FOUNDER + ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

LAUREN M. PACHECO

Working + Living in Gary, IN + Born + Raised in Chicago, IL South Side + Brighton Park + Art Administrator + Curator + Artist + Activist + Programmer + Producer Teacher + Facilitator + Organizer + Placemaker + Sister + Wife + Pit Bull Parent

Lauren M. Pacheco is a Mexican-American born and raised on Chicago's southwest side. She is a civic practice artist and cultural worker with over fifteen years of arts administration, curation, and project management experience. Her background is grounded in social practice and public engagement with a personal mandate to responsibly and respectfully invest in targeted communities. Many of her projects are interested in space, people, and social impact. Today, Pacheco serves as a resource to policymakers and institutions in the public dialogue about issues that impact artists and creative enterprises. She is an associate faculty lecturer and the director of arts programming and engagement at Indiana University Northwest in the School of the Arts.

Education >

Northwestern University (MS, Communication)

School of the Art Institute of Chicago (MA, Art Administration, and Policy)

the University of Illinois at Chicago (BSW, Social Work)

ABOUT DESTINATION GARY.

Destination Gary is >interested in >space, >people, and >social impact.

Our projects:

>explore shared values and civic interests.

>leverage community assets.

>reflect on memories + histories.

>tap new creative territories.

>shape new narratives.

>support innovation and entrepreneurial thinking.

We do this because: we can. we must.