Browse Items (14 total)

Cindy Bredenberg discusses her experiences and observations as a Spanish teacher at Jordan-Matthews High School in Siler City, North Carolina. She shares about her school’s demographics and the school culture and reflects on her experiences working with students throughout her fifteen years working at Jordan-Matthews, many of whom Latinx. Cindy…

Yazmin García Rico is Director of Latinx and Hispanic Policy and Strategy at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS). She recounts her activism during her tenure in college, helping Latinx youth navigate college enrollment and her outreach efforts to connect farmworker communities with healthcare and other resources.…

Born in Guatemala but raised in Siler City, North Carolina, Hannia Benítez currently serves her local communities as Deputy Director at El Vínculo Hispano/The Hispanic Liaison’s office in Lee County and as Chair of Siler City’s Immigrant Community Advisory Committee (ICAC). Hannia shares her foundational experiences, including the need to be her…

This interview was conducted by interviewer Alexandra Graham with interviewee Deacon Robert (Bob) Bridwell. The main focus of the interview is Deacon Bridwell’s responsibilities at St. Stephen Catholic Church. Much of his work in the church surrounds immigration services. He tells us about the services St. Stephen’s provides as well as what…

Vianey Lemus Martinez is a fourth year undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying Spanish. She grew up in Tulancingo, Hidalgo in Mexico until age nine when she and her family moved to Durham, North Carolina where they have lived ever since. Lemus Martinez was hesitant to apply for a legal status under the Deferred…

Alma Islas discusses her experience coming to North Carolina from Mexico City at the age of six. She discusses her family’s work in Mexico and the motives behind migrating to the United States. She speaks about the identity struggle she felt since arriving and her conflicts about being Mexican on paper, but feeling more American in practice. She…

Jane Smith (pseudonym), speaks about her involvement with issues related to migration, and the broader landscape of student activism work related to immigration in North Carolina. She shares stories from her work with Students United for Immigrant Equality at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and her observations on the challenges of…

Jose Rico is an undocumented student attending community college in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico before moving to Tamaulipas, Mexico when he was three years old. Rico's family moved to Raleigh, North Carolina in 2003, arriving on a tourist visa, but overstayed their visa. Rico became involved with community…

Miguel is a graduate from a Chatham County, North Carolina high school and an undocumented immigrant. He was born in Mexico and moved to the United States in 1999. This interview focuses on Miguel's and his family's background, with a discussion of Miguel's experiences in school and his community. Miguel also talks about the need of motivation for…

Wooten Gough is a community organizer who has recently been working for the Latin American Coalition and leading youth groups in Yadkin County. Gough is the co-founder of Students United for Immigrant Equality at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which he formed after attended trainings and working with the Reform Immigration for…