assistance with weekend college freshmen field trips

Among other things, I am on the faculty at Columbia College Chicago. I am teaching a section of our relatively new and required First-Year Seminar: New Millennium Studies. I have 18 eager and bright first-year students, representing a broad swatch of our majors, and pretty diverse (ethnically, socially, and geographically.)

We're on Unit One: Constructing a Self. The main texts are Sandra Cisneros' "House on Mango Street" and the film "Ray." The important questions include: Who am I? To what extent do I construct my identity? To what extent do thers construct my identity? How do I "construct" the identity of others? How does place/ritual/heritage/tradition play a part?

To their credit, all 18 expressed uneasiness being in unfamilar cultures/neighborhoods. To their credit, all 18 desired to broaden their horizons and understanding. And all 18 expressed the desire to meet on a few Saturdays/Sundays toward those ends.

Today's poll of my possible destinations produced these results for our outings:
Maxwell Street Market
Argyle Street
Kedzie/Lawrence

I've spent a lot of time in Mexico, and have some knowledge of Vietnamese and Lebanese cultures, and I could hold my own. But in the interest of expanding their worlds (and giving them a break from my perspectives), I hope to find some knowing and insightful guides/docents for our outings, who can illuminate both the foods and cultures of our destinations.

I can get modest stipends for those who are willing and qualified. We are probably looking at late September through the end of October. I can make prior arrangements with destinations in order to accommodate us.

HAMMOND: Might you be in for Maxwell St.?

Kindly message me from LTH with responses, volunteers, suggestions, etc.

Thanks kindly.

Cheers,
Wade

Among other things, I am currently enrolled in Columbia College, although not in the New Millennium Studies (that would be a small world indeed).

I would say that if I were an incoming freshman, out of the neighborhoods you listed, Maxwell Street and Pilsen in general would be at the top of my list. It'd be tough to get kids up and out for class at 6am on a Sunday morning, so maybe Pilsen in general would be a better choice.

Also at the top of the heap to explore would be anywhere else in the south side. Perhaps Bronzeville, perhaps Hyde Park. I think many suburban and out-of-state students not familiar with the city would feel pretty familiar very quickly with places like Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville. I myself still don't know the south side as well as I'd like. Maybe a trip to Lem's or a rehash of the 47th-a-thon?

Seems like a cool class. Good luck.

My high-school senior daughter and her friends recently enjoyed a trip to Devon Avenue, with LTH favorite Khan BBQ as the primary destination. They ended up shopping and buying some videos. Afterward they ate some unfamiliar sweets at Sukhadia. Apparently there was a Pakistani holiday and quite a few families were out and about that evening. Some political leaflets being distributed became a catalyst for later discussion. Devon Avenue might be a good destination for your group as well.

Josephine,

Thank you for the suggestion. Devon was one of the destinations that I suggested. I asked the students to vote for three, and the poll yielded the results above.

Of course, I may use my prerogative as teacher to impose an alternate choice or two.

Cheers,
Wade