Kimberly (Crush) Díaz

MALAS
Arts, Literature, & Cultural Studies

Crush was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana where they graduated from Loyola University New Orleans with a B.A in History/International Studies with a concentration in Latin American Studies with a double minor in Spanish and French. Crush received the Solidarity Award for Outstanding Latin American Studies Student at Loyola University after hosting multiple fundraisers for local Latine organizations following Hurricane Ida. Their undergraduate research focused on Peruvian university student involvement in the guerilla group named the Sendero Luminoso or Shining Path. Crush hopes to expand upon this topic and continue researching at UNM.

After graduating from Loyola University, Crush served as the lead and sole community organizer for Latine renters in the New Orleans Metropolitan area. As a community organizer, they promoted housing justice for renters facing racial discrimination and conducted Know Your Rights Trainings in Spanish to continue empowering their local community. After small victories, Crush left New Orleans and lived in Perú (their maternal country) where they visited museums and attended a film festival showcasing Quechua films.

While seated in a panel following a screening, Crush decided to seek a MA in Latin American Studies. The director of said film emphasized the importance of preserving our language, our heart, and our culture. This inspired Crush to focus on museum practices and Andean history in their studies. They aim to become a museum curator to present and curate exhibits while building a grid of documentation and support connected to Latine artists and researchers in Latin America. Crush hopes to make the history of Latin America accessible to diaspora in the U.S.