STATE’S SECOND HISTORICAL MARKER HONORING MEXICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY MEMBER TO BE PLACED IN SOUTHWEST DETROIT JUNE 28, 2026
The first-of-its-kind Michigan Historical Marker will honor the legacy of community historian Dr. Lucile ‘Luci’ Cruz Gajec
WHAT: An official State of Michigan Historical Marker in Southwest Detroit will be the second in the state to recognize the contributions of a Mexican-American community member to Michigan history. The marker will feature a Spanish/English translation. The State of Michigan Historical Commission approved the installation of a Michigan Historical Marker honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Lucile Cruz Gajec—educator, historian, founder of Museo Indigenista, and the woman long known as “the community historian of Southwest Detroit.”
The marker was made possible through research by Irma Maribel Guzman and the Michigan History Center, with generous support from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.
The unveiling will be celebrated with live music and a dedication ceremony on Sunday, June 28. Performers include COMPÁS Ensemble & Mariachi Mexico 2020. Members of the community are invited to join the celebration free of charge.
WHO: Speakers at the dedication ceremony include:
● Luis Ali, SDBA & AGI Construction
● Jesse Venegas, Ideal Group
● Tobi Voigt, Michigan History Center
● Irma Maribel Guzman, Detroit VOCES Collective
● Rachel Harness, Gajec Family
WHEN: Sunday, June 28, 2026
The celebration and live music will start at 1 p.m.
The brief dedication ceremony will be held at 2 p.m.
WHERE: La Joya Gardens
4000 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit, MI 48209
The marker will be placed near the corner of W. Vernor Hwy & Hubbard St. The marker placement was chosen because it is the former site of Museo Indigenista.
About Dr. Lucile ‘Luci’ Cruz Gajec
Born March 4, 1926, in Harlingen, Texas, Dr. Gajec was a third-generation American of Mexican descent
who arrived in Detroit in 1959. Dr. Gajec was a renowned community historian, educator, and founder of
Museo Indigenista in 1991—a community museum dedicated to preserving Indo-Hispanic culture. Over
her lifetime, she earned multiple degrees, including a Doctor of Education from Wayne State University.
Dr. Gajec’s service on boards and committees spanned from 1968 to 2002, including roles with the LA
SED (Latin Americans for Social & Economic Development), Circulo Mutualista Mexicano, National
Association of Folklore Groups, Mexican Patriotic Committee, Detroit Ethnic Festivals Committee, Detroit
Mexican Festival, Most Holy Trinity Church, Corktown Folk Dance Group, and LULAC (League of United
Latin American Citizens), Detroit Historic Designation Advisory Board, among many more. She received
recognitions from organizations in the City of Detroit, across Michigan, and internationally—honored as a
guardian of Mexican culture and a preserver of a people’s history. Dr. Lucile “Luci” Cruz Gajec passed
away on April 29, 2008, but her work has never left the neighborhoods she served.
About Detroit VOCES Collective
Detroit VOCES Collective (DVC) is a group of Southwest Detroiters dedicated to celebrating and
documenting the rich and enduring lives of Latinos in Detroit. They pursue this mission through a wide
range of creative projects across diverse formats. Their founding initiative, the Detroit VOCES:
Southwest Oral History Project, is laying the groundwork for the collective’s ongoing efforts to preserve
and uplift community stories, ensuring these voices continue to inspire future generations. DVC has
identified the following outcomes for their work:1) Honor the history and contributions of our communities,
2) Inform inclusive development of our city neighborhoods, 3) Inspire new possibilities across
generations, 4) Weave a holistic history of Detroit.
About Southwest Detroit Business Association
Established in 1957, the Southwest Detroit Business Association (SDBA) is a coalition of businesses and
entrepreneurs committed to fostering a stable, economically healthy, and vibrant neighborhood. We
support our community’s vision for growth by cultivating innovation, collaboration, and shared prosperity.
Our commitment to equity means actively dismantling barriers so underrepresented individuals and
communities can fully participate in and benefit from available opportunities. We achieve this by providing
access to resources, networking, mentorship, and educational programs that empower businesses to
thrive, and serve as a vehicle for cooperative economic development in Southwest Detroit.
About COMPÁS & Ensemble
The Center of Music & Performing Arts Southwest (COMPÁS) was established in 2007 through a
collaboration between community performing artists and the Southwest Detroit Business Association.
Located in the historic Odd Fellows Building in Detroit’s Springwells Village neighborhood, COMPÁS
provides year-round arts, recreation, and educational opportunities for youth. Through professional
instruction in dance, instrumental music, and visual arts, COMPÁS celebrates and preserves the rich
Latino heritage of Southwest Detroit while fostering creativity, confidence, and leadership in young
people.
The COMPÁS Ensemble is a select group of student musicians who represent the program through
performances at community events, cultural celebrations, and special engagements throughout the year.
The ensemble showcases the talent and dedication of COMPÁS students while promoting cultural pride,
artistic excellence, and community engagement through music.