Mikaela Meza, Chicago Transit Authority
Mikaela Meza, Chicago Transit Authority
This eleventh installment of CCC's Member Spotlight series features an interview with Mikaela Meza, Chicago Transit Authority.
Tell us about yourself and your role.
My name is Mikaela and I’m Chicago born and raised! I manage the Chicago Transit Authority’s Records Center and Archives. I started with the CTA in 2021 and oversee the day-to-day operations of the CTA’s Records Center with a focus on designing and implementing processes to increase user compliance and enhance the user experience with the Records Center. The scope of my role expanded during a Record Center project when I discovered nearly 2,000 items in the Records Center with enduring value to the agency but no visibility. I established the agency’s first ever archive with these items and maintain the archive with the help of my wonderful interns. In 2023, I was named the National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators' Emerging Leader of the year. I hold a bachelor's degree in Anthropology from Loyola University Chicago and a master's degree in Information from Rutgers University.
How did you become involved in the work of Chicago Collections?
While building the CTA Archives, I spent the better part of a year having conversations with archivists and community organizations throughout Chicago to get a better sense of archival work and the role archives play in telling stories about Chicago communities. One archivist suggested that I look into joining an archival consortium for more support. After doing some research, CCC seemed like the best fit for the CTA Archives because of the organization’s commitment to Chicago history and culture.
What are some of the interesting things your institution has on EXPLORE?
I cannot wait for us to get our material on EXPLORE. The bulk of our collection is planning related or from the 1960s and 1970s, which was an interesting time in Chicago. I also know there are a bunch of transit enthusiasts out there that love engaging with the CTA so I am excited to provide people with another way to do so.
What have you liked about EXPLORE?
EXPLORE has been a great tool for me to get a sense of how other archives arrange and organize their collections. The provenance for most items in the CTA Archives was unclear and original order was not preserved when the material was boxed up decades ago. EXPLORE served and continues to serve as an invaluable reference and resource for me.
What is the best part of your job?
By far the best part of my job is having the opportunity to interact with every single department at the Chicago Transit Authority. I am incredibly privileged to be able to learn about the agency from all sides. Additionally, having the duality of records management and archives keeps my days interesting.
What do you like to do in your free time?
In addition to working for the Chicago Transit Authority, I’m also an Adjunct Professor of Information Literacy at Oakton College. I’ve been obsessed with Neapolitan pizzas lately and am attempting to try a pizza from each restaurant on the 50 Top Pizza USA 2024 list. I’ve also recently started taking tap dance classes to rekindle the love for dance I had as a kid.