Latina/o/x places exist as both tangible physical phenomena and gatherings created and maintained by creative cultural practices. In this collection, an interdisciplinary group of contributors critically examines the many ways that varied Latina/o/x communities cohere through cultural expression. Authors consider how our embodied experiences of place, together with our histories and knowledge, inform our imagination and reimagination of our surroundings in acts of placemaking. This placemaking often considers environmental sustainability as it helps to sustain communities in the face of xenophobia and racism through cultural expression ranging from festivals to zines to sanctuary movements. It emerges not only in specific locations but as movement within and between sites; not only as part of a built environment, but also as an aesthetic practice; and not only because of efforts by cultural, political, and institutional leaders, but through mass media and countless human interactions. A rare and crucial perspective on Latina/o/x people in the Midwest, Building Sustainable Worlds reveals how expressive culture contributes to, and sustains, a sense of place in an uncertain era.

Latina/o/x places exist as both tangible physical phenomena and gatherings created and maintained by creative cultural practices. In this collection, an interdisciplinary group of contributors critically examines the many ways that varied Latina/o/x communities cohere through cultural expression. Authors consider how our embodied experiences of place, together with our histories and knowledge, inform our imagination and reimagination of our surroundings in acts of placemaking. This placemaking often considers environmental sustainability as it helps to sustain communities in the face of xenophobia and racism through cultural expression ranging from festivals to zines to sanctuary movements. It emerges not only in specific locations but as movement within and between sites; not only as part of a built environment, but also as an aesthetic practice; and not only because of efforts by cultural, political, and institutional leaders, but through mass media and countless human interactions. A rare and crucial perspective on Latina/o/x people in the Midwest, Building Sustainable Worlds reveals how expressive culture contributes to, and sustains, a sense of place in an uncertain era.

Jane Kelly gives a unique glimpse of what goes on behind convent walls. She tells of her journey from birth to her decision to enter the convent and details her 58 years in the convent. Culminating to a difficult and painful decision to leave the convent. Her choice was based on her desire to continue to minister to the poor and homeless at Plowshares Community Dining Room which she founded in 1983. Her heart would not allow her to leave her poor and homeless friends to seek a comfortable life at the mother house in San Francisco. Sister Jane's heart is with the homeless her desire is to spend her life with the poor. This work could not be done at the Mother house. She realizes that she has a prime opportunity to serve the homeless and poor in Ukiah, CA. She states I will be here until they carry me out in a body bag.

"Taught to Believe the Unbelievable" tells the story of how Sister Jane Kelly contested Church leaders' efforts to shield the sexual and fiscal misconduct of its priests. Rather than collude in the cover-up, she went to the press, at great risk to her reputation and her relationship to the Church she had served for fifty-five years. When newspaper headlines at last broke the news, Sister Jane's role in her community was changed forever.

Sister Jane's courageous actions, recounted here, reveal how this crisis of faith ultimately became an opportunity to revitalize the Church's most fundamental spiritual teachings. In "Taught to Believe the Unbelievable," her amazing story reminds every reader, regardless of their faith, that the call of one's own heart and conscience supersedes all externally imposed authority.