Cynthia Canez

Hi, I’m Cynthia. I participated in this project a Senior at ASU West studying Psychology with a Sociology minor. I’m planning on becoming a child and adolescent therapist, specializing in abnormal psychology. My grandparents originally migrated to Arizona from Mexico in the early 1960’s, then decided to start a family here, thus making me a second generation United States citizen. My mom’s side of the family, on the other hand, are from Germany and migrated here in the early 1910’s. During this project, I’m excited to look further into not only my culture, but also other cultures of migrants spread throughout the city.

As downtown Chandler undergoes redevelopment and gentrification, homes and businesses catering to and making visible the city's immigrant communities begin to disappear from the cityscape.

Matsuri, a Japanese festival held at Heritage Square in Phoenix, showcased Japanese traditional dances, music, arts, food and activities, and offered visitors traditional and modern Japanese goods. The festival recalls the first wave of Japanese immigrants to Arizona, and their descendants.

Mekong Plaza shows the Asian immigrant presence in the city. Now that Asians outnumber Hispanic arrivals to the US, metro Phoenix can expect an increase in businesses and services addressed to Asian immigrants and their diaspora communities.

Two annual Greek festivals show that the heritage and culture migrants have brought to America continue through generations of their descendants that still practice traditional Greek dancing, cooking, religion and design.

Food is culture, and an important way immigrants keep their cultural connections vital. International groceries cater to migrant kitchens across metro Phoenix, in this curated photo set.

Mercado de Las Artes at the Heard Museum shows us that without immigrants and their influences, there is little doubt that much of the beauty and symbolism incorporated in art would not be in America today.