Library Innovation Lab: The Immigrant Experience

Library Innovation Lab 2018: Exploring New Ways of Engaging Immigrant Communities through Public Humanities Programming

The library's primary goal in applying for grants is to continue the dialogue about the various communities that co-exist in Watsonville and documenting their experiences. This is accomplished by the library developing partnerships with local community members and other non-profit organizations to foster awareness of the struggles of discrimination, exploitation, migration, and civil rights that local citizens have experienced in the past and today.

The Completed Murals

The Process & How the Murals Were Created

person mounting a mural on the wall

Phase Five: Mural Unveiling & Dignity of Labor Medallions Reception


Everyone is invited to see our completed murals hung in the library and the Dignity of Labor Medallions that will be hung in our computer lab. Refreshments and tours will be provided. 

Wednesday, October 17th, 4:00pm at the Main Library



Phase Four: Bringing the Murals to Life


Thank you to everyone who came out to pain our murals! Painting has finished.

 Our design concepts have been selected, so we now invite all of the community to paint the murals. 

Friday, September 7th, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., at the local Watsonville Farmer's Market
Thursday, September 20th, 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., at the Main Library Meeting Room
Friday, September 21st,10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., at the Main Library Meeting Room
Saturday, September 22nd, 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., at the Main Library Meeting Room

Phase Three: Artist Renderings & Community Feedback


The artist is currently at work coming up with a couple proposed mural designs based on the information given in Phases One and Two. The proposed designs will be able to be viewed on Wednesday, August 22nd from 10am - 6pm at the Main Library and open for community input. 

The proposed mural designs are:
many cultures represented on a bus mural design
butterfly mural design
man with a heart extended dramatically design
three people representing the experience of being a citizen


Phase Two: Community Meetings


Did you leave your country of birth to come to a new place in search of a better life? Are you the first or second generation United States citizen with stories from your parents or grandparents to tell about their migration experience? The Watsonville Library is offering you an opportunity to share those stories through the universal language of art.

The Pajaro Valley Community is invited to submit or tell their immigration stories at community meetings scheduled on June 30th and July 7th at 2pm at the Watsonville Library Conference Room. These stories will be used to generate a mural that communicates the immigration experience in a universal visual that will be accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. Local muralist, Jaime Sanchez, and a team of 5 young artists will develop the concept and draw the outline on various mural panels based on community input. In the fall, the community will be invited to help paint these murals which will be on permanent display at the library.

Submit your story to Alicia Martinez via:
♦ voice mail box: (831) 768-3403 
OR
♦ email your story to alicia.martinez AT cityofwatsonville.org.
OR
♦ Come to the Community Meetings at the Library either on June 30th and/or July 7th at 2pm.

Phase One: Evaluation and Input from our Community


Is still ongoing! 

♦  Public Survey
♦  Community Partners Survey

About the Grant


Twelve public libraries across the state of California will receive support from California Humanities as part of the second year of their Library Innovation Lab program. The program is designed to explore new ways of engaging immigrant communities through public humanities programming. Each library will receive up to $5,000 to support public programs, along with an intensive program of training and technical support.

Twelve public libraries across the state of California will receive support from California Humanities as part of the second year of their Library Innovation Lab program. The program is designed to explore new ways of engaging immigrant communities through publichumanities programming. Each library will receive up to $5,000 to support public programs, along with an intensive program of training and technical support.
Twelve public libraries across the state of California will receive support from California Humanities as part of the second year of their Library Innovation Lab program. The program is designed to explore new ways of engaging immigrant communities through publichumanities programming. Each library will receive up to $5,000 to support public programs, along with an intensive program of training and technical support.
Twelve public libraries across the state of California will receive support from California Humanities as part of the second year of their Library Innovation Lab program. The program is designed to explore new ways of engaging immigrant communities through publichumanities programming. Each library will receive up to $5,000 to support public programs, along with an intensive program of training and technical support.
Twelve public libraries across the state of California will receive support from California Humanities as part of the second year of their Library Innovation Lab program. The program is designed to explore new ways of engaging immigrant communities through publichumanities programming. Each library will receive up to $5,000 to support public programs, along with an intensive program of training and technical support.
Twelve public libraries across the state of California will receive support from California Humanities as part of the second year of their Library Innovation Lab program. The program is designed to explore new ways of engaging immigrant communities through publichumanities programming. Each library will receive up to $5,000 to support public programs, along with an intensive program of training and technical support.
Twelve public libraries across the state of California will receive support from California Humanities as part of the second year of their Library Innovation Lab program. The program is designed to explore new ways of engaging immigrant communities through publichumanities programming. Each library will receive up to $5,000 to support public programs, along with an intensive program of training and technical support.