Neighborhood Life

Interview Description Brisehida Ramirez Martens (36) is interviewed by facilitator Whitney Henry-Lester about being smuggled into the U.S. from Mexico as a young child and her experience growing up in the United States and becoming a mother. Facilitator Subject Log :58 born in Monterrey Mexico in the "green cross "; things she remembers about childhood: grew up without a father, brother died in infancy 10:03 mother is a very proud person; coyote...

Interview Description Vince Ramirez (85) talks with his daugher Nancy Ramirez (45) about living in East LA, being a pilot during WWII and his life. Facilitator Subject Log 01:00 Vince talks about his father Vicente Ramirez and his work as a machinist. Vince is from Nogales, AZ. 03:20 Vince talks about why his parents moved him and his siblings from Nogales, AZ to Los Angeles, CA. 09:30 Vince tells stories about being a Mexican-American kid...

Interview Description Manuel Ramos (61) interviews his father, Henry Ramos (81) about his life. Facilitator Subject Log 1:05 Henry was born in Mexico, and came to the United States with his family when he was 2 months old. 04:19 Henry talks about his high school experiences. 05:44 Henry tells the story of meeting his wife, Emma and their marriage in Raton, New Mexico when Henry was 18 years old. 11:40 Henry talks about his...

Interview Description Mary Lorona (95) talks with her daughter, Lenore Stuart (63) about their family's history in Yuma and shares favorite family stories. She talks at length about the family piano. Facilitator Subject Log 01:46 Mary recalls starting the Yuma Historical Society. She explains why it is important for her to pass on the family stories. 04:32 Mary explains where her love of history came from. Her great aunt nana used to take her to the...

Interview Description Magda Rivera (40) talks with friend Poli Marichal (55) about being a Latina in Los Angeles, CA. Facilitator Subject Log 02:30 Poli talks about how she met Magda. Magda was performing in a play and Poli wanted to start a new film. 08:00 Magda and Poli talk about Puerto Rican Spanish and how it's different from other Spanish. Poli talks about the first days she was in LA and working for an art organization called "Self Help...

Interview Description Martha Elena Robles de Fernandez (60) habla de su niñeza y Salvador Fernandez (62) habla de su vida. [Martha Elena Robles de Fernandez (60) talks about her childhood and Salvador Fernandez (62) talks about his life.] Facilitator Subject Log 01:00 Martha nacio en Zacatecas y habla de su familia. 02:40 Martha habla de la primera vez que conocio a su esposo. 18:30 Salvador habla de su vida en Zacatecas, MX....

Interview Description Best friends David Rodriguez, 28, and Pilar Mendoza, 27, reminisce about their high school and college experiences. Facilitator Subject Log 0:50 DR and PM remember how they met during an Honors English class at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles. 9:25 Friends recall failing to study for an Advanced Placement (AP) test and going to church to pray. 14:00 Friends discuss at length applying for college. PM pushed DR...

Interview Description Rosa Rodriguez (49) talks with son Alfredo Alexis Rodriguez (30) about their family and her life. Facilitator Subject Log 01:58 Rose was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. She talks about leaving when she was six-months old. 02:45 Rosa talks about going back to Guadalajara in 2004 to see her father for the first time in 42 years. 12:40 Rosa talks about her grandparents and the store they owned named "El Pirri. "Her...

Interview Description Manuel Ronquillo, 32, and his sister Rebecca Ronquillo, 33, remember their mother and their older brother and share some of their favorite memories of both their family and their upbringing in the housing projects of East Los Angeles. Facilitator Subject Log 0:50 RR explains purpose for coming to StoryCorps booth: remembering death mother. 1:55 MR talks about what he misses about his mother. SIblings talk about their mother's...

Interview Description Ana Maria Ruiz (46) talks with her sister Veronica Ibarra (30) about their mother. Facilitator Subject Log 05:20 Ana talks about living with her grandparents in Guatemala without her mother because her mother Maria Montenegro was living in Los Angeles, CA. Ana was 7 when her mother left. 09:30 Ana tells the story about how she came to Los Angeles when she was 14. She arrived with her mother. 14:50 Ana talks about the...