mush made of acorns. As the Spanish missionaries came and converted them to Christianity, much of the indigenous culture was lost; and very little can be seen today. However, I also learned that there is still indigenous rock art present in remote areas throughout the county, which helps tell the stories of the first people here.
While this is only a very small amount of the knowledge I have learned about the local landscape, these three examples are a testament to the resiliency and courage shown by the original people and settlers here. In considering the plight of the Chinese fishermen whose village was burned to the ground, I can see that their strong work ethic and sense of community was far more powerful than those flames. As many village members went on to find work elsewhere and successfully reintegrate themselves into different segments of the community, they did so with a strong spirit that could not be broken. Thinking about the men who fought off enemies in order to declare the state of California as part of the United States, it is clear to me that the sense of identity and connection to this place that locals have had throughout the years here is infallible. The grief and heartache experienced by the Native Americans after the Spanish missionaries arrived has given way to creative expressionism that can still be seen today.
In all, I learned that this community is not merely a place; but rather the gathering spot for many different people from many different backgrounds. Every immigrant who came here brought with them a unique set of cultural values, customs, and ideologies that has helped to shape the peninsula into the diverse landscape it is today. Through collaborating with my advisory committee and conducting my own research, I learned that integration into a community is much more than simply moving to a place, but rather a strong commitment to providing a promising life for your family and making connections and forming relationships with those around you. The people that have made a life here for themselves against all odds are what makes this community special. This sentiment is reflective of my original capstone questions involving community values and the integration and processes of joining and shaping a community.
Literature/Resource Review
For this project I turned to various articles and books centered on many different topics. First and foremost, I knew that in order to make the content of my blog meaningful (and have it make the most impact) I must conduct research into concepts and literature surrounding the evolution of human societies, the various paths of community integration, and community building. I wanted to explore these concepts, as I tried to answer the following questions: What do locals value, and how do they integrate themselves into a new place? What are the processes of joining and shaping a community?
In trying to answer these questions, the first piece of literature I consulted is titled Paths of Community Integration by Avery M. Guest and Keith R. Stamm. Guest and Stamm list the various paths of community integration, and posit that the different paths people choose to integrate themselves into a new community are often dictated by the different social statuses and characteristics they represent. This means that people have different motivations and goals when they immigrate into a new community, and often these are based on where they are in life (age, occupation, education levels, etc.). They hypothesize that those who are older and more advanced in their careers, often seek out stronger connections with others in their communities- whether they’re personal connections or organizational connections. They are more likely to want to be involved in community social organizations, as well as political and local civic organizations. They often place finding employment as being less important than seeking out community connections, and are less concerned with the routine necessities that a younger person might categorize as being more important. Conversely, those younger respondents often placed finding stores, employment, and doctors as the most important factor when becoming integrated into a new community (and therefore emphasizing personal and community connections as being less important than basic services). In applying this information to this project, I decided that I really needed to present my blog in such a way that would appeal to the broadest group of newcomers as possible. While there is certainly a large group of older community members who are well-established in their careers, there is a substantial demographic of younger professionals who
need access to basic necessities and community resources. Given this information, I decided that it was imperative to not only focus on the cultural traditions and history of the area that someone more established in life may appreciate, but really go out of my way to identify and categorize the various functional community resources that are necessary for basic livability. Since this project is focused on cultural connections and community, it has been my goal to integrate these resources in a way that is in line with my original project orientation. Specifically, I have tried to concentrate on businesses
that started locally, and have a unique story to tell. This approach is important, as it helps to solidify and carry on the community values that were discussed in our meetings.
Another piece of literature regarding community interaction I found to be helpful in building this project, is titled Sense of Community: A Definition and Theory by David McMillan and David M. Chavis George. Inthis article, the authors suggest that communities are built by both physical boundaries, and relational factors. They state that there are four distinct characteristics which make up a “sense of community”, and that these characteristics are important factors for newcomers to any area. These four characteristics are membership, influence, integration and fulfillment of needs, and shared emotional connection. They describe membership as the “belonging or of sharing a sense of personal relatedness” and influence as a “sense of mattering, of making a difference to a group and of the group mattering to its members” (McMillan and Chavis George ). Integration and fulfillment of needs is described as “the feeling that members' needs will be met by the resources received through their membership in the group” (McMillan and Chavis George ). Finally, shared emotional connection is the “commitment and belief that members have shared and will share history, common places, time together, and similar experiences”(McMillan and Chavis George ). I really thought this piece was applicable to this work, as it is important to remember the factors that make people interested in a new community, as well as the ways in which they begin to truly feel like a member of that group. Keeping this in mind, I wanted to create something that would facilitate a strong feeling of belonging and inclusiveness for anyone who accessed this work; regardless of whether they have lived here for a long time, or are recent immigrants from somewhere else. I wanted them to feel like although they may be new and unfamiliar with the area, they are part of a larger social construct built on shared interests, traditions, goals, andexperiences.
Although I knew that the target audience was primarily community residents (both new and non-new residents), I also understand that since this community’s economy is primarily based in tourism, this project must also account for this. It is completely logical that this work will not only affect locals, but that tourists may utilize it as well. Since I wanted to focus on the area’s cultural heritage, traditions, and histories, I knew that I must consult literature which identifies both the advantages and pitfalls of cultural heritage tourism. An article I found to be especially helpful in researching cultural heritage
tourism is titled Heritage Tourism Planning Guidebook Methods for Implementing Heritage Tourism Programs in Sussex County, Delaware, and is written by Xuan Jiang and Andrew Homsey. This article talks extensively about the benefits of cultural tourism, and serves as a guide for implementing heritage tourism programs. In the past it has been well documented that cultural heritage tourism can have substantial positive effects on any community. It can help protect and preserve local resources such as museums, monuments, and archaeological sites, as people become more interested in visiting and experiencing different cultures. As more people visit these places, the communities that host them often experience various immense economic benefits including new businesses, increased jobs, and higher property taxes. These benefits can also be seen through visitor fees collected at the sites as well as more money spent throughout the local hospitality industry (restaurants, hotels, etc.). Tourism can be significant in helping maintain the host culture, as awareness grows when host communities promote their cultural heritage sites. This can be especially beneficial for communities that have experienced a decline in local identifiable culture due to various factors such as in-migration of other groups and loss of financial resources used to maintain cultural sites (Jiang, and Homsey).
Although cultural heritage tourism can have a profound positive impact on a community, it can also create a myriad of problems. Tourism in general can create an increase in local pollution levels, congestion, increased costs involved in providing public services (police, medical, etc.) and infrastructure, and increased physical damage to those places visited the most. In addition to these factors, cultural tourism specifically can be detrimental to local culture. As people interact, an exchange of beliefs and values takes place between locals and non-locals. While this can be positive in that it broadens the limits of local culture, it also has the potential of decreasing its authenticity (Chew).
This understanding of cultural heritage tourism has broad implications for this project, as I needed to remember not only who the intended audience is, but also any potential negative impact this work might have on the people of this community. I have tried to remain continuously cognizant of the fact that I would be interviewing locals, and their voices may end up accessible to tourists (and ultimately used as a commodity). Due to this possibility, I will be taking steps to reduce this potential through carefully worded documentation provided by Goucher College professors. Additionally, I have consulted various resources which have given me guidance in proceeding through the future of this project. One of these resources is UNESCO, who in a report titled Cultural Tourism and Heritage Management in the World Heritage Site of the Ancient Town of Hoi An Vietnam, suggests that substantial public participation in tourism planning helps to mitigate potential negative impacts. They recommend developing participatory stakeholder strategies for tourism development and management that consider the carrying capacity of the cultural and natural resources, along with encouraging greater inclusion of the residents in decision making processes (as well as making sure they understand the perceptions of all stakeholders and adapting planning processes accordingly) in order to help alleviate any negative impact on local community members (UNESCO). Although this project itself was not created to promote tourism, I understand the potential for this and will continuously involve community stakeholders in dialogue and any action that will directly affect them.
Since a large part of this project has involved building and working within a partnership capacity (organizational, as well as personal), I researched the processes and effective strategies of creating strong community collaborations in hopes that I could apply what I learned to this project. An article I found to be especially useful in my own project was written by Barbara A. Holland and Sherril B. Gelmon, and is titled The State of the Engaged Campus: What Have We Learned About Building and Sustaining University-Community Partnerships. Although the article is based on academic student-community collaborations (in the context of internships, service-learning, practica, and capstones), it is written from the perspective of top-level university personnel. While it mainly focuses on questions regarding whether education institutions should send their students out into the community for a more hands-on approach, it also provides some very useful information about what effective student-community partnerships and collaborations should look like. In this article, the authors state that “most people understand that successful partnerships focus on mutual benefits. We describe effective partnerships as knowledge-based collaborations in which all partners have things to teach each other, things to learn from each other, and things they will learn together. We have seen that an effective partnership builds the capacity of each partner to accomplish its own mission while also working together” (Holland and Gelmon, 107). This passage really resonated with me as I proceeded through this project. It has consistently stood as a reminder that although I am committed to learning as much about this community as I can, I also have a unique skill set to offer both my advisory committee, and the community as a whole. The ability of an outsider to come into any community and analyze the cultural programming pitfalls and successes from a fresh and independent perspective is of intrinsic value to anyone. While I was consistently aware of my place as a newcomer (and therefore someone not specifically knowledgeable about the local culture and how the different organizations operated with one another), I had to consistently remind myself that I (as an academic student of cultural sustainability) was an asset to them. On multiple occasions my committee members commented on how nice it was to have someone “fresh” come in and look at the processes, procedures, successes, and failures (and offering suggestions or advice based on what I have learned through my courses when necessary) that have taken place. As long as I felt like I was contributing knowledge or expertise when appropriate, and listening and really engaging in these conversations and meetings, I knew my project was a true culmination of what the community desires.
In this article, the authors also state that “while partnerships take many purposes and forms, there are common features associated with success which most define as sustainability” (Holland and Gelmon, 108). They conclude that“sustainable partnerships have the following characteristics: (1) there are mutually agreed upon goals; (2) success is defined and outcomes are measured in both institutional and community terms (in my case, student and
community terms); (3) control of the agenda is vested primarily in community hands; (4) effective use and enhancement of community capacity are based on clear identification of community resources and strengths; (5) the educational component has clear consequences for the community and institution; and (6) there is an ongoing commitment to evaluation that involves all partners" (Holland and Gelmon, 108).
These benchmarks are valuable tools to keep in mind when working with any group, as they provide a clear set of standards by which to measure effective collaboration. As we collaborated together, the first thing we did was decide upon a list of goals that would essentially benefit all parties equally. I knew that I needed to create a capstone product that would provide for the needs of the community in a way that was accessible and beneficial to everyone, and they gave me advice on the different things my blog should contain in order to be effective. By listing my research findings in one cohesive place, my committee and I will be able to use that information in the future to build upon and expand. Also my blog will serve as a point of free advertising for not only my committee members, but also members of the community (especially with regards to listing businesses and events). In this case, success was defined and outcomes were measured in terms that were mutually beneficial to both myself (as a student), and the community I worked with. We decided that we had a very specific set of things we wanted to see accomplished (more collaboration between organizations, better awareness and education of community cultural assets, and a resolution to issues such as language barriers and poor or inaccurate data available), and through our work together, I was able to at least address these issues with my work (and follow through with their recommendations to the best of my abilityand within the scope of my project). Throughout this project I have been consistently aware that control of the agenda must be in community hands, in order for this to be a project that would have any real meaning and valuefor the community. This has been perhaps one of the biggest considerations throughout this project, as it has always been my intent to be an agent of cultural sustainability (specifically here in the Monterey area), in that I am working to sustain the cultures this community cares about. Thus in order to create a project that truly reflects the values and agenda of the community, the content (and use of that content) has been continuously dictated by the voices of the cultural advisors. Through meetings (both in person and email) we have worked together to identify community issues (based on the observations and conversations my committee members have had with others), decipher goals, objectives, and desired outcomes (based on this information), and discuss possible approaches and models this project can take in the future. Through the inclusion of all interested community members in our future collaboration, we will be able to ensure (to the best of our ability) that the will of the community is carefully considered and reflected in our work. This is the only way this project will truly have any real meaning for those it has been intended to benefit.
With regards to community strengths, I tried to focus on identifying advisors who would be able to giveme different perspectives based on their strengths and positions within the community. Knowing that I needed representatives from various industries and organizations, I specifically sought out individuals who would see things differently and be able to give me information that others may not be privy to. I think this approach has been integral to this project, as people see strength and weakness in different areas, depending on what their community orientation is.
Additionally, I think it is vitally important when you’re doing any sort of community outreach program, to consistently evaluate progress throughout the duration of the project. This is important, because it allows for deep analysis along the way of what is- and what is not- working in the process. Thus we have continuously discussed both my research, and the progress of the overall project. Since this project has focused on the cultural needs of this community, it has been crucial to keep an open mind along the way. This has helped to accommodate any new findings and revelations made throughout the process, and address any pertinent issues which have become apparent. Evaluation will continue to be vitally important as this first part of the project is completed (phase 1 of the capstone), and we move onto phase 2.
Other literature which has had a great influence on my research has come from sources dealing with conducting interviews and writing ethnographies. Since personal interviews will eventually be included in my blog (and later will be added to any larger community project my blog influences), I have turned to a few key authors I am familiar with for advice and reference. These authors include Herbert J. Rubin (author of Qualitative Interviewing), H.L. Goodall Jr. (author of Writing the New Ethnography), David M. Fetterman (author of Ethnography: Step by Step (Applied Social Research Methods)) and Charlotte Aull Davies (author of Reflexive Ethnography). These readings have been rewarding in that they have provided some very basic (and more complex) steps and approaches to conducting personal interviews. Through them I have gained valuable insight on the methodology of choosing interviewees, the types of questions which reveal the most complete and sincere answers, and how to write up my findings which appropriately account for the context and reliability of my data. As we go forward with this project in the future, I feel that it is important to remember exactly what my personal objectives are (with regards to my blog-and what I want this project to eventually look like), and how I can personally meet those objectives while still remaining sincere and receptive to the people I work with. These readings in the practice of ethnography have provided me with a strong foundation I can continue to build on; both throughout the duration of this project, and beyond.
Finally, knowing that I would need to eventually need to find a way to permanently house the data I have collected, I have conducted research into various methods of marketing my research and making it sustainable for the future. I have looked at various community resources which serve as a successful repository for this work, as well as spoken with community consultants who represent local libraries and institutions. As I work with community organizations such as Historic Monterey (and possibly others) in the future, I will utilize these resources as they will generate interest in this project through their own efforts. With regards to my online blog (where I have been collecting my community data), I found a book titled The New Rules of Marketing and PR by David Fetterman to be useful. Specifically, he illustrates how important utilizing various approaches is (blogging, advertising, using social networking sites) to making sure your audience actually sees the product you are trying to sell. While it has never been my intent to make any sort of financial gain with this work, I deeply value the capacity this project to facilitate significant change in the Monterey area, and I desire to promote our efforts on a level that will benefit as many people as possible. As we move forward with the final product of this research (whatever form my blog takes in the future), I will have to consistently focus on the ways technology is changing and evolving- and what that means for effective dissemination of my research.
In addition to researching ways of sustaining my blog, I have also explored some models of successful community projects which could potentially influence this project. One of the resources I found to be helpful was a collaborative project between the Doig River First Nation Elders, youth, and leaders and ethnographers, linguists, and web-designers designed to record the people, songs, experiences, and stories that connect the Doig River First Nation to the land. The material they collected over a one month period was eventually used to create an online exhibit titled “Drummers and the Land” ("Virtual Museum Canada "). This model of collaboration is helpful, because it gives great insight into how people within a community can come together to not only celebrate their collective identity, but also to record it for preservation. As the second phase of our project ensues, it will be beneficial to research this collaboration to see if there are any elements involved that we can use as inspiration for our own work. Another helpful model worth discussing in the future is the “Let’s Be Shore” project, which was created by the Maryland Humanities Council’s Practicing Democracy Program. The project was created to start a respectful dialogue between people living on Maryland’s Eastern Shore about land use, agriculture, the economy, and water quality along the shore ("Let's Be Shore- Sharing views of what it is like to live on Maryland's Eastern Shore"). This project has made use of an interactive website (where community members can participate and contribute), and features photography and film in order to educate residents about the issues facing their community. This model of community interaction is a great example of bringing voices together through the use of technology, and serves as an excellent resource for my committee as we proceed. In addition to the two models mentioned, we will continue to research and evaluate further examples of successful community engagement and collaboration as we try to create a project that is sustainable and useful to people of the region.
Throughout this project and my research (both in academic materials and the community itself), the many different sources I have utilized have provided me with unique viewpoints which have often challenged the way I previously thought about an issue or how to approach a situation. It has been my consistent quest throughout this project to ultimately answer one specific question: what is the collective fabric of our shared experiences, and what sorts of literature would help me discover the answer to this? While I feel that I have scratched the surface of this question through careful inquiry and analysis, I feel that there is great work still to be done. It is my hope that I will be able to further investigate issues within community organizing and planning processes, and that my ongoing interest and inquiry will only enhance the quality of any continued work.
Conclusion
As I have reflected on the process of putting together this project, I am struck by not only the scope of the work itself, but also the implications and effects it has had on my own life. Through research and personal reflection, I have learned not only about my new community, but also about myself. I have gone outside of my comfort zone and sought out new connections- both personal and professional. Through my experiences, I have learned that one of the best ways to identify and nurture traditions of knowledge and practice is to ask the right questions. Who are the culture bearers? What can they offer the communities they live in? What are their stories, and what are they passionate about? Through the construction of a community cultural advisory committee, I was able to ascertain the insider voice I was looking for; these are the voices that would make my project meaningful to the community overall. Through a very pragmatic approach and specific steps (conducting surveys, holding stakeholder meetings, conducting ethnographic fieldwork, etc.), we were able to identify community goals and values and apply this knowledge in a way that would not only benefit the community presently, but also well beyond the length of this project (and ultimately, my permanent departure from the area).
As a student of cultural sustainability, I have had the distinct responsibility of aligning my work and actions with field discourse, practices, and processes in a way that will hopefully stand as an example for my colleagues (both present and future). Through this work, I have learned the importance of encouraging others to become involved in their own communities through awareness, interest, and passion just as I have had the privilege of doing. Through this project and my own work within this community, I have gained an immense appreciation for what it means to truly energize those marginalized members of society, so that they are more inclined to participate not only in their own communities, but also their culture on a deeper level. It is my hope that this project, which is essentially a small piece of a larger cultural context and dialogue, will stand as an example of what one individual can do in an unfamiliar landscape.
Through this work, I have learned what people can achieve both individually, and collectively. I have seen that when people become more connected with one another and their personal landscape, they are more inclined to take steps to preserve these relationships and connections over the long term. As we come together through shared interests and goals, our efforts can have a dramatic effect on cultures which sustain not only ourselves, but also the planet.
When we strengthen our community ties (whether we’re only staying for a short amount of time, or planning on becoming a permanent member of a community), we become excited about not only our shared past, but also our future together. Along with community awareness comes pride, and an understanding that we are all in this together. When we experience a deeper sense of place (both individually and collectively), we are more drawn to civic engagement and better understand the necessity to preserve community cultural values. This project has taught me that even the smallest actions can lead to broader results and larger movements. This sentiment can be applied to not only future community projects like this one, but also help contribute to peace and social justice. When we come together as a community and understand that we are all individually valuable members of a
larger society, we truly have the capacity to positively influence others in a way that encourages cultural health and equity in a diverse and unequal world.
As I reflect again on Angelou’s words “I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself”, I am reminded that although the first phase of my capstone is concluding, this process of soul-searching and finding meaning and value in unfamiliar land is truly an ongoing endeavor. Sometimes it is the mere process of building networks and asking the right questions which will yield the answers which you find most helpful; not only as a student, but as a member of any community. When we reach out to strangers and engage with them in a truly meaningful way, we eventually find that we’re not the outsiders we perceive ourselves to be; but rather members of the larger community context. Thus we are not merely researching the stories; we are helping to tell them-and we are part of them. It is only when we realize this that we will truly be “home”.
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Graduate Student, Goucher
College
Baltimore, Maryland
Capstone Reflective Paper
Fall
2012
Exploring the Monterey Peninsula through the Eyes of Locals
I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.
-Maya Angelou
Introduction
Angelou’s words not only speak to me, they inspire me; especially as a military wife. Just as I get comfortable somewhere, I am forced to pick up and move on. I must leave behind a life that I have built, only to make new friends, find a new job, and establish a new life for myself. I must learn how to navigate my way through my new home, both figuratively and metaphorically. Not only do I have to learn how to get around and where things are, but I also need to learn about the community I find myself in. What sort of resources can I find that will help my family quickly adjust? Will we be able to find a neighborhood that we feel comfortable in? What is there to do for fun or recreation? What are locals passionate about? What do they do in their free time? What drives people to live here? Why do they stay? What types of opportunities are there to truly experience the culture of my new home? Once I start to answer these questions, I finally start to feel like I am a member of a community.
However, this integration into the local culture often takes time and understanding. As someone who recently moved into a new community, I am experiencing these challenges right now. I moved to the Monterey Peninsula on the central California coast, and until now I had never been here before. I had no connections here, and knew nothing of the local area. As I searched for literature about the area, I quickly found that the majority of the available information was focused on tourist activities such as golf, wine tasting, outdoor recreational adventures, and shopping. While these things are certainly important, as someone trained in anthropology, I wanted more. I knew that by digging a little further, I could start to piece together a more comprehensive picture of the peninsula. I wanted to know the history of the area, as well as who the settlers were and where they came from (and why they came). I wanted to know how families have made a living here throughout the years, how they made this place their home, how they fit in, and I wanted to know about their struggles and successes. I wanted to understand what exactly it is that makes this place so special, and what sets it apart from every other city or town I have lived in or passed briefly through.
As I started to do research however, I noticed that the information available was fragmented at best. Every organization in the area had their own website, but the history I found was not always the same, depending on the source. It was hard to find information regarding specific cultural events I had heard about, and the information I did find was often incorrect or contradicted by another website. As I tried to get out and navigate my way through the community, I would find signs which pointed me in the direction of a major cultural landmark-only to find out the signs were old and the landmark was either gone or had moved somewhere else. It was frustrating, and I often gave up and decided I’d try again another day.
As I learned about the history of the area, I became familiar with the different groups who settled in the region. I started looking for evidence of these groups in the local landscape, and found that often times, many traces of this area’s unique
heritage had been wiped away by widespread commercial development and accompanying residential turnover. Since I knew this area is home to various programs and schools which cater to international scholars and professionals, I knew that other people coming to the area might have a difficult time identifying with the culture of the area based on the confusion I experienced. While there was no language barrier for me personally, I am well aware that it is often even more difficult to find adequate resources if someone does not speak the local language, or is unfamiliar with the traditions, histories, or
prominent cultural attributes of an area. In reflecting on my own experiences moving to the area, I knew I wanted to do something that could make a difference for other people moving here. When I was trying to put together a capstone
project, I expressed my interests in the local culture and that I was having a difficult time piecing together the information available. It was suggested to me that I do a cultural guide to the Monterey Peninsula, and instantly I knew that this would be the perfect project for me. My capstone committee and I decided that this project would be broken into two phases with the first phase being the formation of a local community advisory committee who would assist me in developing the content for a blog which would ultimately be used by newcomers (and visitors alike) to the Monterey Peninsula in California. Working together, we would develop a consensual work plan and come up with desired outcomes. The second phase would be the development of an interactive website (or whatever form my committee decided on) that would serve as the repository for the data I collected.
Since it’s been difficult to find things to do that match my interests, as well as places that make me feel like I’m at home, I knew that we would need to focus on creating a product that I kne would appeal to people with various interests and backgrounds. I wanted to do this project for not only myself, so I could learn about my new community- but also for those who come after me, so that they might transition easier. I wanted to create something so that they not only feel welcome, but rather they feel as if they are an important and contributing member of the local community- because they are. Whether they’re only in a new place for a few years at a time (as I often find myself), or plan on staying indefinitely, they need to be aware of where things are, as well as the resources available to them. As I created this cultural guide, I tried to keep these things in mind.
This project identifies and serves multiple goals and objectives, including allowing me to explore the different ways in which cultural sustainability work benefits different communities, as well as advocating for and actively promoting the different ways
we as community members can become more integrated and representative of our own unique heritage. In creating a
product that is beneficial to the community, the goal has consistently been to let the people address how the researched content could best flow from- and benefit the community; thus sustaining the cultures which are important to them. Further, this project allows locals to share their stories of what is important to them with a broader audience, and gives newcomers a sense of the values, traditions, and cultural influences of the area. It may also inspire newcomers to become involved within the community as they are excited about (and build upon) their own cultural connections and experiences.
Finally, it has been my intent through this work to build an effective model of community collaboration and cultural heritage awareness and promotion that I can take with me and use in other places my family is stationed at in the future.
Methodology
In a project like this, I tried to understand and apply many theoretical concepts, including (but not limited to): What are the processes of integration into a new community, and how do people orient themselves into a new community? Specifically, how do people identify and form relationships with others, and what are the social bonds which bring people together? What do people identify with in their landscapes, and what puts people more at ease when transitioning to a new place? What are the ways people adapt, when everything they know is different and changing? Ultimately, what are the things people value the most-in others, and places? What are people passionate about and why do they feel so strongly about those places they identify with?
My first step was to seek out and create a community cultural advisory committee, who could help me pinpoint those cultural values and places which the locals are most passionate about. What do they like most about living here? What do they feel are the resources that are most valuable and useful to them? What are the things the community is lacking? What are the ways I, as a cultural sustainability worker, can help the community overcome any perceived lack in resources?
In order to effectively work with a cultural advisory community (and gain the most information possible), I needed to seek out those community members who met a specific criteria. I sought out people who worked for organizations that are integral to the cultural landscape of the region, as well as people (working independently) who had a vested interest in preserving the culture and history of the area. I knew in order to do this successfully I needed to research who the prominent cultural organizations are here, as well as their mission and success stories. Starting on the internet, I started looking at organizations such as the Monterey Historical Society, the Museum of Monterey (MOM), the Monterey State Historical Parks, the City of Monterey, the Arts Council for Monterey, the Monterey Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, the Monterey Public Library System, and the Monterey Bay Property Management Company. Through varied emails sent to these different entities, I was able to identify three key individuals, including Thom Diggins, Nancy Selfridge, and Tish Sammon.
Thom Diggins is the owner/operator of Historic Monterey Walking Tours (http://www.walkmonterey.com/), and has been a Monterey area resident for over fifty years. In creating a walking tour here, he has conducted countless hours of local historic research in an effort to create his business, and is consistently educating himself further to improve the cultural experience and accuracy of information that he provides to people on his tours. He is passionate about the history of the area, and I was able to feel his enthusiasm when I went on one of his tours with my family. He has daily contact with personnel working throughout the community in different cultural preservation organizations, and is familiar with the connections and working
relationships between these entities.
In addition to Mr. Diggins, I have also met with Nancy Selfridge, who is a city council member for Monterey. Mrs. Selfridge has been a great resource, as she is an integral part of the local community and has been heavily involved in events and historic site promotion here in the area. She has worked with various organizations in the area, including the Cultural Arts Commission, Colton Hall Museum, and Monterey Vista Neighborhoods (an organization dedicated to preserving and cleaning up local neighborhoods through community funds), and has actively stood up for cultural awareness and action through her position as a city council member. As a Monterey council woman, Nancy Selfridge has been heavily involved in community debates, city council meetings with community stakeholders, and personal meetings with Monterey County community members. Her public position is why I asked her to work with me, as I knew she would have the unique perspective that comes only with listening to and having frequent conversations with people from the community.
Finally, I met with Tish Sammon, who works for Historic Monterey. Historic Monterey is a collaboration between public and non-profit organizations within the city of Monterey, whose mission is to “promote and interpret Monterey’s rich history to its visitors and citizens, as well as to safeguard Monterey’s cultural heritage by preserving and protecting Monterey’s its historic buildings and collections for the betterment of generations to come”. Due to her position as a liaison between multiple cultural organizations and non-profits that specialize in heritage preservation and management around the region, she is consistently meeting with members of these organizations in order to evaluate their individual and collective goals as well as methods of conducting successful community outreach. She is familiar with general community heritage preservation issues, and has been heavily involved in community cultural events and preservation projects in the past. Mrs. Sammon has been vital to my research, as she has been able to not only fill me in on different community projects already taking place, but also point me in the direction of many other community stakeholders who have been able to help me in my research. Through my work with Mrs. Sammon, I have been able to meet and converse with other community members from different organizations including the Monterey Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Cannery Row Company, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Steinbeck Center, the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, the Association of Monterey Area Preservationists, Naval Postgraduate School, California State Parks, the Japanese Association of Monterey, the Monterey Chamber of Commerce, the Monterey Cultural Arts Commission, the Monterey Historical Society, the Museum of Monterey (MOM), Monterey State Historical Parks, the Arts Council for Monterey, and the Monterey Bay Public Library. These meetings and conversations have been central to identifying the major issues and themes which are important to the community, as well as coming up with a strategic plan to help to address them. Equally, they have allowed me to see the issues from various perspectives and vantage points, as each of these organizations often have different priorities and operating procedures.
After putting together my advisory committee, the first thing we did was sit down and discuss how the content of this project would best flow from and benefit the community. In order to do this, we took into account the concerns and discussions my committee members have heard (and been a part of) over the past couple years. Since all three of my committee members have been well-versed in community concerns and perspectives, I knew that their individual skillsets and knowledge (along with extensive experience) made them especially well-suited to inform me of what I should include in my research. Throughout this process, I feel that they have been a reliable source of insight, and by collaborating with them I feel that my research is reflective of the desires of the community.
Afterwards, we collectively identified multiple community values. They are listed and explained as follows:
Collective History and Identity:
There is shared community interest in preserving the structures and buildings which have played an important part of Monterey’s history as the locations of major historical events (both for the state of California and the United States). Many locals feel strongly connected to these structures, and desire to not only preserve them for generations to come, but also share their importance with outsiders (and even locals who are not aware of them).
There is also a strong shared community interest in preserving the stories and cultural influences which have strengthened the area’s diversity. This community prides itself on having a strong background and identity rooted in various industries such as fishing, canning, whaling, military operations, academia, and tourism. Many immigrants have come to the area to make a living in these industries since European explorers first arrived here, and this has resulted in the community being a place where many voices have come together to tell a unique story which is not often seen in other communities.
Cultural Richness:
The Monterey area has a strong love of culture that has been celebrated through the public art displays and cultural events (theater performances, history reenactments, musical and dance performances, community festivals, etc.). Monterey County residents are passionate about their talents and artistic backgrounds, and host many events in order to showcase their skills throughout the year for locals and visitors alike.
Local Trade and Community Sustainability:
The Monterey Peninsula’s commitment to buying local is especially notable, as there are many resources for supporting local farmers and merchants. The region hosts many fresh produce stands, and there are strict laws which prohibit the building of national chain stores in areas around the county. Residents are passionate about keeping their money within the local community, as well as sustaining local small business ventures.
After discussing community values (based on my informants’ experiences and input), the next logical step was to talk about issues the community is currently facing. These issues are seen as a hindrance to the values identified, and serve as the foundation for this project. They followed some very specific themes, and provided insight as to how exactly we could orient this project so that it was filling some of the objectives and goals of the community.
Some of the recurring themes are as follows:
There is a strong perceived lack of cohesion and collaboration throughout the many local cultural organizations, and a general lack of history and cultural education resources available (while there are many festivals throughout the summer time, the city’s cultural resources- existing historic structures, places- are not well advertised or organized). This was reflected in voiced concerns that people are often not able to access the historic structures and buildings which locals feel a strong connection to. This is mainly due to a lack of resources and funding within the community, as well as these culturally significant locations being managed and operated by different organizations not affiliated with one another (state parks, federal government, etc.).
Resources available to visitors and residents were lacking in either content or difficult to use. Maps and brochures are hard to follow, and websites dedicated to the Monterey area’s cultural assets are limited, and often not telling the “same story” as others.With the large number of tourists and incoming international residents this area experiences yearly, it has been unfortunate that most resources are only printed in English (with very few exceptions). This sentiment has been expressed extensively by my committee members, and is based on their discussions with members of the public.
There is a significant lack of representation of many cultural groups in the area, although some of these groups have been important in developing and strengthening the community into what it is today.
In reflecting on our discussions, it did not surprise me that these issues were identified as being major community concerns, as this has been exactly my personal experience as well.
Following our identification of both community values and issues, we discussed the benefits of collaboration in a project like this as well as what each of us would essentially get out of participating. I knew that by working with this specific group of people, I would gain the unique perspectives that would make my research meaningful. Also I knew that by doing a project like this, I would be able to connect with my community on a level that I have not experienced in other communities I’ve lived in. In addition to the above benefits, we also listed the following:
My blog would provide free advertising for community members to spread the word about their businesses (this was a benefit Thom Diggins identified, as he is constantly looking to increase the popularity of his walking tours).
An interactive project (such as a website) would allow all of us to add content we feel is especially important- as well as give the community a chance to tell their own stories and be keepers of the cultures they are passionate about.
This collaboration would give us a chance to sit down and articulate community assets, issues, and possible solutions in an informal way; where everyone has something to input and everyone is treated respectfully and listened to equally.
My individual blog would help my committee members (especially Mrs. Sammon and Mrs. Selfridge) by providing a cohesive list of culturally significant sites, events, organizations, and businesses. Mrs. Sammon and I talked about how this work specifically would benefit her in her work with Historic Monterey, as they conduct work with many people and organizations that might be able to utilize my research in the future.
In considering the dynamics of our collaboration and the benefits of working together, we also identified our desired outcomes. These are listed below.
Increased recognition of culturally significant places within the community
Increased awareness in the community about where are cultural assets (buildings, landmarks) are- and the stories, people, and events which define
them
Increased participation in cultural events by locals and non-locals
Increased awareness and education about the diversity of the area
Increased patronage at community family-owned small businesses
Increased ease of finding resources by newcomers to the area
Increased public input in heritage preservation efforts and organizations that would be able to utilize these lists in the future.
After listing our desired outcomes, we also discussed and listed the following set of task descriptions:
- Identify under-represented cultural groups
Make a list of fieldwork research resources
Make a list of community contacts we could potentially work with in the future (who are intimately familiar with the traditions, history, and prominent family stories of the region),
Make a list of possible working collaborations (identify tourism and hospitality and real estate and property management companies, along with community non-profits and libraries) that we can utilize in the future.
These tasks were not assigned to anyone specific, but instead have served as a list of steps we would apply to our collaboration and project. Since a lack of cohesion was a major issue, we decided that two achievable objectives would be to 1). make contact and devise a plan with local organizations in order to spread awareness about the community’s cultural resources, and 2). make a list of cultural events and history in my blog so that the information is accessible in one convenient location. By listing these objectives, we were able to come up with pragmatic approaches to eliminating these community concerns in a way that serves to sustain the community’s values of having a collective identity and history.
In an effort to identify theculturally significant buildings and sites around this community, I have conducted internet research as to what exists and what roles they have played in the region’s historic past (in addition to what they mean to the community today). I have listed them in my blog according to where they are, their cultural significance, and any relevant websites or contact information I have been able to find. With regards to the various cultural events, I have followed the same methodology in order to provide a comprehensive and centralized user-friendly resource that newcomers to the area could access.
Additionally, I found out that Historic Monterey has already been working on bringing various organizations together in order to promote the cultural heritage of the area. They have recently submitted a grant proposal, that if approved will provide funding for the renewal of collective cultural outreach and promotion efforts, as well as identify ways of “weaving together” the story of Monterey. This process is broken up into two phases, with the first one being to “review, assess, and develop an action plan for better collaborative outreach, community education, and promotion of Monterey as a historic place, and the second phase being the“implementation of prioritized activities of the plan (which will probably include a website portal and calendar, but could include a new program “History Happened Here” which would engage businesses, residents, and others- depending on the needs and interests of the group). Tish Sammon (of Historic Monterey) and I then sat down to discuss how the content of my blog could aid in this overall goal, and we decided that I would proceed with gathering community information, stories, and data that could ultimately be used in these community programs and help aid in building a large comprehensive website in the future.With regards to what will be featured on this website (or whatever form the larger project takes), we will ensure that the story we are telling is as authentic as possible by including as many community member’s voices as we have access to. In order to do this, we will solicit input from community members through public meetings about what should be included and the way it is presented (the details of these meetings have not yet been decided, as we will ultimately be conducting this research after the grant has been received).
In order to identify resources that could help raise awareness about our cultural assets, we specifically focused on organizations and tools that were widely available, and would appeal to both residents and tourists alike. To ensure a wide dissemination of the collected materials, we decided we would need to reach out to local media sources such as community online forums and newspapers/magazines, and organizations which promote tourism (e.g. Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau). We are currently working on plans to utilize these resources, and hope to achieve a working relationship with these organizations as we proceed in the future.
To combat the issue of a language barrier for many incoming residents, we have been working to identify and locate community members who may be interested in collaborating long-term to translate the literature which presently exists (in conjunction with the data I have been gathering throughout the creation of my blog). At this time, I do not have any specific sources I can mention; however, this will be an ongoing collaborative goal. It is my hope that as I build my blog, we will be able to incorporate the translations that will allow more people to utilize this project in the future. By locating and working with individuals who can help us translate the content of our project so that it is accessible to a larger segment of the community, we are helping to promote cultural awareness by eliminating any lack of representation of cultural groups within the community.This is especially helpful in maintaining the community’s values of cultural richness and wanting to promote local trade and community sustainability. Bypromoting cultural assets in languages other than English, this project would ultimately allow a larger demographic to participate in the local community culture.
Since there has been concern voiced about various cultural groups not being represented in local historic sites and community events, I have contacted some key local individuals who represent these groups (and have a strong interest in maintaining their cultural identity throughout the community) in order to conduct personal interviews in the future (which will ultimately be used in the final website). Although I cannot specifically name them at this point (due to interviewing standards set by the Goucher Institutional Review Board), I hope to include voices representing the local Native American, Portuguese, Hispanic, Japanese, and Chinese communities. I am confident that the inclusion of these voices will help to better tell the story of the area.
In addition to meeting with various community stakeholders, I also put together a series of questionnaires which I will distribute to willing participants at Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) here in Monterey at a later date. Since my husband is currently a student there, I have been able to gain access to a very specific group of newcomers (military and civilian families alike who are associated with the school). By interviewing these members of the community (many of them are also used to moving frequently), I will be able to gain a new perspective on what these families look for when they arrive to a new location. Since many of the students who come to NPS are foreigners, I will be able to discern thoseresources and qualities of a community which are most valuable to international residents. Upon successfully obtaining this information, it is our collaborative goal to eventually work with other education organizations here(as well as organizations that cater to incoming residents) in the further development of this project.
Naturally, my individual research has been greatly influenced by the many different resources available to me. I have used the internet to locate everything from different ethnic stores and restaurants, to historic landmarks and various cultural events. Influenced by the suggestions of my advisory committee, I have focused on locating landmarks representative of the underrepresented cultural groups here. Specifically, I have researched the history of, and walked through the neighborhood lovingly referred to as “Spaghetti Hill” here in Monterey that Spanish, Portugese, and Sicilian fishermen first called home in the early 1900’s. The neighborhood was built to house these immigrants as they came to the area to work in the local sardine and fishing industry which was booming at the time (Lyons). The director of the Central Intelligence Agency Leon Panetta is from Monterey, and also grew up in Spaghetti Hill as the son of Italian immigrants. His parents owned Carmelos Café in Monterey, where he often washed dishes as a young child (Fertig
Panneton). Today this neighborhood is an eclectic mix of architectural styles and influences, and this character is being preserved through recent efforts by city planners through zoning initiatives that would deem the area as historically significant.
I have walked along and photographed the shore of Point Alones on the eastern boundary of Pacific Grove where there once stood a thriving Chinese village which was the home of immigrant fishermen and their families. I toured the remaining cannery buildings (across from where the village was located) and looked through the pictures taken of this village before a suspicious fire burned it down in 1906. Today the buildings stand as a small
shopping mall. Where shoe and candy stores now stand, there used to be rooms which provided the space where canning machines once whirred and provided a moderate income for the wives and daughters (primarily) of the Chinese and Japanese fishermen who worked in the bay.
I have walked through and taken notes and photographs of the old Japanese section of Monterey where the Nihonjinkai (Japanese Association) building still stands. The California Japantowns organizations states that the first floor of this building is primarily devoted to a large hall with a raised stage where traditional Kabuki theater was performed and Japanese language movies were screened, and classrooms take up much of the second story ("Preserving California's Japantowns"). They also state that this building was used as a National Guard Armory during the war, and as a hostel for returning Nikkei in the post-war period. Today, it serves as a meeting place for the Japanese American Citizens League ("Preserving California's Japantowns"). In addition to exploring and documenting this building, I walked the nearby streets where there once stood a thriving section of town which served as the local Japanese community before World War II. This area boasted two general stores, a cleaner, a hotel, three restaurants, two insurance offices, a beauty shop, barbershop, three pool halls and bathhouses, an art goods store and a net shop (all owned by Japanese Americans) ("Preserving California's Japantowns"). Although nothing remains of these buildings now, I found that by simply walking around where they used to stand, I somehow felt a connection to the Japanese Americans who used to live there.
I have attended and photographed multiple festivals in Monterey over the past few months, including the Greek Festival, the Italian Festival, and the Turkish Festival. At these festivals I had the opportunity to taste region-specific food, enjoy culturally significant music and entertainment, and browse unique handmade gifts and wares being sold at vendor booths. I spoke with people at these festivals who explained to me that this was their “opportunity to showcase their culture for everyone else”.
Recently I attended and photographed the Christmas in the Adobes event which is a joint collaboration between multiple cultural organizations here in the area, and features 22 historic structures (some public, some private) which are all tied to Monterey’s history as a Spanish port town and military community. At this event, I had the opportunity to experience Monterey’s unique heritage as a Spanish community prior to Americans claiming the area-and the state of California in 1846), and explore some of the gardens that are associated with these adobes. In a recent article about the event posted in the San Francisco Chronicle, Michael Green, manager of Monterey State Historic Park, said “There's something about a strong community spirit, about something everyone does during the holidays. You see a really happy community, families out together, with their children, seeing these buildings in a different way," he explained. "It's a different experience than going into a business that's operating out of the adobe during the day. When you see it at night, decorated with volunteers in historic wardrobe that are eager to share their history of that place, it means so much more, and it sheds new light in our community” (Cooper).
During this event, I enjoyed watching reenactments of Spanish dances at the custom house (the first American built building in California), and listened to local narrators and historians explain how California’s first theater was originally built as a hotel for military officers to spend the night, but then evolved into a theater (performances were conducted by these young officers in order to make the money necessary to buy weapons and uniforms) and a bar. I visited the Monterey Hotel which opened in 1904, and was described as “the most unique and elegantly furnished European hotel west of Chicago” ("Monterey History"), as well as Casa Soberanes where my family and I were treated to traditional Mexican Horchata (a drink made with milk, rice, vanilla, and cinnamon) and pastries. Casa Soberanes was originally built in the 1840’s by Rafael Estrada, and has been the home of various other community members through time. Today the gardens of this elegant home feature wine bottles, whale bones, and abalone shells. On display inside
are beautiful furnishings which are a blend of early New England and China pieces mixed in with modern folk art ("California Department of Parks and
Recreation ").
Another unique opportunity I had was to participate in Thom Diggins’ Historic Monterey Walking Tour, which snakes through downtown and the adobes and tells the story of the area; starting with the Native Americans that first lived here. Mr. Diggins spoke extensively about the history of Monterey, and about how the Spanish conquistadors claimed the area for Spain- only to be ousted by the Mexicans after Mexico gained independence from Spain. Pledging allegiance to Mexico,Monterey becomes part of Mexico until the “Treaty of Guatalupe Hidalgo” is signed, ceding California and other Mexican territories to the US ("City of Monterey California "). He explained how Monterey served as the state’s capital (originally called Alta, California) until 1849 when the capital becomes San Jose. He took us through the adobes (that were open to the public), explaining each one’s significance, and who lived in them. He showed us the remnants of the local whaling industry which was booming in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s here, which included a stop at the Old Monterey Whaling Station. The whaling station is now a landmark owned and operated by the California Department of Parks and Recreation, and features a sidewalk made entirely of whale vertebrae (the last remaining one of its kind) ("California Department of Parks and Recreation "). He also took us up to Colton Hall (among other places not mentioned), where the constitution of California was written and signed, and now houses authentic artifacts and replica documents relating to these proceedings. It was a unique experience as a newcomer, because it got me out of my vehicle, and allowed me to retrace the steps of the famous men who fought to make the state what it is today.
In addition to attending these events and exploring these culturally significant sites around the community, I have also been able to eat at various local family-owned ethnic restaurants which have given me a glimpse of how food traditions have been carried on by immigrants to the area. A few of the restaurants I ate at were Pepper’s Mexicali Café (a favorite among locals, and consistently ranked as the number one Mexican restaurant in Pacific Grove by locals), Gianni’s Pizza in Monterey featuring authentic Italian food, and the International Marketplace in Monterey which offers traditional Greek gyros, falafels, and other staple Mediterranean foods. I was not able to interview the owners of these establishments during the capstone period, but I will be including interviews with them as part of my blog in the future.
With regards to how I chose to visit and document these events, businesses, and cultural sites, there was no specific methodology I followed. However, I tried to concentrate on exploring a variety of events and places so that I could get a feeling of not only how the community has perpetuated the cultural roots of the people who have made this area unique, but also so I could see how the local landscape has changed and evolved over time. This has helped me to understand my greater theoretical questions involving processes of community integration, who the original settlers of the county were (and why they came), their struggles and successes, and what makes this place so much different than other places I’ve been. Throughout this journey, my documentation through photographs, notes, and speaking with others has helped me better understand not only the places I have gone and the people who made these places significant, but also what it means to truly be a part of this community.
Finally, I have conducted community research at local libraries, including the Mayo Hayes O'Donnel Library, and the Monterey Public Library, as well as visited the Monterey Historical Society and various community museums and art galleries. Similar to my experiences in locating culturally significant places and events, I also decided to go to these galleries and museums based on what I had either heard about them (from locals I talked to), or their perceived influence on this project. Although the decision to document certain aspects of this community has been mine individually (in the creation of my blog), I will most certainly seek the advice and recommendations of my advisory committee on what will ultimately be contained within the larger project. It is my intent that we will work to seek input from various community members on which specific stories we tell, and how they are conveyed. Unfortunately the documentation of an entire region is a large and time consuming project, and thus I was not able to find nearly as much information as I would have liked. In the future, I would like to continue my research, while building upon the content of the blog. Specifically, I would like to work with my committee in order to identify more of the local Spanish and Mexican culture, as well as Native American culture. These two groups have not been intentionally left out of my documentation; there simply was not enough time to physically get out and gather as much data as I wanted to. I was able to include some information about the Native American cultural influences and history in the region, but it is specifically from the internet, and does not reflect any personal documentation (which I would prefer to do in the future). In addition to showcasing more of these specific groups through my blog (and our eventual larger project), I would also like to collect more photographs and notes about the communities I was able to document through this journey. Clearly I have barely scratched the surface of what actually exists here, but I am confident that my research and documentation has paved the way for the considerable work which needs to be done in the future.
My advisory committee has been in integral part of my research plan, as we have collectively decided who the underrepresented cultural groups are in the area (Native Americans, Chinese, Japanese, and Hispanics, respectively) and what I could specifically focus my ethnographic documentation on. In the beginning of this collaboration we sat down and identified the various ethnic groups who have settled the region, and talked about the different resources I could utilize in order to learn about their history and presence in the area. Some of the key resources we listed were local libraries, various Monterey-specific websites, and even the contact information for different community members I could interview as the project progressed. As I conducted my fieldwork, I continuously advised my committee on what I was researching as well as any difficulty I was having finding resources. We conversed regularly about my progress and if there were any changes to my research plan they felt I should implement. I have shared my blog address with them, and welcomed suggestions on the format and content of my blog throughout this project. As of yet there have been no major disagreements
regarding the specific data I’ve collected, and I have allowed my fieldwork to change directions as I have had different opportunities to experience local
culture. This is mainly due to the fact that after successful completion of phase 1 of this project, we will be working together closely to ensure the information we include in the larger community project is reflective of the desires of the committee members (as well as any participating community members). At this time I do not know what specifically will be included or excluded (of the research data I’ve already collected), as we will make decisions about this in the future as we see fit.
My Findings
My ethnographic fieldwork has given me a great new insight into the lives of the people who have made the Monterey Peninsula their home. Through my research, I have learned about people like Roy Hattori who was born and raised in Monterey before having to relocate to a Japanese Internment Camp in 1942 as part of Executive Order 9066. In the interviews I watched, Mr. Hattori details what life was like in Monterey and what it was like to be one of the first abalone divers in the area. He speaks eloquently about how difficult it was to make a living as an abalone diver, as well as how tight the abalone diving community was.
My research has also taught me about the fire of 1906 which wiped out the Chinese fishing village at Point Alones. The fishermen who lived in this village made their living by catching cod, halibut, flounder, yellowtail, sardines, squid and shark- as well as oysters and mussels from the bay waters (Kemp). They harvested these fish and sold them to fishmongers in San Francisco, as well as the miners in The Sierra Nevada Mountains. Whatever fish was not sent to these places usually ended up being shipped back to their home province of Canton, China (Kemp). Their success fueled animosity and conflict between them and the Italian-American fishermen, as they were seen as competition. Due to anti-Chinese sentiment in California, many laws were passed that greatly restricted Chinese fishing operations in Monterey Bay. The fire that started on May 16th, 1906 not only was of suspicious origin, but also revealed just how much animosity was present between the Chinese community and the non-Chinese locals. As the fire burned and people scrambled to save their loved ones and possessions, non-Chinese locals stood above the village, laughing and pointing as they watched without offering any assistance. In the morning after the flames had been extinguished, many of these same people looted what was left of the village in search of valuables. Despite this experience, the village’s resilient Chinese people sought work in other industries around the peninsula and continue to thrive in the area today.
In researching the local Native American culture, I learned about how there were three major groups; the Ohlone, the Esselen, and the Salinan, and that these Native groups traded extensively with others throughout the state (and beyond). They often traded items such as obsidian and seashells, and ate a diet mostly consisting of fish, seeds, grasses, and a mush made of acorns. As the Spanish missionaries came and converted them to Christianity, much of the indigenous culture was lost; and very little can be seen today. However, I also learned that there is still indigenous rock art present in remote areas throughout the county, which helps tell the stories of the first people here.
While this is only a very small amount of the knowledge I have learned about the local landscape, these three examples are a testament to the resiliency and courage shown by the original people and settlers here. In considering the plight of the Chinese fishermen whose village was burned to the ground, I can see that their strong work ethic and sense of community was far more powerful than those flames. As many village members went on to find work elsewhere and successfully reintegrate themselves into different segments of the community, they did so with a strong spirit that could not be broken. Thinking about the men who fought off enemies in order to declare the state of California as part of the United States, it is clear to me that the sense of identity and connection to this place that locals have had throughout the years here is infallible. The grief and heartache experienced by the Native Americans after the Spanish missionaries arrived has given way to creative expressionism that can still be seen today.
In all, I learned that this community is not merely a place; but rather the gathering spot for many different people from many different backgrounds. Every immigrant who came here brought with them a unique set of cultural values, customs, and ideologies that has helped to shape the peninsula into the diverse landscape it is today. Through collaborating with my advisory committee and conducting my own research, I learned that integration into a community is much more than simply moving to a place, but rather a strong commitment to providing a promising life for your family and making connections and forming relationships with those around you. The people that have made a life here for themselves against all odds are what makes this community special. This sentiment is reflective of my original capstone questions involving community values and the integration and processes of joining and shaping a community.
Literature/Resource Review
For this project I turned to various articles and books centered on many different topics. First and foremost, I knew that in order to make the content of my blog meaningful (and have it make the most impact) I must conduct research into concepts and literature surrounding the evolution of human societies, the various paths of community integration, and community building. I wanted to explore these concepts, as I tried to answer the following questions: What do locals value, and how do they integrate themselves into a new place? What are the processes of joining and shaping a community?
In trying to answer these questions, the first piece of literature I consulted is titled Paths of Community Integration by Avery M. Guest and Keith R. Stamm. Guest and Stamm list the various paths of community integration, and posit that the different paths people choose to integrate themselves into a new community are often dictated by the different social statuses and characteristics they represent. This means that people have different motivations and goals when they immigrate into a new community, and often these are based on where they are in life (age, occupation, education levels, etc.). They hypothesize that those who are older and more advanced in their careers, often seek out stronger connections with others in their communities- whether they’re personal connections or organizational connections. They are more likely to want to be involved in community social organizations, as well as political and local civic organizations. They often place finding employment as being less important than seeking out community connections, and are less concerned with the routine necessities that a younger person might categorize as being more important. Conversely, those younger respondents often placed finding stores, employment, and doctors as the most important factor when becoming integrated into a new community (and therefore emphasizing personal and community connections as being less important than basic services). In applying this information to this project, I decided that I really needed to present my blog in such a way that would appeal to the broadest group of newcomers as possible. While there is certainly a large group of older community members who are well-established in their careers, there is a substantial demographic of younger professionals who
need access to basic necessities and community resources. Given this information, I decided that it was imperative to not only focus on the cultural traditions and history of the area that someone more established in life may appreciate, but really go out of my way to identify and categorize the various functional community resources that are necessary for basic livability. Since this project is focused on cultural connections and community, it has been my goal to integrate these resources in a way that is in line with my original project orientation. Specifically, I have tried to concentrate on businesses
that started locally, and have a unique story to tell. This approach is important, as it helps to solidify and carry on the community values that were discussed in our meetings.
Another piece of literature regarding community interaction I found to be helpful in building this project, is titled Sense of Community: A Definition and Theory by David McMillan and David M. Chavis George. Inthis article, the authors suggest that communities are built by both physical boundaries, and relational factors. They state that there are four distinct characteristics which make up a “sense of community”, and that these characteristics are important factors for newcomers to any area. These four characteristics are membership, influence, integration and fulfillment of needs, and shared emotional connection. They describe membership as the “belonging or of sharing a sense of personal relatedness” and influence as a “sense of mattering, of making a difference to a group and of the group mattering to its members” (McMillan and Chavis George ). Integration and fulfillment of needs is described as “the feeling that members' needs will be met by the resources received through their membership in the group” (McMillan and Chavis George ). Finally, shared emotional connection is the “commitment and belief that members have shared and will share history, common places, time together, and similar experiences”(McMillan and Chavis George ). I really thought this piece was applicable to this work, as it is important to remember the factors that make people interested in a new community, as well as the ways in which they begin to truly feel like a member of that group. Keeping this in mind, I wanted to create something that would facilitate a strong feeling of belonging and inclusiveness for anyone who accessed this work; regardless of whether they have lived here for a long time, or are recent immigrants from somewhere else. I wanted them to feel like although they may be new and unfamiliar with the area, they are part of a larger social construct built on shared interests, traditions, goals, andexperiences.
Although I knew that the target audience was primarily community residents (both new and non-new residents), I also understand that since this community’s economy is primarily based in tourism, this project must also account for this. It is completely logical that this work will not only affect locals, but that tourists may utilize it as well. Since I wanted to focus on the area’s cultural heritage, traditions, and histories, I knew that I must consult literature which identifies both the advantages and pitfalls of cultural heritage tourism. An article I found to be especially helpful in researching cultural heritage
tourism is titled Heritage Tourism Planning Guidebook Methods for Implementing Heritage Tourism Programs in Sussex County, Delaware, and is written by Xuan Jiang and Andrew Homsey. This article talks extensively about the benefits of cultural tourism, and serves as a guide for implementing heritage tourism programs. In the past it has been well documented that cultural heritage tourism can have substantial positive effects on any community. It can help protect and preserve local resources such as museums, monuments, and archaeological sites, as people become more interested in visiting and experiencing different cultures. As more people visit these places, the communities that host them often experience various immense economic benefits including new businesses, increased jobs, and higher property taxes. These benefits can also be seen through visitor fees collected at the sites as well as more money spent throughout the local hospitality industry (restaurants, hotels, etc.). Tourism can be significant in helping maintain the host culture, as awareness grows when host communities promote their cultural heritage sites. This can be especially beneficial for communities that have experienced a decline in local identifiable culture due to various factors such as in-migration of other groups and loss of financial resources used to maintain cultural sites (Jiang, and Homsey).
Although cultural heritage tourism can have a profound positive impact on a community, it can also create a myriad of problems. Tourism in general can create an increase in local pollution levels, congestion, increased costs involved in providing public services (police, medical, etc.) and infrastructure, and increased physical damage to those places visited the most. In addition to these factors, cultural tourism specifically can be detrimental to local culture. As people interact, an exchange of beliefs and values takes place between locals and non-locals. While this can be positive in that it broadens the limits of local culture, it also has the potential of decreasing its authenticity (Chew).
This understanding of cultural heritage tourism has broad implications for this project, as I needed to remember not only who the intended audience is, but also any potential negative impact this work might have on the people of this community. I have tried to remain continuously cognizant of the fact that I would be interviewing locals, and their voices may end up accessible to tourists (and ultimately used as a commodity). Due to this possibility, I will be taking steps to reduce this potential through carefully worded documentation provided by Goucher College professors. Additionally, I have consulted various resources which have given me guidance in proceeding through the future of this project. One of these resources is UNESCO, who in a report titled Cultural Tourism and Heritage Management in the World Heritage Site of the Ancient Town of Hoi An Vietnam, suggests that substantial public participation in tourism planning helps to mitigate potential negative impacts. They recommend developing participatory stakeholder strategies for tourism development and management that consider the carrying capacity of the cultural and natural resources, along with encouraging greater inclusion of the residents in decision making processes (as well as making sure they understand the perceptions of all stakeholders and adapting planning processes accordingly) in order to help alleviate any negative impact on local community members (UNESCO). Although this project itself was not created to promote tourism, I understand the potential for this and will continuously involve community stakeholders in dialogue and any action that will directly affect them.
Since a large part of this project has involved building and working within a partnership capacity (organizational, as well as personal), I researched the processes and effective strategies of creating strong community collaborations in hopes that I could apply what I learned to this project. An article I found to be especially useful in my own project was written by Barbara A. Holland and Sherril B. Gelmon, and is titled The State of the Engaged Campus: What Have We Learned About Building and Sustaining University-Community Partnerships. Although the article is based on academic student-community collaborations (in the context of internships, service-learning, practica, and capstones), it is written from the perspective of top-level university personnel. While it mainly focuses on questions regarding whether education institutions should send their students out into the community for a more hands-on approach, it also provides some very useful information about what effective student-community partnerships and collaborations should look like. In this article, the authors state that “most people understand that successful partnerships focus on mutual benefits. We describe effective partnerships as knowledge-based collaborations in which all partners have things to teach each other, things to learn from each other, and things they will learn together. We have seen that an effective partnership builds the capacity of each partner to accomplish its own mission while also working together” (Holland and Gelmon, 107). This passage really resonated with me as I proceeded through this project. It has consistently stood as a reminder that although I am committed to learning as much about this community as I can, I also have a unique skill set to offer both my advisory committee, and the community as a whole. The ability of an outsider to come into any community and analyze the cultural programming pitfalls and successes from a fresh and independent perspective is of intrinsic value to anyone. While I was consistently aware of my place as a newcomer (and therefore someone not specifically knowledgeable about the local culture and how the different organizations operated with one another), I had to consistently remind myself that I (as an academic student of cultural sustainability) was an asset to them. On multiple occasions my committee members commented on how nice it was to have someone “fresh” come in and look at the processes, procedures, successes, and failures (and offering suggestions or advice based on what I have learned through my courses when necessary) that have taken place. As long as I felt like I was contributing knowledge or expertise when appropriate, and listening and really engaging in these conversations and meetings, I knew my project was a true culmination of what the community desires.
In this article, the authors also state that “while partnerships take many purposes and forms, there are common features associated with success which most define as sustainability” (Holland and Gelmon, 108). They conclude that“sustainable partnerships have the following characteristics: (1) there are mutually agreed upon goals; (2) success is defined and outcomes are measured in both institutional and community terms (in my case, student and
community terms); (3) control of the agenda is vested primarily in community hands; (4) effective use and enhancement of community capacity are based on clear identification of community resources and strengths; (5) the educational component has clear consequences for the community and institution; and (6) there is an ongoing commitment to evaluation that involves all partners" (Holland and Gelmon, 108).
These benchmarks are valuable tools to keep in mind when working with any group, as they provide a clear set of standards by which to measure effective collaboration. As we collaborated together, the first thing we did was decide upon a list of goals that would essentially benefit all parties equally. I knew that I needed to create a capstone product that would provide for the needs of the community in a way that was accessible and beneficial to everyone, and they gave me advice on the different things my blog should contain in order to be effective. By listing my research findings in one cohesive place, my committee and I will be able to use that information in the future to build upon and expand. Also my blog will serve as a point of free advertising for not only my committee members, but also members of the community (especially with regards to listing businesses and events). In this case, success was defined and outcomes were measured in terms that were mutually beneficial to both myself (as a student), and the community I worked with. We decided that we had a very specific set of things we wanted to see accomplished (more collaboration between organizations, better awareness and education of community cultural assets, and a resolution to issues such as language barriers and poor or inaccurate data available), and through our work together, I was able to at least address these issues with my work (and follow through with their recommendations to the best of my abilityand within the scope of my project). Throughout this project I have been consistently aware that control of the agenda must be in community hands, in order for this to be a project that would have any real meaning and valuefor the community. This has been perhaps one of the biggest considerations throughout this project, as it has always been my intent to be an agent of cultural sustainability (specifically here in the Monterey area), in that I am working to sustain the cultures this community cares about. Thus in order to create a project that truly reflects the values and agenda of the community, the content (and use of that content) has been continuously dictated by the voices of the cultural advisors. Through meetings (both in person and email) we have worked together to identify community issues (based on the observations and conversations my committee members have had with others), decipher goals, objectives, and desired outcomes (based on this information), and discuss possible approaches and models this project can take in the future. Through the inclusion of all interested community members in our future collaboration, we will be able to ensure (to the best of our ability) that the will of the community is carefully considered and reflected in our work. This is the only way this project will truly have any real meaning for those it has been intended to benefit.
With regards to community strengths, I tried to focus on identifying advisors who would be able to giveme different perspectives based on their strengths and positions within the community. Knowing that I needed representatives from various industries and organizations, I specifically sought out individuals who would see things differently and be able to give me information that others may not be privy to. I think this approach has been integral to this project, as people see strength and weakness in different areas, depending on what their community orientation is.
Additionally, I think it is vitally important when you’re doing any sort of community outreach program, to consistently evaluate progress throughout the duration of the project. This is important, because it allows for deep analysis along the way of what is- and what is not- working in the process. Thus we have continuously discussed both my research, and the progress of the overall project. Since this project has focused on the cultural needs of this community, it has been crucial to keep an open mind along the way. This has helped to accommodate any new findings and revelations made throughout the process, and address any pertinent issues which have become apparent. Evaluation will continue to be vitally important as this first part of the project is completed (phase 1 of the capstone), and we move onto phase 2.
Other literature which has had a great influence on my research has come from sources dealing with conducting interviews and writing ethnographies. Since personal interviews will eventually be included in my blog (and later will be added to any larger community project my blog influences), I have turned to a few key authors I am familiar with for advice and reference. These authors include Herbert J. Rubin (author of Qualitative Interviewing), H.L. Goodall Jr. (author of Writing the New Ethnography), David M. Fetterman (author of Ethnography: Step by Step (Applied Social Research Methods)) and Charlotte Aull Davies (author of Reflexive Ethnography). These readings have been rewarding in that they have provided some very basic (and more complex) steps and approaches to conducting personal interviews. Through them I have gained valuable insight on the methodology of choosing interviewees, the types of questions which reveal the most complete and sincere answers, and how to write up my findings which appropriately account for the context and reliability of my data. As we go forward with this project in the future, I feel that it is important to remember exactly what my personal objectives are (with regards to my blog-and what I want this project to eventually look like), and how I can personally meet those objectives while still remaining sincere and receptive to the people I work with. These readings in the practice of ethnography have provided me with a strong foundation I can continue to build on; both throughout the duration of this project, and beyond.
Finally, knowing that I would need to eventually need to find a way to permanently house the data I have collected, I have conducted research into various methods of marketing my research and making it sustainable for the future. I have looked at various community resources which serve as a successful repository for this work, as well as spoken with community consultants who represent local libraries and institutions. As I work with community organizations such as Historic Monterey (and possibly others) in the future, I will utilize these resources as they will generate interest in this project through their own efforts. With regards to my online blog (where I have been collecting my community data), I found a book titled The New Rules of Marketing and PR by David Fetterman to be useful. Specifically, he illustrates how important utilizing various approaches is (blogging, advertising, using social networking sites) to making sure your audience actually sees the product you are trying to sell. While it has never been my intent to make any sort of financial gain with this work, I deeply value the capacity this project to facilitate significant change in the Monterey area, and I desire to promote our efforts on a level that will benefit as many people as possible. As we move forward with the final product of this research (whatever form my blog takes in the future), I will have to consistently focus on the ways technology is changing and evolving- and what that means for effective dissemination of my research.
In addition to researching ways of sustaining my blog, I have also explored some models of successful community projects which could potentially influence this project. One of the resources I found to be helpful was a collaborative project between the Doig River First Nation Elders, youth, and leaders and ethnographers, linguists, and web-designers designed to record the people, songs, experiences, and stories that connect the Doig River First Nation to the land. The material they collected over a one month period was eventually used to create an online exhibit titled “Drummers and the Land” ("Virtual Museum Canada "). This model of collaboration is helpful, because it gives great insight into how people within a community can come together to not only celebrate their collective identity, but also to record it for preservation. As the second phase of our project ensues, it will be beneficial to research this collaboration to see if there are any elements involved that we can use as inspiration for our own work. Another helpful model worth discussing in the future is the “Let’s Be Shore” project, which was created by the Maryland Humanities Council’s Practicing Democracy Program. The project was created to start a respectful dialogue between people living on Maryland’s Eastern Shore about land use, agriculture, the economy, and water quality along the shore ("Let's Be Shore- Sharing views of what it is like to live on Maryland's Eastern Shore"). This project has made use of an interactive website (where community members can participate and contribute), and features photography and film in order to educate residents about the issues facing their community. This model of community interaction is a great example of bringing voices together through the use of technology, and serves as an excellent resource for my committee as we proceed. In addition to the two models mentioned, we will continue to research and evaluate further examples of successful community engagement and collaboration as we try to create a project that is sustainable and useful to people of the region.
Throughout this project and my research (both in academic materials and the community itself), the many different sources I have utilized have provided me with unique viewpoints which have often challenged the way I previously thought about an issue or how to approach a situation. It has been my consistent quest throughout this project to ultimately answer one specific question: what is the collective fabric of our shared experiences, and what sorts of literature would help me discover the answer to this? While I feel that I have scratched the surface of this question through careful inquiry and analysis, I feel that there is great work still to be done. It is my hope that I will be able to further investigate issues within community organizing and planning processes, and that my ongoing interest and inquiry will only enhance the quality of any continued work.
Conclusion
As I have reflected on the process of putting together this project, I am struck by not only the scope of the work itself, but also the implications and effects it has had on my own life. Through research and personal reflection, I have learned not only about my new community, but also about myself. I have gone outside of my comfort zone and sought out new connections- both personal and professional. Through my experiences, I have learned that one of the best ways to identify and nurture traditions of knowledge and practice is to ask the right questions. Who are the culture bearers? What can they offer the communities they live in? What are their stories, and what are they passionate about? Through the construction of a community cultural advisory committee, I was able to ascertain the insider voice I was looking for; these are the voices that would make my project meaningful to the community overall. Through a very pragmatic approach and specific steps (conducting surveys, holding stakeholder meetings, conducting ethnographic fieldwork, etc.), we were able to identify community goals and values and apply this knowledge in a way that would not only benefit the community presently, but also well beyond the length of this project (and ultimately, my permanent departure from the area).
As a student of cultural sustainability, I have had the distinct responsibility of aligning my work and actions with field discourse, practices, and processes in a way that will hopefully stand as an example for my colleagues (both present and future). Through this work, I have learned the importance of encouraging others to become involved in their own communities through awareness, interest, and passion just as I have had the privilege of doing. Through this project and my own work within this community, I have gained an immense appreciation for what it means to truly energize those marginalized members of society, so that they are more inclined to participate not only in their own communities, but also their culture on a deeper level. It is my hope that this project, which is essentially a small piece of a larger cultural context and dialogue, will stand as an example of what one individual can do in an unfamiliar landscape.
Through this work, I have learned what people can achieve both individually, and collectively. I have seen that when people become more connected with one another and their personal landscape, they are more inclined to take steps to preserve these relationships and connections over the long term. As we come together through shared interests and goals, our efforts can have a dramatic effect on cultures which sustain not only ourselves, but also the planet.
When we strengthen our community ties (whether we’re only staying for a short amount of time, or planning on becoming a permanent member of a community), we become excited about not only our shared past, but also our future together. Along with community awareness comes pride, and an understanding that we are all in this together. When we experience a deeper sense of place (both individually and collectively), we are more drawn to civic engagement and better understand the necessity to preserve community cultural values. This project has taught me that even the smallest actions can lead to broader results and larger movements. This sentiment can be applied to not only future community projects like this one, but also help contribute to peace and social justice. When we come together as a community and understand that we are all individually valuable members of a
larger society, we truly have the capacity to positively influence others in a way that encourages cultural health and equity in a diverse and unequal world.
As I reflect again on Angelou’s words “I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself”, I am reminded that although the first phase of my capstone is concluding, this process of soul-searching and finding meaning and value in unfamiliar land is truly an ongoing endeavor. Sometimes it is the mere process of building networks and asking the right questions which will yield the answers which you find most helpful; not only as a student, but as a member of any community. When we reach out to strangers and engage with them in a truly meaningful way, we eventually find that we’re not the outsiders we perceive ourselves to be; but rather members of the larger community context. Thus we are not merely researching the stories; we are helping to tell them-and we are part of them. It is only when we realize this that we will truly be “home”.
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