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Ismael

@ishcuevas

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Founder of 'Rieles y Raices'

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Learn the 100yr old history of Mexican American Railroaders in Chicago and the Midwest. "Rieles y Raíces" opening reception: Friday, Nov 21, 2025. 6-8pm. National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago. Exhibit will be on display until April 2026. Bring family and friends.

📹 by @upstairsmatt taken in National Museum of Mexican Art by @ishcuevas

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a year ago

"Rieles y Raíces" honors Black History Month. We commissioned a piece from Derrick James, a model railroader from the South Side of Chicago, to illustrate the daily conditions of Mexicans living in boxcars in the East Side of Chicago in 1930.

Drawing parallels between Black folks working on the railroads in the South, and the movement of Black families northbound during The Great Migration, Derrick was intentional in using this medium as a way to promote Black and Brown solidarity, especially in these times where we are pitted against each other.

The @explorenmma is open every day except Mondays and Holidays. Exhibit is free and open to the public until April 26, 2026. taken in National Museum of Mexican Art by @ishcuevas

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8 months ago

"Rieles y Raíces" celebrates Women's Herstory Month! We highlight the life of Francisca Dimas Garcia, a maintenance railroad worker at the Nickel Plate Road yard in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Although traqueras were employed in smaller numbers compared to men, mujeres Mexicanas and Latinas were also entrusted with cultivating and passing on culture and traditions that are still celebrated in Mexican communities across the Midwest.

If you have photos and/or documents of Mexican/Latina women who worked in the railroad between 1900-1980, please scan the QR code at the end of the video and fill out the form.

"Rieles y Raíces" is a free exhibit at the @explorenmma open veryday from 10a-5p, except Monday's and Holidays. Check it out before it closes April 26, 2026. taken in National Museum of Mexican Art by @ishcuevas

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7 months ago

"Rieles y Raíces" was featured on @wgnnews for Hispanic Heritage Month! @lourdestvnews interviewed Ellen Pedraza, whose family lived in a boxcar camp in West Chicago, IL. So happy they featured Sara Phalen from the @wegohistory

We are still collecting photos for a future exhibit! by @ishcuevas

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17 days ago

Our baby boy is beautiful. by @ishcuevas

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18 days ago

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." taken in Chicago, Illinois by @ishcuevas

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2 months ago

Help me tell the 100 year #history of Mexicanos in Northwest #Indiana . The majority worked in the steel mills, but some worked in the #railroad and lived in boxcar camps. Contact me if you have #Mexican ancestors who worked in the #Gary , Indiana Harbor, and East Chicago railroad yards between 1919-1940 at rieles.raices@gmail.com

📽 by @upstairsmatt taken in East Chicago, Indiana by @ishcuevas

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2 months ago

Growing a life, grounding our love, and waiting for you, Bebé Cuevas Méndez 🫶🏽🤰🏻 🪬🧿
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📸: @bigmoodcreative by @ishcuevas

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4 months ago

Baby shower shenanigans w @iprisma365

Thank you to everyone who helped organize, plan, decorate, cook, and clean. All those hours spent to organize an ever lasting milestone for us.

We appreciated your love, letters, gifts, presence, and friendship.

Baby Cuevas Mendez felt all the love. taken in Chicago, Illinois by @ishcuevas

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5 months ago

20 year anniversary of the #mayday 2006 marches in Chicago. Our classmates led a walk out in solidarity with the immigrant movement. Should we fundraise to produce a mini documentary on this historic moment? taken in Whitney M. Young Magnet High School by @ishcuevas

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6 months ago

Baby 🌚, sunsets, and tlayudas con @iprisma365 taken in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca by @ishcuevas

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6 months ago

Today is the last day of "Rieles y Raíces" at the @explorenmma !! It has been an honor and a pleasure to share this experience with you all.

Your boy is international and was invited to a show in Zacatecas. Muchas gracias a @soykarenpastor y @televisazacatecas por invitarme a su programa y darle cobertura a los mexicano-americanos en México. taken in National Museum of Mexican Art by @ishcuevas

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6 months ago