Nuestra América is a fully illustrated anthology from the Smithsonian Latino Center. It features the inspiring stories of thirty Latina/o/xs. It celebrates their contributions to the United States. Many are towards the nation’s cultural, social, and political character.

Many of the stories in this book will be included in the Molina Family Latino Gallery. It is the first national gallery dedicated to Latina/o/xs at the Smithsonian. The Latino Center leads this gallery project.

The stories in this Learning Lab are in the Smithsonian collections. They are grouped into themes for easier viewing.

What is in a collection? It has objects that were used or worn by someone. Examples of objects include articles, photographs, artifacts, and videos. Objects can be anything from a baseball to a piece of clothing. It could even be a space shuttle! Objects help museums tell more complete stories. Museums also take care of objects. That way, future visitors can see them, too.

Each theme includes thinking routines. They are from the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Project Zero. These questions can help create discussion around the stories and objects here. This Learning Lab can serve middle school and high school students. Especially if they are interested in Latino culture. It can help with a Spanish project exploring family traditions. 

For more information on the book, please visit:
https://latino.si.edu/nuestra-america

An Spanish version of the book is also available. Please visit:
https://latino.si.edu/es/nuestra-america

The themes and stories featured in this Learning Lab include:

• Civil Rights and Activism 
  • César Chávez
  • Dolores Huerta
  • Sylvia Rivera
• Entrepreneurs
  • C. David Molina
  • The Unanue Family and Goya Foods
• Fashion and Popular Culture
  • Celia Cruz
  • Óscar de la Renta
  • Lin-Manuel Miranda
  • Rita Moreno
• Literacy and Literature
  • Pura Belpré
  • Julia de Burgos
  • Sandra Cisneros
  • Juan Felipe Herrera
• Public Service
  • Jaime Escalante
  • Sylvia Mendez
  • Ellen Ochoa
  • Sonia Sotomayor
• Sports
  • Roberto Clemente
  • Dara Torres