Cal Poly has an extensive history of being informed by student determination and ingenuity, encompassed in the ever-present motto “Learn by Doing.” Chicanos at Cal Poly: Who We Are and How We Show Up, curated by Mia Lawrence, honors the history of Chicane students at Cal Poly, focusing on their expressions of cultural identity while recognizing the challenges of placemaking at a primarily white institution. 

The exhibition is part of Shaping Cal Poly: Stories of Student-Driven Placemaking and Innovation, which highlights the placemaking initiatives that Cal Poly’s students have led over several generations of graduating classes.