A brief narrative on this project
What is this project?
This blog has been created as a repository for the content that will hopefully become part of an interactive website that serves as a cultural welcome guide to the Monterey Peninsula in central California. I wanted to create something that this community can not only get interested in, but also contribute to in a real and meaningful way. Instead of focusing on tourist sites, I have tried to di a little bit deeper and explore those places and events which really define this community. What is important to the people who live here? What do they value? Why have they chosen to live here? What are their cultural ties? What are their stories? What do locals want to share with others? These are the questions I have tried to answer through my research. This yearning for discovery is what has driven me to undertake a project like this.
This community has been built on the hard work and sacrifice of countless people. From the Native Americans who called the area home first, to the different groups who came looking for work and a new life- this place has evolved throughout the years as profitable industries have changed and people have built their life stories and identities here. From stories of success to heartache, the people and families who represent this community have experienced many trials and tribulations- all of which have added to its unique diversity and heritage. This project has specifically sought to identify the ways in which people have overcome and adapted to their surroundings, and focuses on the ways in which cultural connections are established and sustained throughout time.
Through local research and collaboration with community leaders, I have strived to build a model of pragmatic approaches that make real and tangible cultural sustainability work possible. It is my distinct hope that I have been able to scratch the surface of the Monterey area's legacy in a meaningful way that sets the foundation for future dialogue and work- both in this region and elsewhere.
My inspiration for this project:
When trying to come up with a thesis idea, I really had to think about it. I mean, I know what is important to me as a person, and I know why I chose to do a masters program in something like cultural sustainability- a field that is new to the academic world, and in a tough economy, a field that may or may not make me competitive amongst my peers. After doing some serious soul-searching, I came to the conclusion that I needed to do something that would benefit those who come after me. I needed to really follow through with the lessons of this program, and do my small little part to make sure that I leave this world a little bit better than it was before I came along. This is my inspiration.
Just a few months ago, I came to the Monterey Peninsula as the dependent of an active duty military service member. Again, I had to leave my life as I knew it- and make a new one. After years of serving on active duty myself, and then being a military spouse, I know the challenges of moving every few years. I know how hard it can be to find even basic resources- like grocery stores and restaurants that you like. I know how hard it can be to make new friends, and find yet another job. More importantly though, I know how easy it is to become just another face in the crowd, with no real sense of place or identity. So many times, I have moved to a new place that I had never even been to before. I have had to muddy my way through a multitude of websites and visitor centers, just to get a sense of my new community. I have driven down the streets, wondering who the locals were, and where they hang out. I have had to do a wealth of research, just to find out some basic information about my new home.
Trained as an anthropologist, I have been taught to seek out the authentic voice of the community members. I have learned to ask questions and listen intently as people talk. It has been drilled into me as an academic to never automatically assume I am an insider- but rather to understand- and respect- my place in any new community I find myself in. This is often hard to do, as we are quick to assume our place within community hierarchy.
Having said this, I wanted to do something- something meaningful- that helps to tie together the voices and people of this
community while allowing me to find my place here. I wanted to find a way to integrate myself that would have some sort of
lasting benefit to the people who have been here for much longer than me. I do not want to become just another face in the crowd, but rather someone who has been able to offer something to my community- even if it is only my community for a couple years.
Who does this project benefit?
It is my hope to create something tangible that people can turn to when they need to find out information. I want this website to be a valuable resource that serves everyone equally. From tourists and newcomers, to long-time residents, everyone has something valuable to add to this community. We all have our favorite places- places that make us feel at home- regardless of where we’re originally from. We all have stories of happiness, triumph, and tragedy that if we’re willing to share with others, can be turned into a wonderfully rich dialogue which explains how communities such as ours are formed and perpetuated. It is my intent to reach out to anyone who is willing to examine their place within this unique community, in order to form even stronger bonds and ties with other residents and visitors.
Influences on this project:
I used many resources for conducting the research portion of this project including the internet, the Monterey Public Library (especially the California History Room), the Museum of Monterey's 100 Stories Project, ethnographic fieldwork (visiting sites and events and documenting them), and my community advisory committee.
Phase one of this project (the formation of a community cultural advisory committee and the creation of this blog as a repository for gathered research) has relied on publicly available historical records and the input of local community members. Phase two will focus on gathering and documenting the individual voices that add the rich value and meaning to this community. I will focus on conducting oral interviews with various members of the community, including members of historically ethnic neighborhoods and locally-owned businesses. I will place emphasis on working-class community members whose families have immigrated to the area and personally experienced the enormous changes and adaptations this community has endured. Currently there is a lack in diversity in this project in that it does not yet reflect these voices, but it is my goal in the future to incorporate this aspect into my overall work.
Museum of Monterey's 100 Stories Project
One specific resource that has been extremely helpful in my research has been the “100 Stories Project” which was created by M.D. Baer who is the Executive Director of the Museum of Monterey. The 100 Story Project was premiered by the
Museum of Monterey June 4th, 2012, and was compiled over a year’s time. It focuses on artists, historians, icons and institutions to paint a portrait of the Monterey Region; past, present, and moving forward. It features 146 stories (videos) and draws upon the knowledge and talent of 106 participants from the local area. The project cost was approximately $20k and was funded by the Museum of Monterey and its parent organization, the Monterey History and Art Association. The project rational was that the Museum of Monterey could tell the stories of the Monterey Region in all its diversity with an emphasis on history, art, innovation and our maritime heritage. This project has been valuable in that it has allowed me to gain a better understanding of the area and the people who live here (as well as what is valuable enough for them to go on public record and speak about), and it has also given me insight into who we can seek out to provide us with rich community stories and dialogue in our future work.
For more information, please see the official website at: http://museumofmonterey.org/100-story-project/.
What is this project?
This blog has been created as a repository for the content that will hopefully become part of an interactive website that serves as a cultural welcome guide to the Monterey Peninsula in central California. I wanted to create something that this community can not only get interested in, but also contribute to in a real and meaningful way. Instead of focusing on tourist sites, I have tried to di a little bit deeper and explore those places and events which really define this community. What is important to the people who live here? What do they value? Why have they chosen to live here? What are their cultural ties? What are their stories? What do locals want to share with others? These are the questions I have tried to answer through my research. This yearning for discovery is what has driven me to undertake a project like this.
This community has been built on the hard work and sacrifice of countless people. From the Native Americans who called the area home first, to the different groups who came looking for work and a new life- this place has evolved throughout the years as profitable industries have changed and people have built their life stories and identities here. From stories of success to heartache, the people and families who represent this community have experienced many trials and tribulations- all of which have added to its unique diversity and heritage. This project has specifically sought to identify the ways in which people have overcome and adapted to their surroundings, and focuses on the ways in which cultural connections are established and sustained throughout time.
Through local research and collaboration with community leaders, I have strived to build a model of pragmatic approaches that make real and tangible cultural sustainability work possible. It is my distinct hope that I have been able to scratch the surface of the Monterey area's legacy in a meaningful way that sets the foundation for future dialogue and work- both in this region and elsewhere.
My inspiration for this project:
When trying to come up with a thesis idea, I really had to think about it. I mean, I know what is important to me as a person, and I know why I chose to do a masters program in something like cultural sustainability- a field that is new to the academic world, and in a tough economy, a field that may or may not make me competitive amongst my peers. After doing some serious soul-searching, I came to the conclusion that I needed to do something that would benefit those who come after me. I needed to really follow through with the lessons of this program, and do my small little part to make sure that I leave this world a little bit better than it was before I came along. This is my inspiration.
Just a few months ago, I came to the Monterey Peninsula as the dependent of an active duty military service member. Again, I had to leave my life as I knew it- and make a new one. After years of serving on active duty myself, and then being a military spouse, I know the challenges of moving every few years. I know how hard it can be to find even basic resources- like grocery stores and restaurants that you like. I know how hard it can be to make new friends, and find yet another job. More importantly though, I know how easy it is to become just another face in the crowd, with no real sense of place or identity. So many times, I have moved to a new place that I had never even been to before. I have had to muddy my way through a multitude of websites and visitor centers, just to get a sense of my new community. I have driven down the streets, wondering who the locals were, and where they hang out. I have had to do a wealth of research, just to find out some basic information about my new home.
Trained as an anthropologist, I have been taught to seek out the authentic voice of the community members. I have learned to ask questions and listen intently as people talk. It has been drilled into me as an academic to never automatically assume I am an insider- but rather to understand- and respect- my place in any new community I find myself in. This is often hard to do, as we are quick to assume our place within community hierarchy.
Having said this, I wanted to do something- something meaningful- that helps to tie together the voices and people of this
community while allowing me to find my place here. I wanted to find a way to integrate myself that would have some sort of
lasting benefit to the people who have been here for much longer than me. I do not want to become just another face in the crowd, but rather someone who has been able to offer something to my community- even if it is only my community for a couple years.
Who does this project benefit?
It is my hope to create something tangible that people can turn to when they need to find out information. I want this website to be a valuable resource that serves everyone equally. From tourists and newcomers, to long-time residents, everyone has something valuable to add to this community. We all have our favorite places- places that make us feel at home- regardless of where we’re originally from. We all have stories of happiness, triumph, and tragedy that if we’re willing to share with others, can be turned into a wonderfully rich dialogue which explains how communities such as ours are formed and perpetuated. It is my intent to reach out to anyone who is willing to examine their place within this unique community, in order to form even stronger bonds and ties with other residents and visitors.
Influences on this project:
I used many resources for conducting the research portion of this project including the internet, the Monterey Public Library (especially the California History Room), the Museum of Monterey's 100 Stories Project, ethnographic fieldwork (visiting sites and events and documenting them), and my community advisory committee.
Phase one of this project (the formation of a community cultural advisory committee and the creation of this blog as a repository for gathered research) has relied on publicly available historical records and the input of local community members. Phase two will focus on gathering and documenting the individual voices that add the rich value and meaning to this community. I will focus on conducting oral interviews with various members of the community, including members of historically ethnic neighborhoods and locally-owned businesses. I will place emphasis on working-class community members whose families have immigrated to the area and personally experienced the enormous changes and adaptations this community has endured. Currently there is a lack in diversity in this project in that it does not yet reflect these voices, but it is my goal in the future to incorporate this aspect into my overall work.
Museum of Monterey's 100 Stories Project
One specific resource that has been extremely helpful in my research has been the “100 Stories Project” which was created by M.D. Baer who is the Executive Director of the Museum of Monterey. The 100 Story Project was premiered by the
Museum of Monterey June 4th, 2012, and was compiled over a year’s time. It focuses on artists, historians, icons and institutions to paint a portrait of the Monterey Region; past, present, and moving forward. It features 146 stories (videos) and draws upon the knowledge and talent of 106 participants from the local area. The project cost was approximately $20k and was funded by the Museum of Monterey and its parent organization, the Monterey History and Art Association. The project rational was that the Museum of Monterey could tell the stories of the Monterey Region in all its diversity with an emphasis on history, art, innovation and our maritime heritage. This project has been valuable in that it has allowed me to gain a better understanding of the area and the people who live here (as well as what is valuable enough for them to go on public record and speak about), and it has also given me insight into who we can seek out to provide us with rich community stories and dialogue in our future work.
For more information, please see the official website at: http://museumofmonterey.org/100-story-project/.