Latino Virginia Oral History Project

Please note: This oral history project is a work in progress. Oral histories will be added as they are finalized.

Latino Virginia is a multidisciplinary collaboration between academics, students, and community organizations. The project seeks to improve our understanding, research, and teaching about the Latino community of Virginia. The project focuses on the experiences of first- and second-generation Latinos relating to community building, COVID, immigration, labor, gender, political changes, race, and life in Virginia. The Latino community benefits from the establishment of a platform for the presentation of their stories, we would use this database as the basis for research and publication on immigration to Virginia, and VCU students would benefit by gaining skills in interviewing and field research. This community-engaged project creates links between VCU and the Latino community and their organizations, opening a window into an increasingly multicultural state.

The Latino Virginia Project is an ongoing research project that collects interviews and oral histories in collaboration with community partners to understand the challenges facing the Latino community of Richmond and Virginia. This work is leading toward the establishment of research and an archive or database of interviews. As part of their training, BA and MA students conduct some of the interviews and build and maintain a website that would host both archival and published pieces on the community. As the project grows over time it will publish oral histories, podcasts, photographs, film interviews, community resources, and more. The archive itself would document the community, provide sources for multidisciplinary research, and offer a basis for community engagement, becoming a major resource to the Latino community.

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Interview with Karen Gomez (2024-03-24)

The following interview takes place between Katie Argueta, a VCU student and Karen Gomez, a newly admitted student in Accounting who is originally from Venezuela. In this Interview, Karen Gomez shares her childhood experiences, why she left Venezuela in 2017, adapting to life in Miami and then later Glen Allen, Virginia. Furthermore, This interview also explores the impact of the pandemic and the politicization of immigrants and Latinos in Virginia.

Karen Gomez, nacida en Caracas, Venezuela, compartió su historia de vida. Su padre falleció en un incendio a los ocho años, lo que la llevó a mudarse con su familia. Estudió finanzas y gastronomía en Venezuela. Se mudó a Estados Unidos en 2017 debido a la persecución política. Vivió en Florida y Virginia, donde enfrentó desafíos culturales y educativos. Su hija sufrió depresión debido a la adaptación escolar. Karen trabaja como delivery y estudia contabilidad. Destaca la importancia de la resiliencia y la adaptación cultural. Critica el uso político de la inmigración y enfatiza la necesidad de apoyo y liderazgo en la comunidad latina.
Interview with Antonio Fajardo (2024-04-24)

The date of this interview is April 24, 2024 in Richmond, Virginia. In the interview with Antonio Fajardo from San Pedro Sula, Honduras by Eric Bowden. Antonio talks in this interview about his upbringing in Portsmouth, Virginia, his transition into the United States and navigating two languages at the same time. Fajardo also discusses being a Honduran-American, DACA, and the appreciation of his parents teachings.
Interview with Genesis Rosas (2024-04-18)

Genesis Rosas, interviewed by Barrett Brown on April 18, 2024, discussed her family's migration from Texas to Virginia, where she has a cousin. She noted Richmond's physical development but social consistency. Genesis, who commuted to VCU and received a scholarship for both undergrad and her graduate degree in the School of Pharmacy, says she faced no major obstacles. She described her experience with COVID-19, noting its potential financial impact on the Latino community. Genesis shared her family's coping strategies during the pandemic and their vaccination experiences. She emphasized her pride in her heritage, her family's support, and her involvement in a small Spanish church.
Interview with Samuel McMinn Bautista (2024-03-18)

In this interview, Samuel McMinn Bautista, a recent undergraduate student from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts, who is of Salvadoran and American heritage, shared their unique experiences navigating their Latinidad in both personal and academic spaces. Furthermore, they reveal how intertwined their work and art is at times with their identity. Their narrative paints a picture of dynamic, multifaceted Latinidad, shaped by their Salvadoran-American heritage, revealing the diverse experiences of Latinx individuals within the United States and within the city of Richmond, Virginia.
Interview with Aracely Aranibar Zambrana (2024-04-08)

Aracely Aranibar Zambrana discusses her upbringing in Arlington, Virginia, where she was raised as a single child by her Bolivian parents. Her father crossed the border multiple times before settling in Virginia, while her mother followed him, also facing border challenges. Aracely attended Wakefield High School and grew up Catholic. Her parents, who arrived in the U.S. without papers, have struggled to secure legal status. Aracely's relationship with her half-siblings is strained due to ungratefulness. She values her Bolivian heritage, participating in cultural activities and maintaining close ties with her extended family in Bolivia, despite the challenges of distance and immigration status. Aracely Aranibar Zambrana shared her experiences growing up as a Bolivian in the U.S., facing cultural misconceptions and bullying. She recounted incidents from elementary school, including being mistaken for Mexican and receiving lunch detention for defending herself. Aracely discussed her struggles with ADHD and the challenges of fitting in academically. She also detailed the impact of COVID-19 on her family, including her parents contracting the virus and the loss of her grandmother. Aracely emphasized the importance of cultural identity and the support she received from her community and educators, which helped her navigate through difficult times. Aracely Aranibar Zambrana discusses her cultural identity, expressing a desire to connect more with her Hispanic roots. She reflects on her roommate experiences, highlighting cultural differences and the influence of music. Aracely critiques the portrayal of immigrants in the U.S., emphasizing their essential contributions to society and the negative stereotypes they face. She argues that immigration policies should be more inclusive and acknowledges the challenges immigrants face, such as low wages and physical strain from labor-intensive jobs. Aracely also expresses pride in her Bolivian heritage and hopes to raise awareness about Bolivia's rich culture.
Interview with Gisele Rosas (2024-04-18)

Giselle Rosas shared personal experiences with racism and discrimination in Virginia, while Barrett Brown and Rosas provided insights on immigration. Brown discussed confusion and anger at incidents of racism, while Brown and Rosas offered empathetic perspectives on the challenges faced by immigrants. Brown and Rosas discussed starting and growing a business as immigrants in Virginia, highlighting challenges and strategies used to overcome them. Rosas also shared their experience working with the Department of Health of Richmond and Henrico during COVID, providing bilingual support to hundreds of families. Rosas went on to add that they struggled to find the right ingredients and seasonings, leading them to start a business selling Colombian food. Rosas encouraged immigrants to dream big and provided insights on business leadership and COVID-19 impact.
Interview with Angela Gates (2024-05-21)

This oral history interview with Angela Gates, conducted by Mateo McMinn Bautista at Virginia Commonwealth University, explores her experiences as a first-generation mixed Latina navigating cultural identity, education, and career aspirations. Born in San Antonio, Texas, to a Panamanian mother and a Puerto Rican-Irish father, Angela recounts her bilingual upbringing, the challenges of relocating to Winchester, Virginia, and the cultural shifts she encountered. She reflects on the impact of her family's attitudes toward language and identity, as well as the difficulties of assimilating into predominantly white environments while striving to maintain her Latinidad. Angela details her academic journey, from attending a bilingual elementary school in Texas to earning her associate degree alongside her high school diploma, ultimately pursuing a doctorate in pharmacy at VCU. She discusses the barriers she faced as a first-generation college student, including financial challenges and a lack of familial guidance. Her experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a renewed connection with her Latin heritage, influencing her career path toward serving Spanish-speaking communities in healthcare. Angela’s story highlights the resilience and adaptability required to balance cultural heritage, personal growth, and professional ambition in a multicultural society.

She also reflects on her evolving religious beliefs, her immersion in Richmond’s diverse community, and her aspirations to work in Northern Virginia’s Hispanic healthcare sector. Throughout the interview, Angela candidly addresses familial tensions, particularly with her father, whose opposition to Spanish language use and differing cultural perspectives strained their relationship.
Interview with Angie Lopez (2024-06-20)

Angie Lopez, a student at George Mason University, shared her experiences growing up in Los Angeles, California, and moving to Manassas Park, Virginia, at age 11. She discussed the cultural shock of transitioning from a diverse city to a smaller, predominantly white area. Angie's parents moved for better financial stability and safety. She faced challenges in school, initially struggling with English but eventually excelling. Angie studied Communications at George Mason University after switching from an Education major. She also discussed her involvement in the Latin Student Association and her work experiences, including coaching soccer. The pandemic significantly impacted her family, with her mother being hospitalized for over a month with COVID-19. Angie shares her thoughts on education, personal growth, and challenges faced within her community. The interview provides a valuable personal narrative, shedding light on the lived experiences of individuals in contemporary American society.
Interview with Christian Martinez Lemus (2022-10-24)

Christian Martinez Lemus is the Advocacy Specialist for CASA, a nonprofit organization which supports immigrant communities. The organization has more than one hundred-thousand individual members. Lemus discusses his parents’ origins in Guatemala, their journey to Stafford County, Virginia, where he was born, and his graduation from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2021. He discusses life as a student at VCU, where he graduated with three degrees and played in the pep band, his advocacy work with CASA, and how the new governor has affected the community under his tenure. His work focuses on lobbying for trust policies in Fairfax County, and Safe Streets, a campaign focused on transit equity and safer roads. He discusses the challenges wrought by COVID-19, CASA’s vaccination campaigns, and awareness and relief efforts.
Interview with New Virginia Majority Organizers & Southwood Tenants Group (2022-10-24)

An oral history interview with Claudia Leolo, Sofia Vega, “Lady,” Marcela Salazar, Douglas Hernandez, and Consuelo Camacho. The interview was conducted on November 4th, 2022 at the Department of History’s offices at Virginia Commonwealth University. This conversation concerns several topics of interest centered on the 21st century Latin American experience in Virginia. Principally: the lives of residents in the Southwood Apartments complex in Southside Richmond; Latin Americans in the Richmond metropolitan area more broadly; and their personal histories building community. The community organizers provide personal accounts of their relationship to Virginia, what brought them into pursuing grassroots level political & social changes, and their organizing in Richmond’s Latin American community. The residents were also asked questions regarding these topics as relevant to their history, particularly immigration, adapting to life in the United States, and organizing for their rights as tenants at the Southwood complex. Both groups were also interviewed on their experiences during and perceptions of notable current topics of discourse, including the course of the Trump presidency and the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Interview with Mayerli Molina (2024-03-07)

In this interview, Mayerli Molina shares her personal experiences and perspective on navigating cultural identity and belonging in a multicultural community in Richmond. Mayerli also shares her experiences growing up in a multicultural environment and challenges of access to mental health resources for the Latino community. Mayerli also shares her diverse passions and interests and how they have emphasized the significance of cultural heritage and family traditions in shaping their tastes. Finally, Mayerli discussed her experiences navigating high school during the COVID-19 pandemic and the unique challenges faced by the Latino community.
Interview with Fabiola Filiaggi (2024-03-14)

This interview was conducted by Aaron Graham on March 13, 2024 in Richmond,Virginia. In this interview, Aaron Graham questions Fabiola Fillaggi about her experience immigrating to the United States from Venezuela throughout the interview. The subjects of family, school, work, the COVID-19 pandemic, and cultural hurdles are discussed. Fabiola attended Venezuela’s Universidad de Rafael Belloso Chacin to study accounting. She also discusses how she moved to Richmond with her mother, brother, and grandmother, and attended the Henrico Adult School to study English. At Reynolds Community College, Fabiola serves as vice president of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and President of the Latin American Students Association.
Interview with Emily Portillo (2024-03-27)

We discover more about Emily Portillo in this interview, which is conducted by Ashani Jeffries and takes place on March 27, 2024, in Richmond,Virginia. Emily Portillo has been enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University since 2022 and is majoring in history. Although Portillo was born in Fairfax, Virginia, she mostly grew up in Gainesville, Manassas, and El Salvador. Emily shares her support and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community and the inclusivity of all Latin Americans. Emily also shares about the complexities of valuing family in Latino culture while also disagreeing with her parents on things and considering herself a questioning Catholic.
Interview with Karla Ramos (2024-03-14)

In her interview, Karla explains her experiences as an American-born Latino of cross-cultural heritage with an El Salvadorian father and Colombian mother. She discusses her relationship to both of these cultures as well as the culture of the United States of America. She also speaks about the language barriers between her and her parents, experiences with English Second Language programs, and being an unofficial translator in work and social settings. Karla also discusses her complicated relationship with both the English and Spanish language, as well as her experiences traveling to her parents' home countries and how they have helped her to feel more connected to her culture. She also talks about how her extended family has aided in connecting her to her culture.
Interview with Adriana Rosales (2024-03-03)

This oral history interview with Adriana Rosales documents her migration journey from El Salvador to the United States, her educational and professional development, and her work within the Latino community in Virginia. Rosales recounts her childhood in Santa Ana, El Salvador, her reunion with her mother after a decade apart, and her challenges adapting to life and language in Chesterfield, Virginia, at age 15. Despite cultural and linguistic barriers, she excelled in school, pursued higher education at Randolph-Macon College, and discovered a passion for communications and public service. Her early career in Spanish-language radio and public outreach laid the foundation for her current role as a Multicultural Programs Coordinator for the City of Richmond. Rosales reflects on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, both personally and within the Latino community, and emphasizes the importance of immigrant representation, legal support, and community trust. Her story highlights resilience, cultural pride, and a commitment to helping others navigate the challenges of migration and integration. Through her narrative, Rosales advocates for recognition of immigrant contributions and the need for human-centered approaches to immigration policy.
Interview with Nicole Roca Aguirre (2024-06-24)

Isabella Alpire-Roca interviews Nicole Roca Aguirre about her background and experiences. Nicole, originally from Bolivia, moved to the United States of America at age seven and faced challenges adjusting to life in Virginia, including language barriers and cultural differences. She discusses her journey to obtaining DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and later a green card, the financial struggles associated with legal immigration processes, and the limitations DACA imposed on her, such as ineligibility for FAFSA and certain loans. Nicole also reflects on her family dynamics, the impact of the pandemic on her community, and the importance of cultural pride and acceptance.