We Are Latinos | Art at the Heart of the Matter

“This neighborhood,” muses Jenny Mendez. “It’s my heart.”

Mendez, a third-generation Mexican American artist born and raised on the West Side of Kansas City, is the cultural arts director at the Mattie Rhodes Center. 

The neighborhood, and its people, have inspired her for decades. That inspiration found its fullest expression in the West Side mural project.

Jenny’s story is part of “We Are Latinos,” a short documentary series by Victor Antillaca that highlights Kansas City’s vibrant Latino community. To learn more about Jenny and her work, watch the attached video.