HOW DO WE TEACH AND LEARN?

The Heritage Garden curriculum is developed and taught by CCUSC directors. It builds on research conducted by current LCC director Rosa Cabrera and former AACC director Lori Baptista when they worked at the Field Museum. This research identified a number of key community concerns and strategies for community involvement in climate action, including gardening and urban agriculture. The Heritage Garden project frame work uses an assets-based approach that recognizes the range of green practices that people are already doing, builds on cultural values and identity, and links community concerns with environmental issues. 

The Interns engage in many hands-on, educational activities that help to develop and maintain the garden and sustain their relationships with community partners. Interns oversee the planting and maintenance of eight satellite gardens on the east side of campus. Interns also lead tours and host two annual public events that support intercultural engagement to broaden efforts around cultural and environmental sustainability. Interns research the cultural significance of plants in the garden, gather recipes, and collect stories from family, friends, and neighbors about their environmental friendly practices. Interns participate in weekly discussions about readings related to environmental and cultural sustainability, visit community resources relevant to this project, and work with local artists to make creative and explicit connections between environmental sustainability, cultural diversity and social justice. 

The Heritage Garden is a collaborative project between the seven Centers for Cultural Understanding and Social Change(CCUSC/Centers), under the Office of Diversity, Equity & Engagement at UIC. Founded as a direct result of campus activism, the Centers work collectively to produce knowledge and shift university culture, validating the multidimensional lived experiences of historically and currently excluded communities. Informed by social justice frameworks, the Centers support students, faculty, and staff as they build a strong identity and sense of belonging, becoming change agents for a more just campus and society. The Centers connect our communities and design intercultural and engaged-learning opportunities, student mentorship programs, cultural programming, advocacy, collaborative research, and community partnerships. Through these efforts, the Centers expand the educational and transformational mission of UIC.

Applications were open from february 1ST - march 1st 2024!

Heritage garden in the UIC news!

• November 8th, 2022 - Mural Inauguration for collaboration between UIC Heritage Garden, Yollocalli Arts Reach and Mena Arte Creative Studio

• October 11, 2019 - UIC Heritage Garden receives honor

• September 19, 2019 - UIC Earns national acclaim for diversity, inclusion efforts

• March 8, 2019 - The Heritage Garden Plants Seeds for UIC Environmental Sustainability

• September 25, 2018- UIC earns national recognition for sustainability efforts

• October 17, 2017 - Seeds of social change

• July 12, 2016 - Tree planing honors Pulse victims

• October 13, 2015 - Monarch butterflies a lesson in sustainability, social justice

• October 8, 2015 - Monarch butterflies a metaphor for UIC Heritage Garden

• June 30, 2015 - UIC Heritage Garden seeds conversations about culture, sustainability

• July 8, 2014 - What grows in UIC's Heritage Garden?

• February 13, 2014 - Chicago chef Bill Kim unlocks flavor at UIC

• September 17, 2013 - A growing interest in culture, sustainability

• September 4, 2013 - UIC event links diversity of environment and culture

• September 3, 2013 - A closer look at heritage gardens

Internship Goals & Educational Activities 

Establish a sustainable educational model to help engage students around environmental and cultural sustainability issues. 

Intellectual Framework

Our intellectual framework is based on research done by the garden directors, Rosa Cabrera and Lori Baptista.  

SYLLABI & Program Structure

Click to download the syllabi we have used throughout the years, and also read more about the program structure,

BOOK DISCUSSION

Find out what books the interns have read that relate to the Heritage Garden's framework. 

Centers for Cultural understanding and social change Directors

From Left to Right: Rosa Cabrera, PhD, Director of the Rafael Cintrón Ortiz Latino Cultural Center; Mark Martell, PhD, Director of the Asian-American Resource and Cultural Center; Cynthia Blair, PhD, Director of the African-American Cultural Center; Billy Huff PhD, Director of the Gender and Sexuality Center.

From Left to Right: Natalie Bennett, PhD, Director of the Women's Leadership and Resource Center; Zeina Zaatari, PhD, Director of the Arab American Cultural Center; Margaret Fink, PhD, Director of the Disability Cultural Center

Student Leaders and Interns

Fall 2024 - current cohort

Student Leaders

• Jo Taylor, Public Policy

• Itxhel Edlae Montaño Orozco, Psychology

• Jeshaun Creswell-Jones, Biological sciences

• Leslie Navarro (Photo and Media Leader), Art - Photography / Minor Communications

Student Interns

• Tonatoyatzin Meza, Environmental Engineering

• Kiersten White, Psychology / Minor Business

summer 2024

Student Leaders

• Jo Taylor, Public Policy

• Itxhel Edlae Montaño Orozco, Psychology

• Kai Belcastro, Environmental Science

• Jeshaun Creswell-Jones, Biological sciences

• Leslie Navarro (Photo and Media Leader), Art - Photography / Minor Communications

Student Interns

• Tonatoyatzin Meza, Environmental Engineering

• Chelsea Dunlap, Environmental & Ecological Science

• Kiersten White, Psychology / Minor Business

• Sunny Jeong Eimer, English

Spring 2024

Student Leaders

• Nia Cunningham, Public Health

• Ashley Cruz, Urban Studies

• Jo Taylor, Public Policy

• Edwin Quiroz, Biological Sciences

• Ikram Isa, Biomedical Engineering

Student Interns

• Itxhel Edlae Montaño Orozco, Psychology

• Kai Belcastro, Environmental Science

• Jeshaun Creswell-Jones, Biological sciences

• Leslie Navarro (Photo and Media Intern), Art (Photography)/Minor Communications

fall 2023

Student Leaders

• Nia Cunningham, Public Health

• Ashley Cruz, Urban Studies

• Jo Taylor, Public Policy

• Edwin Quiroz, Biological Sciences

• Ikram Isa, Biomedical Engineering

Student Interns

• Itxhel Edlae Montaño Orozco, Psychology

• Kai Belcastro, Environmental Science

• Jeshaun Creswell-Jones, Biological sciences

• Leslie Navarro (Photo and Media Intern), Art (Photography)/Minor Communications

Summer 2023

Student Leaders

• Johanna Taylor, Public Policy

• Edwin Quiroz, Biological Sciences

• Ikram Isa, Biomedical Engineering

Student Interns

• Itxhel Edlae Montaño Orozco, Psychology

• Kai Belcastro, Environmental Science

• Jeshaun Creswell-Jones, Biological sciences

• Leslie Navarro (Photo and Media Intern), Art (Photography)/Minor Communications

Spring 2022

Student Leaders

• Nia Cunningham, Public Health

• Ashley Cruz, she/her, Urban Studies

• Hasiya Najmin Isa, Chemical Engineering

Student Interns

• Johanna Taylor, Public Policy

• Kayla A Jordan, Music Business

• Edwin Quiroz, Biological Sciences

• Ikram Isa, Biomedical Engineering

• Carmen Estrada, Undecided

• Wei- Zen Chen (Photo and Media Intern), Fine Arts

Fall 2022

Student Leaders

• Nia Cunningham, Public Health

• Rubi Valentin, Gender and Women’s Studies, with a minor in Professional Writing and Public Policy

• Stephanie Villagomez, Elementary Urban Education, with a minor in Biological Sciences

• Ashley Cruz, she/her, Urban Studies

• Hasiya Najmin Isa, Chemical Engineering

Student Interns

• Johanna Taylor, Public Policy

• Kayla A Jordan, Music Business

• Edwin Quiroz, Biological Sciences

• Ikram Isa, Biomedical Engineering

• Carmen Estrada, Undecided

• Wei- Zen Chen (Photo and Media Intern), Fine Arts

Summer 2022

Student Leaders

• Keyana Robinson, Media Senior Leader, Business Marketing

• Nia Cunningham, Public Health

• Rubi Valentin, Gender and Women’s Studies, with a minor in Professional Writing and Public Policy

• Stephanie Villagomez, Elementary Urban Education, with a minor in Biological Sciences

• Ashley Cruz, she/her, Urban Studies

• Hasiya Najmin Isa, Chemical Engineering

Student Interns

• Johanna Taylor, Public Policy

• Kayla A Jordan, Music Business

• Mikey Parada, Electrical Engineering

• Edwin Quiroz, Biological Sciences

• Ikram Isa, Biomedical Engineering

• Carmen Estrada, Undecided

• Wei- Zen Chen (Photo and Media Intern), Fine Arts

Spring 2022

Student Leaders

• Zuleyma Morales, Integrated Health Studies

• Eyzel Torres, Rehabilitation Sciences, with minor in Life Science Visualization

• Keyana Robinson (media intern), Business Marketing

• Sakina Ghatalah, Political Science with a minor in History, Biology and Chemistry

Student Interns

• Rubi Valentin, Gender and Women’s Studies, with a minor in Professional Writing and Public Policy

• Amber Lewis, English (Professional Writing Concentration), with a minor in Nutrition

• Ashley Cruz, Urban Studies

• Hasiya Najmin Isa, Chemical Engineering

• Nia Cunningham, Public Health

• Penny Burke, Earth and Environmental Sciences, with a minor in Biology

• Stephanie Villagomez, Elementary Urban Education, with a minor in Biological Sciences

Fall 2021

Student Leaders

• Zuleyma Morales, Integrated Health Studies

• Eyzel Torres, Rehabilitation Sciences, with minor in Life Science Visualization

• Hajara-Yasmin Isa, Computer Science

• Keyana Robinson (media intern), Business Marketing

• Sakina Ghatalah, Political Science with a minor in History, Biology and Chemistry

Student Interns

• Rubi Valentin, Gender and Women’s Studies, with a minor in Professional Writing and Public Policy

• Amber Lewis, English (Professional Writing Concentration), with a minor in Nutrition

• Ashley Cruz, Pre-Nursing Track

• Hasiya Najmin Isa, Chemical Engineering

• Nia Cunningham, Public Health

• Penny Burke, Earth and Environmental Sciences, with a minor in Biology

• Stephanie Villagomez, Elementary Urban Education, with a minor in Biological Sciences

Summer 2021

Student Leaders

• Zuleyma Morales, Integrated Health Studies

• Eyzel Torres, Rehabilitation Sciences, with minor in Life Science Visualization

• Grace Fick, Psychology and Pre-Pharmacy

• Hajara-Yasmin Isa, Computer Science

• Keyana Robinson (media intern), Business Marketing

Student Interns

• Rubi Valentin, Gender and Women’s Studies, with a minor in Professional Writing and Public Policy

• Amber Lewis, English (Professional Writing Concentration), with a minor in Nutrition

• Ashley Cruz, Pre-Nursing Track

• Hasiya Najmin Isa, Chemical Engineering

• Nia Cunningham, Public Health

• Penny Burke, Earth and Environmental Sciences, with a minor in Biology

• Stephanie Villagomez, Elementary Urban Education, with a minor in Biological Sciences

Spring 2021

Student Leaders

• Mechiya Jamison, Urban Planning and Public Policy

• Zuleyma Morales, Integrated Health Studies

• Danay Barrera, Earth and Environmental Science

Student Interns

• Eyzel Torres, Rehabilitation Sciences, with minor in Life Science Visualization

• Grace Fick, Psychology and Pre-Pharmacy

• Hajara-Yasmin Isa, Computer Science

• Keyana Robinson (media intern), Business Marketing

• Renae Mijares Encinas, Gender and Women’s Studies with minor in Global Asian Studies

• Sakina Ghatalah, Political Science with a minor in History, Biology and Chemistry

• Sasha Friedman, Philosophy and History with a minor in Political Science

Fall 2020

Student Leaders

• Mechiya Jamison, Urban Planning and Public Policy

• Zuleyma Morales, Integrated Health Studies

• Danay Barrera, Earth and Environmental Science

Student Interns

• Eyzel Torres, Rehabilitation Sciences, with minor in Life Science Visualization

• Grace Fick, Psychology and Pre-Pharmacy

• Hajara-Yasmin Isa, Computer Science

• Keyana Robinson (media intern), Business Marketing

• Renae Mijares Encinas, Gender and Women’s Studies with minor in Global Asian Studies

• Sakina Ghatalah, Political Science with a minor in History, Biology and Chemistry

• Sasha Friedman, Philosophy and History with a minor in Political Science

Summer 2020

Student Leaders

• Mechiya Jamison, Urban Planning and Public Policy

• Zuleyma Morales, Integrated Health Studies

• Alejandro Gomez, Integrated Health Studies

• Danay Barrera, Earth and Environmental Science

Student Interns

• Eyzel Torres, Rehabilitation Sciences, with minor in Life Science Visualization

• Grace Fick, Psychology and Pre-Pharmacy

• Hajara-Yasmin Isa, Computer Science

• Keyana Robinson (media intern), Business Marketing

• Renae Mijares Encinas, Gender and Women’s Studies with minor in Global Asian Studies

• Sakina Ghatalah, Political Science with a minor in History, Biology and Chemistry

• Sasha Friedman, Philosophy and History with a minor in Political Science

Spring 2020

Student Leaders

• Mechiya Jamison, Urban Planning and Public Policy

• Zuleyma Morales, Integrated Health Studies

Student Interns

• Alejandro Gomez, Pre-Nursing

• Danay Barrera, Earth and Environmental Science

• Sana Murtaza Bhalli, Pre-nursing

Fall 2019

Student Leaders

• Mechiya Jamison, Urban Planning and Public Policy

• Zuleyma Morales, Integrated Health Studies

• Edith Mendez (photographer), Photography and Graphic Design

Student Interns

• Alejandro Gomez, Pre-Nursing

• Danay Barrera, Earth and Environmental Science

• Isabel Carmona, Interdisciplinary Education in the Arts (IDEA)

• Sana Murtaza Bhalli, Pre-nursing

Summer 2019

Student Leaders

• Mechiya Jamison, Urban Planning and Public Policy

• Zuleyma Morales, Neuroscience

Student Interns

• Alejandro Gomez, Pre-Nursing

• Ama Nipassa, Nursing

• Danay Barrera, Earth and Environmental Science

• Desiree Rosales (Photographer), Art Education

• Isabel Carmona, Interdisciplinary Education in the Arts (IDEA)

• Ludmila Pesce, English (Media Rhetorical and Cultural Studies)/ Communication

• Sana Murtaza Bhalli, Pre-nursing

• Victoria Ngo, Biology

Spring 2019

Student Leaders

• Jonathan Villaseñor, Bioengineering/Pre-Med

• Alex Smith, Psychology

Student Interns

• Mechiya Jamison, Urban Planning and Public Policy

• Zuleyma Morales, Neuroscience

• Edith Mendez (photographer), Photography and Graphic Design

Heritage Garden Educator

• Nadia Sol Ireri Unzueta Carrasco, Gender and Women's Studies

Fall 2018

Student Leaders

• Jonathan Villaseñor, Bioengineering/Pre-Med

• Tran Huynh, Nutrition

• Sarah Gabriella Hernandez, Community Psychology

• Nour Ghalyoun, English/Pre-Med

• Alex Smith, Psychology

Student Interns

• Mechiya Jamison, Urban Planning and Public Policy

• Zuleyma Morales, Neuroscience

• Edith Mendez (photographer), Photography and Graphic Design

Heritage Garden Educator

• Nadia Sol Ireri Unzueta Carrasco, Gender and Women's Studies

summer 2018

Student Leaders

• Jonathan Villaseñor, Bioengineering/Pre-Med

• Samar Khrawish, Integrated Health Sciences

• Tran Huynh, Nutrition

• Sarah Gabriella Hernandez, Community Psychology

• Nour Ghalyoun, English/Pre-Med

• Alex Smith, Psychology

Student Interns

• Kayla Toulabi, Political Science

• Abigail Olsen, Neuroscience

• Mechiya Jamison, Urban Planning and Public Affairs

• Zuleyma Morales, Neuroscience

• Umair Naseem, Computer Science

• Edith Mendez (photographer), Photography and Graphic Design

Spring 2018

Student Leaders

• Jonathan Villaseñor, Bioengineering/Pre-Med

• Samar Khrawish, Integrated Health Sciences

• Tran Huynh, Nutrition

• Sarah Gabriella Hernandez, Community Psychology

Interns

• Nour Ghalyoun, English/Pre-Med

• Alex Smith, Psychology

Fall 2017

Student Leaders

• Jonathan Villaseñor, Bioengineering/Pre-Med

• Samar Khrawish, Integrated Health Sciences

• Tran Huynh, Nutrition

• Sarah Gabriella Hernandez, Community Psychology

• Britany Davis, Biological Sciences

Interns

• Nour Ghalyoun, English/Pre-Med

• Alex Smith, Psychology

Summer 2017

Student Leaders

• Jonathan Villaseñor, Bioengineering/Pre-Med

• Samar Khrawish, Integrated Health Studies

• Tran Huynh, Nutrition

• Sarah Gabriella Hernandez, Community Psychology

• Britany Davis, Biological Sciences

Interns

• Nour Ghalyoun, English/Pre-Med

• Alex Smith, Psychology

• Ana Ruiz, Sociology and Criminal Law

• Onyedikachi Ebiringah, Psychology

• Giovanni Garcia, Computer Science

Spring 2017

Student Leaders

• Tran Huynh, Nutrition

• Sarah Gabriella Hernandez, Community Psychology

Interns

• Jonathan Villaseñor, Bioengineering/Pre-Med

• Samar Khrawish, Integrated Health Studies

• Britany Davis, Biological Sciences

Fall 2016

Student Leaders

• Tran Huynh, Nutrition

• Sarah Gabriella Hernandez, Community Psychology

Intern

• Samar Khrawish, Integrated Health Studies

• Jonathan Villaseñor, Bioengineering/Pre-Med

• Britany Davis, Biological Sciences

• Catalina Restrepo, Psychology

Summer 2016

Student Leaders

• Tran Huynh, Nutrition

• Sarah Gabriella Hernandez, Community Psychology

• Ian Torres, Latin American and Latino Studies

Interns

• Catalina Restrepo, Psychology

• Britany Davis, Biological Sciences

• Jonathan Villaseñor, Bioengineering/Pre-Med

• Samar Khrawish, Integrated Health Studies

• Ainna Flaminia, Nursing

• Rozy Lakada, Computer Science

Spring 2016

Student Leaders

• Sarah Gabriella Hernandez, Community Psychology

• Ian Torres, Latin American and Latino Studies

• Yaritza Guillen, Urban Planning and Public Affairs

Interns

• Tran Huynh, Nutrition

Fall 2015

Student Leaders

• Sarah Gabriella Hernandez, Community Psychology

• Ian Torres, Latin American and Latino Studies

• Yaritza Guillen, Urban Planning and Public Affairs

• Phoenix Chen, Teaching of Mathematics

Interns

• Tran Huynh, Nutrition

• Rinn Bobek, Nutrition

• Maria Lagowski, Psychology/Pre-OT

• Maurice Mayes, Computer Science

Summer 2015

Student Leaders

• Sarah Gabriella Hernandez, Community Psychology

• Ian Torres, Latin American and Latino Studies

• Yaritza Guillen, Urban Planning and Public Affairs

• Phoenix Chen, Teaching of Mathematics

Interns

• Tran Huynh, Nutrition

• Rinn Bobek, Nutrition

• James Esparza, Public Health

• Maria Lagowski, Psychology/Pre-OT

• Maurice Mayes, Computer Science

• Jocelyn Munguia Chavez, Psychology

• Arianna Roldan, Architetecture

• Alonzo Zamarron, Graphic Design

• Jessica Qian Zhang (Documentation), Communications

Spring 2015

Student Leaders

• Sarah Gabriella Hernandez, Community Psychology

• Ian Torres, Latin American and Latino Studies

• Tania Sosa, Psychology/Pre-PA

Interns

• Yaritza Guillen, Urban Planning and Public Affairs

• Phoenix Chen, Teaching of Mathematics

• Jessica Qian Zhang, Communications

FALL 2014

Student Leaders

• Sarah Gabriella Hernandez, Community Psychology

• Ian Torres, Latin American and Latino Studies

• Tania Sosa, Psychology/Pre-PA

• Karl Novak, Civil Engineering

• Lucia Whalen, English

Interns

• Yaritza Guillen, Urban Planning and Public Affairs

• Phoenix Chen, Teaching of Mathematics

• Jessica Qian Zhang, Communications

• Sharanitha Sampath, Biology

• Zainab Shirazi, Psychology/Pre-Med

SUMMER 2014

Student Leaders

• Sarah Gabriella Hernandez, Community Psychology

• Sharanitha Sampath, Biology

• Jessica Qian Zhang, Communications

• Karl Novak, Civil Engineering

Interns

• Yaritza Guillen, Urban Planning and Public Affairs

• Phoenix Chen, Teaching of Mathematics

• Natalie Cruz, Business and Marketing

• Akhila Gopal, Biology

• Ian Torres, Latin American and Latino Studies

• Lucia Whalen, English

• Tania Sosa, Psychology/Pre-PA

SPRING 2014

Student Leaders

• Sarah Gabriella Hernandez, Community Psychology

• Christian Alfaro, Gender and Women's Studies

• Eduardo Muñoz, Urban Planning and Public Affairs

• Karl Novak, Civil Engineering

• Yaxal Sobrevilla, Communications

Interns

• Razan Abu-Hashish, Gender and Women's Studies

• Lulú Martinez, Gender and Women's Studies

• Victoria McClain, Urban Planning and Public Affairs

• Sharanitha Sampath, Biology

• Jessica Qian Zhang, Communications

FALL 2013

Student Leaders

• Sarah Gabriella Hernandez, Community Psychology

• Christian Alfaro, Gender and Women's Studies

• Karl Novak, Civil Engineering

• Yaxal Sobrevilla, Communications

Interns

• Razan Abu-Hashish, Gender and Women's Studies

• Lulú Martinez, Gender and Women's Studies

• Victoria McClain, Urban Planning and Public Affairs

• Esha Kher, Computer Science

• Zainab Shirazi, Psychology/Pre-Med

SUMMER 2013

Student Leaders

• Sarah Gabriella Hernandez, Community Psychology

• Christian Alfaro, Gender and Women's Studies

• Marta Aguila, Urban Planning and Public Affairs

• Eduardo Muñoz, Urban Planning and Public Affairs

• Yaxal Sobrevilla, Communications

Interns

• Jessica Qian Zhang, Communications

• Karl Novak, Civil Engineering

• Obehi Ilenikhena, English American Literature

• Jinyoung Chang, Psychology