Achievements and Awards

Interview Description Carmen Ornelas-Perez, 69, tells her friend and mentee Erica Jacquez, 35, about her pioneering career in Democratic Party politics, shares lessons learned, and gives Erica advice for a future career in politics. Facilitator Subject Log 1:00 CP recalls the sense of community felt in East LA while she was growing up and shares from neighborhood anecdotes. 5:00 CP talks about segregation in the local public pool: Latino children...

Interview Description Ruben Ortega (38) and his brother Hugo Ortega (44) talk about coming to the United States, their love of cooking, and opening up a restaurant. Facilitator Subject Log 1:20 descendents are Spanish; sentimental people originally came from Mexico; Hugo came from Mexico in 1984 10:36 piñatas, Ruben would steal the clay pots to make piñatas; mother is a beautiful human being 22:01 American dream; exchange dolares for...

Interview Description Juan Cuevas (33) interviews his mother Harriet Ottenstein about her life, career as a pianist, and family. Facilitator Subject Log 1:20 Harriet's parents built a succah in the back yard in their home in NJ to celebrate their Jewish heritage of harvest and life on the fields. 6:10 Harriet wanted to be a pianist since she was 4. She could tell what song was on a record just by looking at the grooves. 11:05 Harriet met...

Interview Description Javier Pacheco, de 49 años, entrevista a su madre Guadalupe Pacheco, de 81 años, y a su tía María Saldivar, de 85 años, sobre sus vidas laborales y sus experiencias viviendo en la ciudad de Los Angeles. [Javier Pacheco, 49, interviews his mother Guadalupe Pacheco, 81, and his aunt, 85, about their working lives and their experiences living in Los Angeles.] Facilitator Subject Log 1:00 JP introduces his family and the purpose of...

Interview Description Juan Carlos Padilla, 34, shares with his wife Cindy Saavedra, 31, the story of how he migrated to the United States and, after many years of attending school while working, he obtained his engineering degree. Facilitator Subject Log 0:40 JP remembers his grandfather and the fun memories he has of the "rancho "where his grandfather lived. At the rancho, he chased cows, played with his bothers, and rode horses. 6:50 JP talks about...

Interview Description Leticia Padilla, 33, tells StoryCorps Mobile Facilitator Anna Walters, 27, about her family, her leukemia diagnosis, her hopes for the future, and her teaching career. Facilitator Subject Log 1:40 LP recalls her parents and grandparents and extended family. She recalls some of the relatives' names and some of the family reunions and traditions. 11:20 LP talks about having leukemia. Finding out. Becoming depressed ( "I thought I...

Interview Description Gilberto Peña (73) talks with his daughter Carmen Peña Abrego about his life in Brownsville, TX, joining the Army and meeting his wife. Facilitator Subject Log 01:10 Gilberto moved to the outskirts of Brownsville, TX with his parents and family when he was nine. He talks about the "Smitty "boys, his neighbors, who became his friends. 03:55 Gilberto talks about his friend Dale Smitty teaching him to speak English, while he taught...

Interview Description Lucas Perez (38) is interviewed by facilitator, Whitney Henry-Lester (26) about his work as a poet, writer and composer. Facilitator Subject Log :59 nació en San Luis Potosí; describe sus padres 3:29 escuchaba música; escribir música; como empezaste a escribir versos? 10:46 como Lucas vino aca en Houston; vino para trabajo; fue dificíl para encontrar trabajo 18:00 la persona más importante en su vida es...

Interview Description Inez Perez tells her grandchildren, Tony Estrada and Christy Rios about their family history, her life growing up and meeting and marrying her husband, Tony Perez. Facilitator Subject Log 01:12 Inez's parents' names and her family name, Najar. Their emigration from Mexico to El Paso and then Pasadena. 06:24 Inez remembers meeting Tony Perez, her future husband at a restaurant. They were married two weeks later with an El Paso...

Interview Description Maria Elena Perez (67) habla con su hija Liliana Perez (39) de su vida. [Maria Elena Perez (67) talks to her daughter Liliana Perez (39) about her life.] Facilitator Subject Log 03:10 Maria cuenta la historia de cuando vino a los Estados Unidos cuando tenia 37 años. 07:15 Maria habla de su papa y la novia que tuvo. Su mama murio cuando tenia 3 años. 19:50 Maria cuenta la historia de cuando se hizo ciudadana de los...