Indiana Historical Society Premieres Beyond El Barrio

The Indiana Historical Society celebrates the vibrant legacy of Indiana’s Latino community with the premiere of the powerful new documentary, Beyond El Barrio: Early Cultural Contributions to the City of Indianapolis, Seen and Unseen.

A special screening will take place on Thursday, May 1, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick History Center for this important event. The evening kicks off with a screening of the 20-minute documentary (presented in English with Spanish subtitles), followed by a thought-provoking panel discussion featuring the film’s creators and notable scholars.

Beyond El Barrio brings to light the rich and often overlooked history of Indianapolis’ Latino community, focusing on the cultural influence of the El Barrio neighborhood—a once-thriving community in the 1960s that was ultimately displaced by urban development and highway construction. Through personal stories and archival insight, the film honors the people who called El Barrio home and their enduring impact on the city’s cultural identity.

The post-film panel, moderated by Daniel Gonzales, Director of Exhibitions at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, will discuss the ongoing relevance of El Barrio’s legacy. Panelists include Nicole Martinez-LeGrand, Curator of IHS Multicultural Collections; Grace Ping, Intern, IHS Education and Engagement; and community voices Maria Quintana, Reynaldo Riojas, and Connie Hamm—all former residents of El Barrio.

For more info, visit indianahistory.org

This program is supported by a grant from Indiana Humanities with additional funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities and The Indianapolis Foundation.