“Your mom was a month early… and she was little and tiny and really cute!”

Jody (Edna Jo) LaFevers was raised in an old 2 story house with a big front porch in a small town on the Missouri border called Viola. Her mother would make all of her clothes, including her prom dress, so...

Immigration Stories: Mexico-United States An Oral History – Alicia Marván, Director of Guapamacataro Center for Arts and Ecology

Alicia talks about the importance of the Guapamacataro Arts and Ecology center as a place for artist residents and as a way to give back to the Maravatio community. Alicia is both a citizen of Mexico and the United States...

Immigration Stories: Mexico-United States An Oral History – Gabby Cruz

Gabby tells us about how she was born and raised in Guapamacataro, Maravatio, Michoacan, Mexico, and how she is caretaker with her husband and daughter at the Center for Arts and Ecology. Gabby is also an organic strawberry farmer and...

El Abuelo Con Cabello Blanco

In this interview conducted, In April 2018 In Santa Ana California, Perla Lozano interviews her grandfather Jose Rocha. My grandpa and I talked about how he felt when I was born since I was his very first granddaughter, how his...

Edgar Contreras and his father Jose talk about his father’s story

In this interview done with Edgar Contreras (16) and his father Jose (46), they talk about the father's childhood growing up and who were his main influences in his life so far. They also talked over how Jose has came...

Elena Ferreira's life in Mexico and what led her to the United States.

I interview my grandmother about her life in Mexico and what influenced her in emigrating to America, as well as how she got here.

Mercedes Luz and Peter Singh

Peter Singh (16) talks with his grandmother, Mercedes Luz (70) about her childhood and growing up in the Philippines. Mercedes discusses her time in Iran during the Iran Iraq war as a nurse in a military hospital. She traveled across...

Part Two: Maria speaks of transition, settling into Richmond, and her dreams of bringing more Mexican culture to her adopted city!

Part one of two: Maria sits down with Alison and translator Kaitlyn to talk about family, her move to Richmond, and ways she believes we can incorporate more Mexican culture into the town she has grown to love and appreciate!

Immigration Stories: Mexico-United States An Oral History – Rafael Telle Cruz

Rafael speaks enthusiastically about his time living in the United States and working hard. Rafa talks about currently living, working, and farming in Guapamacataro, Maravatio, but also about he hopes to return to the States to work with his brothers...

Immigration Stories: Mexico-United States An Oral History – Anonymous 17 Choreographer and Dancer

Anonymous 17 talks about growing up in Mexico until her early teens when her family relocates to the United States. Living many years as a permanent resident, in recent years she has obtained United States citizenship. Anon 17 speaks about...