Changemaker Catalyst Award recipient Ruben Luciano spent the month of April performing archival research at the National Archives in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Ruben is a doctoral student who is majoring in History.

In April 2022, I visited Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to perform archival research at the National Archives located in the heart of the capital city. My objective was to continue undertaking research that would assist me in getting one step closer to finishing my dissertation. This trip was a solo one, one dedicated to primary source gathering, reflection, and occasional sightseeing. I was very excited to continue working in the National Archives but felt somewhat daunted by the COVID-19 restrictions related to travel and document-handling. I was heartened to find women in the military-related documents, such as petitions to join the armed forces, that would serve my argument that the institution of the military should also be examined outside the purview of violence. In relating this objective to my experiences as a changemaker, I wanted to demonstrate that many of the people I studied were mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, and patriots who were trying to achieve a better life for themselves and their families. My key takeaway from this archival foray is that it is important to see these people and their experiences outside the dichotomy of good and bad and instead elect to see them as individuals who used their agency and voices to garner advantages for themselves and their loved ones.

I was inspired to conduct research with the Taylor Center in mind as I had become familiar with its innovative possibilities during my time as an aspiring social entrepreneur at the Changemaker Institute from 2019-2020. I knew that the center was open to alternative approaches to learning and scholarship; I thought that my dissertation project fit into this category. I have always loved stories and listening to people talk about themselves and their lived experiences: funding from the Taylor Center allowed me to do just that. Through this experience, I was able to hone my listening and communication skills.  Being able to listen and articulate ideas and thoughts critically are skills that I can use as a future public speaker and educator. I did not expect to become so emotionally involved in the stories that I read; it’s not that I was adopting a mediocre attitude towards the challenges and rigors of research but the detailed experiences of poverty, patriotism, and loyalty that reached out to me from the hundreds of pages I read, stuck with me and were poignantly felt. I hope to continue delving into these experiences more as I finish working on my dissertation. I think that the work I have done will adequately prepare me to tackle a research internship and/or contribute to a think tank, both of which have been long-held professional career goals for me.

While my research was challenging, it was also very transformative in positive ways. First, I was able to access stories and narratives that very likely have never been analyzed or have not been read in a long time. Second, I was able to interact with the Dominican people, from archival staff to barbers to tour guides to lawyers, doctors, and military personnel. I think that my ability to listen to them and their history will help me to continue to press for positive change in the underserved communities I hope to work with. I think that the art of critically listening should never be undervalued: it is a skill that a person should continue to improve over the course of their lifetime. As I get closer to finishing my dissertation, I hope that I will be able to impart the value of critically listening to the larger Tulane community. This skill has helped me both as a scholar and in my personal life.