“The Latinx communities have been instrumental both as workers, as community members, as beacons of cultural institutions.” Historian Emiliano Aguilar, doctoral student Northwestern University Transcript for Not Newcomers I think one of the most important things to know about the Latinx communities in Northwest Indiana is that these are not newcomers. This is not a […]
geographical region
Pick Up That Slack
“The tradition of the mutual aid society dates all the way back to the earliest days of the Mexican colonies in Indiana Harbor and Gary, Indiana.” Historian Emiliano Aguilar, doctoral student Northwestern University Transcript for Pick Up That Slack TITLE CARD: In 1956, two groups, the Benito Juarez Society and the Cuauhtemoc Society, merged to […]
Me Coming Home
“…the Mexican-American community in the United States – it wasn’t really taught in high school.” Transcript for Me Coming Home That’s another mentality, too. Growing up in East Chicago, everyone wanted to know where you were. And you always mentioned, you know, “I’m north side. I’m south side. I’m from the Harbor. I’m from Sunnyside. […]
Seeking Some Level of Normalcy
“Just because you’re homeless doesn’t mean you have to surrender humanity.” This story is from the Invisible Project, a collaboration between the Welcome Project and Porter County Coalition for Affordable Housing, Housing Opportunities, Gabriel’s Horn, Dayspring Women’s Center, and Porter County Museum. Transcript for Seeking Some Level of Normalcy Speaker 1: It’s about, I think, […]
Mexican Colonies
“You have a delightful mix of people starting over fresh and I think the notion was that, ‘We are Mexican. We will always be Mexican first and maybe American second.’” Nicole Martinez-LeGrand, Multicultural Collections Coordinator, Library and Archives Division, Indiana Historical Society. Transcript for Mexican Colonies So, this is my mother’s side of the family. […]
Neighboring in Kouts
“If you are a good neighbor, your neighbor’s going to be a good neighbor.” Welcome Project at Valparaiso University · Neighboring In Kouts Produced by Rich Elliott with interviews recorded by StoryCorps, a national nonprofit whose mission is to provide Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the […]
Part 1: That’s Who I Am
“She actually made a bassinet out of a drawer for me.” Part 1 of an oral history story from an interview with Mayor Jerome Prince, Gary, Indiana. You can find Part 2 here, Part 3 here, and Part 4 here. Transcript for That’s Who I Am My mom was born in 1946. She was actually […]
Cross-Connect
“Pierogies are the Eastern European version of empanadas, you know?” An oral history story from an interview with Nicole Martinez-LeGrand, Multicultural Collections Coordinator, Library and Archives Division, Indiana Historical Society. Transcript for Cross Connect When I was growing up, ethnicity was kind of static. And I didn’t really come to understand what “ethnicity” meant until […]
Cuba: La Salida (Cuba: It Was Time To Leave)
“Nada más que he extrañado siempre a la familia.” | “The only thing is, I have always missed my family.” Mirtha Cuza | interviewed and produced by Melissa Avila Transcript for Cuba: La Salida | Cuba: It Was Time To Leave I was born in Matanzas [Cuba]. I think it was a pretty place. From […]