My name is Valerie Gonzalez.

My husband and I moved to the New England area when we were married. I lived in Pennsylvania and my husband lived in Milford, Massachusetts. And when we were getting married, I said to him, I'll live anywhere but Woonsocket. [laughs]

We were youth pastors [in Milford] at the time and we had a pretty large youth group. Some of the kids in the group were friends with some of the kids in Woonsocket, and so the church bus started coming here, to Woonsocket. Next thing we knew, we had two busloads of kids from Woonsocket coming over to Milford. A lot of these kids, all of them, none of them had like really good stories, they were dealing with a lot at the young ages of 13, 14. And [I told myself] I was willing to help, but I never wanted to live here.

But, the more I started coming to Woonsocket, that all changed. Eventually the pastor at our church asked us, ‘Why don't you two just open a church right in Woonsocket?’ And so we did. We were known as the youth church, because we had a lot of young people. But the more people I met and the more we started getting involved, I really started just falling in love with everything, but especially the people.

Woonsocket was going through a transition, it was going through changes, there was just something changing. I wasn't really sure what it was, but later I saw there were changes in leadership.

My husband and I always followed politics. We never saw ourselves in politics, but all we knew is that through politics you can really affect people's lives. And we just love being embedded, you know, within the people.

When we first moved here, there was this little storefront in downtown Woonsocket, right where the Rob Roy Academy is now. It was like a very narrow, long little church, and that's where we were; it was right across from a bus stop. The bus stop was closed, and my husband and I would watch people from the window shivering, freezing in the winter. So, we decided to open up the church. We didn't have a lot of money or anything, but we asked ourselves: What can we do to help the community? And we thought of something as simple as baking muffins and offering hot chocolate and coffee. So, we started doing that. And the next thing we knew, the bus driver decided that this was where he would take his bathroom break. And, soon we started getting known for little things like that. Sometimes we don't realize the huge impact that this can have in a community, to start small, with whatever you have and make the best of it.

The next thing that happened is our building ended up getting flooded and we had nowhere to go. There was this church, Our Lady of Victories on Prospect Street, which had been closed for about 5 to 6 years and it wasn't anything that we could afford. But that small thing of making muffins and hot chocolate caught the attention of the bus driver who went to one of the Catholic churches and talked to the priest. They called us in and they said, “We want you both to buy the building.” And we only hesitated because we knew we had a large group of young people, and we were not really “a church.” But they welcomed us in. At first, we rented the building for a few years, and after four years we were able to purchase it. And that's where we are right now – all because of the muffins and coffee.

And I'll tell you a quick story: We’re Pentecostals and this is a Catholic church, and from the first time I walked in the building, when Deacon David was giving us a tour of the building, I could almost hear whispers in the building, you know, and I said to her: I think I'm going crazy. It was just something so special that I was feeling the history of the building and of the people [in it].

The Catholic Church does something called deconsecration when they sell to someone else who is not Catholic, and in this case, they took down some of the altars [in the church] and left all the rubble. When we were tearing down the rubble to break it up, we found all these prayers in bits and pieces ... lodged in between the little bricks. I thought it was so cool to just see the people's prayers that were embedded, I'm sure probably even in the foundation of the church. So, for us to be able to continue the legacy of faith in that building, we're very thankful to the Dioceses and the Catholic Church for being patient with us and just allowing us to be able to acquire that building and continue the faith.

Our church now is fully bilingual. The entire worship, plus we sing our songs in Spanish and also in English. My husband and I became very well known in the area for translation because he would preach and I would translate in Spanish, right on the spot. When I would preach, he would translate for me and it was very animated, you know, because I didn't see myself as a translator, I saw myself as a preacher who was getting their notes from the person next to them. Otherwise, I felt that the audience would be missing something if, for example, he says something and I'm just like, ‘Well he said...’ So, it just became this thing that actually became quite popular in this region, and today there are still some churches that are fully bilingual.

We were actually one of the first churches that started that in Milford, Massachusetts. And the reason was because at that time, you had grandma who only spoke Spanish, then you had the mom who was bilingual, and then the third generation who only spoke a little bit of Spanish, could understand a little bit, but didn't really speak Spanish, but it was mostly English. So, in order for a family to be able to worship in one place together, we found it was necessary to have a bilingual service. Now, our church, two years ago went through rebranding -- we were Calvary Worship Center or Centro de Adoración El Calvario, and we’re now called Vida Church. We also went English-only with the intention of starting a Spanish service March 2020, but, you know, that got delayed. The reason why we did that is because there was that old older generation that has been phasing out. And now you have the bilingual, which is mostly English now, and then the young people. We weren't having that many Spanish speaking only parishioners in our congregation, so at the moment we're all in English, but our goal is to open an all-Spanish service.

As far as the Latinos in Woonsocket, we never really went out looking to connect to the Latino community. I think Latinos look for each other. They find each other. For us, it just happened. You know, I'm the first Puerto Rican [to be elected in Woonsocket]. I lived in Puerto Rico in my formative years and I stayed very close to my grandmother, my great grandmother who only spoke Spanish. So, they spent a lot of time just helping us to feel proud of our Latino heritage and our Christian roots. Those were the two big things for them: you're Christian and you're Latina. So, as you live and connect to people, I think it was just natural [to connect with others like you]. When I ran [for City Council] and I won, I can't say it was the Latinos who elected me because I've been involved in the community as a whole, and I serve a lot of different areas, and I think all of that just came together. But all of a sudden it was this big deal that I was this Hispanic, that I was a woman and a Hispanic who won an important position on her first try.

You know, I never ran for anything before. I didn't know how to run a campaign. I know people, that was my thing and I just went out and met people. So, when that happened, I remember I got a call from someone who works for a very well-known newspaper in Boston, I'll never forget when they said: ‘Well, they told me you were the leader of the Latinos in Woonsocket.’ And I said, ‘What?!’ It hit me then that [being a Latina] meant a lot more than I ever imagined. And I think that I felt a heavy weight, a big responsibility to be that connection [reaches for her necklace]. I was telling you earlier about the necklace I wear, it's a puzzle piece, it's a connector. And I wear it to remind myself that I'm not the big picture, you know, I'm just a piece of the puzzle. And a part of the work of the puzzle is to be able to connect. So, when I meet people, I'm not just looking to find out what's the benefit of that relationship in my life, I think of who can I connect to that person? Sometimes I meet people and I know it's not about me, it's about being able to make the introduction to something else, in some other great thing that maybe I might not be a part of it, but I can contribute just by making that quick introduction. So that's why now I started looking at what are some of the things that I can do. Woonsocket has about 8,000 Latinos, I think the last census showed 44,000 people in the entire city. And while I'm working, for everyone, I started seeing that there's a there's a work that I can do as a counselor that can serve this [Latino] community that maybe others might not be able to understand. So I'm looking at things differently now.

There's two radio stations and Woonsocket that people listen to, and I noticed there was not one single radio programs in Spanish. So, I spoke with Dave Richards from WON, and within a couple of months, he said, ‘You know what? You're right. That community needs to be served.’ He acknowledged that and said, ‘Just come in, Let's just get this thing started, we'll figure out how to make it all work.’ And he did, and we started the show. By the second show, we were a talk show, which really tells you that there was a need for it. The radio program is all in Spanish, it’s called De Todo, Un Poco (A Little Bit of Everything).

And just like that, I love how I'm taking things from the city council level and “translating” taking it to the [Spanish-speaking] people and finding ways they might feel comfortable connecting.


Not Her First Time in City Government. The Mayor [Lisa Baldelli] actually appointed me to school committee about six or eight years ago and I served for four years. She had heard of a mentorship program that I was running called Hijas, which is the Spanish word for “daughters.” It doesn't matter what culture you're from, it doesn't matter how old you are, that's the one common ground we would have – if you're a female, a woman you're an hija. Mayor Baldelli saw that I was running a teen mentorship program, and she saw the passion I had for young people so she appointed me to school committee. After four years, the position became an elected post, and when that happened, I stepped away because I never saw myself running. I loved following politics, but I never imagined I’d run for office. My parents always instilled in me the value of being able to voice your beliefs through the voting process, and being able to support candidates who you know would bring about change or a benefit to the community. I was all into that, but I just never saw myself in that picture.

When the mayor approached me, I had just written a book on prayer. It's called Prayer Walks and it's about bringing back active and effective power in the church, where with our declarations and with our actions we can just make a difference. And I remember when my book was released and we had a book signing, I was so nervous, I didn't know what to write ... I'm not comfortable with writing autographs and writing inspirational messages, so I turned to prayer and I started writing and in everybody's book "Be the Evidence." That was my signature, just “Be the Evidence." So, when the mayor called me, it was the last day to declare, and she said, we really need some people that are embedded in the community, that care about the community to run.

And told her, 'Sorry, I can't help you, I'm on the way to the hospital' [I was having health issues]. But the mayor would not let up, she insisted. I finally said to her, 'Look, you know me, I am a woman of Faith, I don't do anything without prayer and knowing that it's my purpose, and not somebody pushing me.' But, again, she would not take NO for an answer, she told me, T'oday is the last day, if you don't sign the papers, that's it, you will miss your opportunity.' So then, I agreed and said, 'Okay, I'm going to sign everything, but it doesn't mean anything!' And as I'm saying this and signing the papers, all I could hear in my head was: Be the Evidence, just be the evidence.

NOTE: Valerie’s health concerns changed for the positive and with only three days before the deadline, she ends up getting the signatures she needs to get on the ballot.

She continues her story.

And then I did a lot of the things that I remember from campaigns in Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico I always found that election season was very exciting because you had all these trucks that would go around with like banderos, music and people saying “Vote for this person!” And because I didn't really know what I was doing, and I didn't have a lot of money, I hadn't been raising funds. So, I got these large magnets and put them on my car, and then we did caravans and I would come out of the sunroof shouting: Hi! My name is Valerie Gonzalez, and I'm running for city council! I had a blast, mainly because a lot of that just brought me back to my childhood. And I couldn't believe that now it was that person on the truck. And that's sort of how I got elected.

I think the first year for me was about learning. I went in with the mindset that I just needed to absorb everything because it's a lot to learn when it comes to representing a city. I did that for the first year, year and a half, I feel like now in the last half, the last half of the two years is when I'm just getting my stride. And that's why I'm running for reelection, because I feel that I am just getting started.

I'm really, really hoping I can win reelection because now I feel it does make a difference. I've never been a person that cares too much about ... I try to see people as people, not their titles or their possessions, anything like that. And I think in that I may have lost out a little bit, realizing how important it is to have some of that because it really does open up the door and connects you to things like, I don't know that I would have necessarily been involved with this project [Nuestras Raíces] if I wasn't serving as a city councilor. I believe this has been one of, I think the most pivotal thing that I've seen in the past couple of years. I will be very, very proud for a long time of the work that you're doing here and knowing that I contributed even a little bit to that. I'm very, very proud of that.

Regarding Nuestras Raíces: I'll tell you the biggest challenge that I think I have found is, I think some of our Latinos are afraid to tell their story. They are not as open. But I also think many are shy. They shy away, they're afraid. But, I think that will change once people see the beautiful work that is done with all these stories. I'm glad that this is a project, a lifelong project for you, because I really do believe that that once this is released and people can actually see that it's done so well, and it's done from a perspective of honoring, and appreciating and valuing, I think that that's going to change the perception. ◼︎

My name is Axel Ramos. I was born in the country of Guatemala, 1985. And I came to the U.S. in 1995 with my mother and two of my sisters. Um, there was a lot going on in my country, a lot of wars during that time. Government was very unstable, so there wasn't a lot of, uh, you know, order. So my mother decided to, um, to come to this country, and she brought us here. Uh, she wanted us to have a better opportunity. She didn't see it over there, so she told us to go. So she was a single mother. And we came here. We came to this country, we applied for asylum, and we went through the process. And it did take a couple of years to to to get, you know, legal status.

And we did end up getting it and started going to school, started learning the language. Everything was very different. I mean, it was a different culture, uh, everywhere we went, but we adapted. You know, I was, I was about ten years old, so I was, I was in that age that, you know, I was like a sponge and everything. I was just, you know, learning. So the language after a few months, a couple of years, you know, I started learning, learning the language. And and this became my home. We lived in Providence for that's when we got there. And then I got married in 2008. So then I moved to Woonsocket. So this is where I've been ever since.

But I did go to school in Providence. I graduated from high school, went to college for a couple of years, but once I got married, more responsibilities. So I started working and about six years ago I started my own commercial cleaning business. So I realized I needed something different after being in a job for ten years, I figure, you know, I needed I needed to move forward. And so I started my own business and that's what I've been doing ever since.

In 2014 I was ordained a minister, and that was another, you know, big, big calling on my life. And my wife and I started pastoring a church here in Wooksocket that we started going in in 2009. And in 2014, after being ordained, we took over the church. And it's it's been it's been a rollercoaster. But, you know, it's we've we realize my mother's dream of, you know, of opportunities in this country. And I think I can say that I try to take advantage of all. And as they would come in, I would I would go for it. And this country has been a blessing to us. And I think I wouldn't change my story for anything. ◼︎

I moved to Woonsocket in 2012. My parents decided because I needed special health care and they were looking for better options. In Puerto Rico, the medical field is not like it is here, and you have less options. At first it was very hard for me because I was nine years old and I didn’t know English. It was such a big adjustment for me, and I had a hard time getting used to it. I remember I’d cry every night, just wishing I could go back to Puerto Rico.

What I missed the most was my family, my grandparents. I also missed having more freedom, because when I came here, I felt I had to put myself in a bubble because I didn’t know anyone. Also, because I didn’t know English, it was really hard for me to meet new people and make new friends. Over there I was more comfortable because, obviously, I knew more people and that was my home.

What I love about Rhode Island is that, in the schools and, in general, there are so many more opportunities for teenagers and kids. I feel we have more opportunities school-wise, medical-wise and options for a better future.

One thing most people don’t know about me is that I competed in the 2021 Miss Rhode Island Teen USA pageant, and it was my first time. I was so very grateful to have that opportunity and I made it to the top twelve. I had no experience at all, no coach. After being in the top twelve, I actually got a special recognition from Mayor Lisa [Baldelli-Hunt] and she crowned me as Miss Woonsocket.

I came to Rhode Island because my mother came to the US in the 1960s. I was three years old and she left my brother, my sister, and myself in Guatemala with my grandmother, while she came here to start a life. Before she brought us, she first wanted to make sure she had something for us and in 1981, she went back to get us, the three of us. At the time, she was living in Providence, and we came directly to live there.

While I was growing up, I was a straight-A student – I loved school, didn’t like missing school at all, not even when I was sick. But life was rough, and ended up in a home here in Woonsocket, an all-girls home. Eventually, I went back again to Providence when things kind-of mellowed down, I went back to live with my mother. But, problems again started in the house, so I went to Boston to live with my dad. I was there for a couple months, looking for a place, but Boston is much more expensive to live, and so my brother my sister and I ended up coming back, and we came to Woonsocket.

We lived in Woonsocket for about a year and then went back to Providence. From there, I ended up dropping out of high school, I didn’t even finish my sophomore year. But by then, I started to get very, very involved with the church that I was attending. Then there I got married when I was almost 19 years old, and had my two children.

When I was in my 30s, my oldest son, who was a Senior in high school and was getting ready to go to college, asked me about my prom, and how was my graduation. But because I had dropped out, I didn’t have any stories to tell him. At that point, I ended up telling him that one of my biggest wishes was to go back to school, to get my GED or a degree, at least an associate or something.

At that time, I was very busy – I was already a part of the clergy in Providence. When I was 24 years old, my ex-husband and I were both ordained to the ministry. And we were so busy in the ministry that I thought that going back to school was something that I would never do because of work, church, ministry, children, all of that.

So then, I met Valerie, another pastor here in Woonsocket, and I met her exactly at the time when I decided to go back to school to get my GED at the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI). I got my Associate's degree and then went on to a four-year college, Rhode Island College, where I got a double degree in Political Science, Political Administration and a concentration in Non-Profits. Once I finished all that, I was still very involved in the community, I was involved with several clergy boards and with other community-based non-profits.

I credit Valerie González, who was one of those friends who would always encourage me to stay in school because it was very important. And I would always go back to Woonsocket to visit her, and it would always remind me of how far I have come. I always say it was because I had God in my life, who kind of helped me get through my tough years as a teenager.

Eventually, I got an opportunity to go to graduate school. But, before I pursued that, I asked my two sons if it was okay with them, because I felt I had already sacrificed so much of my time by not being with them, and going to grad school meant giving more into school than to them. Plus, there was also my time with the ministry and all of that. I then applied to different colleges, universities and got accepted to a few of them, but then I got another invitation to apply to Harvard University. Yes! I applied, got accepted, and in the year 2020 I got my Masters in Public Administration and Social Justice from Harvard. All of that while still doing ministry.

I always thank my mother, because she was the one that in 1974 decided to come to the United States. And, it was tough for her, because now she tells us how she lived in a closet. Because that’s what was all that available for her and what she could afford. But look at all this now: her oldest son is a police officer in the city of Providence, her other daughter does ministry in North Carolina, and I do ministry here in the state of Rhode Island. I also work for the mayor of Providence. I am the liaison to the faith community for the city of Providence, and, someday, I look forward to being elected to office in the state of Rhode Island. So, all of that because one day my mother said I’m going to go to the US. to get a better life for my children.

So, that’s my, that’s my story. ◼︎

My name is Claudia Baez. I am from Puebla, Mexico and I came to the US in 2005. I first came to New York, and later moved to Rhode Island.

I mainly came to the United States because of the economic situation in a country that was very bad and I felt I needed to help provide not only for my house, but for my parents as well. Basically I left México because of economic necessity.

I traveled as an illegal immigrant, and it was really tough, difficult, and I was scared the entire time. Actually, even though I am Mexican it was the first time I had crossed the border, although I know that there are people who have crossed more than one border, walking long hours. For me, it was very difficult, and I was very careful, very afraid. I really don't think I would do it again.

I arrived in New York with a lot of fear, and perhaps a little regret, realizing what I left behind and now seeing what was around me. I was in a different country and people were speaking a different language. It was totally a complete 360-degree turn. But never-the-less, I tried to fit, tried to be strong because I knew I had already made a decision that changed my life, and that now I really had to move forward.

At first, I thought that I was only coming for one year, or three maximum — from 1 to 3 years — and I've already been in this country for 17 years. Eventually, I knew at one point that I could not go back to Mexico because it would be very difficult to return back home without starting all over again. There are many things that I left behind, so many expenses that I had before I left. Thinking about all that, I realized I had to find the will to move forward, try to achieve my dream and goals for which I came to this country.

I went to New York first because my brother and his wife were living there. I arrived at their house, lived with them for a year, and then I moved to my own apartment, where I lived alone. And I missed and still miss family, especially my parents. It was so difficult for me to get around, especially because of the language barrier.

When I left New York and came to Woonsocket, I found it totally different. New York is almost like “the capital of the world,” right? It's a fast-paced life and also a lot of work. I felt my life was also a big blur – one where you can quickly lose yourself in just getting around and not focus on what you do. You work, you earn, you spend. Above all, there are a lot of fun things to do, but also a lot of danger with a lot of people coming from a totally different country to the capital of the world, if you will.

And now, for me living in the State of Rhode Island or Woonsocket, it is totally different from living in New York, especially because of the cost of living, and the fast-paced life in a huge that never sleeps. Here in Woonsocket, it's a quiet, peaceful. I feel good, it’s like I’m part of a family, and it’s easy to get around.

One thing I noticed after I moved here, is that there are no or few Mexican people in Woonsocket. I know a lot of Caribbean people, a lot of Puerto Rican people, a lot of Dominican people. The father of my children is Dominican, I have three children. I think it’s very multicultural. I belong to a church that has a congregation with people from different countries like Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Santo Domingo, and that is very nice. I have also had the fortune of being received and accepted by non-Latinos, Americans and that feels very nice.

Now that I’m here after all these years, I like almost everything about living in the United States. One learns to live, survive within this country by keeping, holding on to your customs, traditions. And what I especially like, is that this country gives the same opportunities to everyone who really wants to come to work. So, I think it's up to each person to see the possibility and the dream that you have to grow in this country. It is very difficult as an immigrant because at first you have so many difficulties put before you in order to progress. But there are always people around you, in the community, who can offer support.

Today, my dreams keep growing. When I first arrived, I had two babies, two little girls – one 11 months old and the other was two years old. I was a single mother. I had another baby here and it was very difficult for me because I did not have my legal status until a few years ago. So, within those conditions it was very, very difficult for me. But, I also had the support, as I was saying, from my entire community here, especially from the people I associate with at the church: Jaqui and her husband, Carlos, all of them supported me a lot and helped me not to give up on my dreams. I am still in legal proceedings at this moment. I am working on my legal status. I am working on getting my GED and I work, even though I was a professional person in my country, and went college in Mexico.

Here I am now involved in my children's programs, I work in the Head Start program, and have been there as a volunteer for five years. And a few months ago, I was given a wonderful opportunity and I am working with Head Start as an assistant teacher, where I know I can grow.

I hope to finish my GED soon. I'm almost done and I already have passed the exams. I also hope that in a few months I will be able to enter college. Although I am still a single mother, it is my dreams to become more involved and grow closer to my children. My children help me and support me a lot. I feel beyond blessed to be with them and to live within the state of Rhode Island and in Woonsocket.

I believe that we all have a story to tell and I am happy to tell you mine. ◼︎

My first name is Jorge, my middle is Manuel. Everyone calls me Manny, and I prefer Manny. I was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and came to the United States in 2007 and to Woonsocket in 2011.

At that time, the plan was not to leave my country, but my father, who is a professional, always insisted that I was going to go to school. For me, not going to school was not an option. So, I was there studying architecture, and I decided I wanted to get my Green Card so I could have an opportunity work in the United States, and I had to come here to apply. I was told it would take about three months to get it, or something like that. So, when I got my green card, my dad's plan or rather, his order was that now I had to come back because I had to complete my education. The problem was that I started working and then I began to compare what I was earning here, and I calculated it in pesos, and compared it to what people were making in the DR. And I saw that I was earning more than my dad. It was just minimal, it was $7 an hour, something like that, but for me it was a lot. I had no responsibilities, no family yet, and I felt I had more opportunities here. I decided to stay because of that.

My first impression of Providence? Well, when I was a child, I used to come to Providence on vacation, but that was during the summer. I would come here with my brother, and everything was fine. We used to go to the park, here and there, you know, and we enjoyed ourselves. But when I came later it was in December, I had never experienced cold in my life, and, you know, I arrived wearing a little coat, like a thin sweater. So, when I got out of the plane, well, I got a chill, and in my mind I thought, ‘Oh, and this is what they say is cold? This is not so cold!' So, I in my mind, I thought that people were just exaggerating about the cold. But, when we went out to the parking lot, oh man, I felt that cold like ah, it was like a blade cutting my skin. I then said, ‘Oh, yes, this really is cold!’ I got scared and I said, “I don't think I can tolerate the cold. What am I going to do?" Well, time went on and I figured it out. So, my first experience after arriving here that I will never forget, was walking right into the cold weather.

My other first impression is related to food, because even though here I can find the ingredients to cook the foods from my home, it was sometimes not easy to find what I wanted, like plátanos, or other Dominican things that I was used to. Now, I’m talking about Woonsocket and not Providence, which is something else. There, every corner you can find the food you want. But since I moved here to Woonsocket from Providence, I noticed that there weren't many of the products that I was looking for. I had to travel far and sometimes even there weren't any. Today, there is a Dominican-managed liquor store and a bodega, but when I moved here, if there were any, I didn't know where, and so I thought there was nothing. It was difficult, because it was not convenient, I had to travel a bit far to find products.

So, between 2011 and 2022 I have seen many changes and we have more access to things like Latino food here in Woonsocket. It seems that Latinos are becoming more empowered, opening businesses, and things like that.

And another thing, my family in Providence were Dominican, and they cook Dominican dishes, but I don't know, it just wasn't the same. I don't know if I feel that way because my grandmother's seasoning, for example, she made it herself, she prepared everything fresh, by hand. I remember that I always wondered why was it that my grandmother started cooking at 8:00 in the morning, and the food wouldn’t be ready until 12 or 1:00 in the afternoon? And here, I found that they ate at 5:00 in the afternoon, by in my body was saying, ‘Wow, I'm hungry’ at 12 noon! I noticed that they started cooking at four and by 5:00, the food was ready to serve, and I just wondered, how do they do it so fast? But now I realize that my grandmother softened the beans early on, and it was quite a process. She seasoned the chicken early, and left it as they say, to marinade all morning, and that was a process. While here, I learned that everything was fast, and everything is in a can. And although, the food was Dominican, prepared by Dominicans, it was just not the same.

So, the food is one, but something else that impressed me, is that everything here is so clean! Perhaps for some people that is normal, but for me, seeing the street so clean here was so nice. I thought that things were so well organized, and keeping things cleanl was important.

Also, when I had to go to apply for my social security card, I noticed how organized things were, because in my country it's like a jungle, and people always want to go first! But, here I saw how organized things are, everyone sitting around waiting their turn, no one trying to get in front. Being organized is the way it works. I was very impressed.

I think those were the things that struck me the most about living here, when I first arrived.

What do I miss, what is different? First, I miss my family in the Dominican Republic. I am the only one in my family who lives here, my dad and my mom still live there. And yes, they do visit often, and as a matter of fact, my mother was here about a month ago. But it's not the same that we are so far apart. Also, there’s the feeling that when I return after visiting them, I feel empty. For example, when my mother left, the memory of her visit always stays with me.

Second thing that stands out is the weather in general. As an example, right now it's hot here, but it's like, and I tell my wife and I think she no longer believes me, that although it's very hot in the DR, once you get under a tree and it feels cool. Here there is the opposite, and it doesn't matter where you stand, the humidity gets to you. I really miss the pleasant weather of Santo Domingo.

What I like most about Woonsocket or Rhode Island in general is that we have all four seasons here. So, when you get tired of the heat, here comes the Fall and you enjoy that a bit. Then the cold comes, you get tired of the cold and, then it changes. That kind of change, believe it or not, it makes a bit difference for us as a human beings, because ten to get tired so quickly and we want change. I like that and even though I say that now, when that cold comes, I know I’ll feel differently!

I also like that you don't have to travel far because everything is close. I go months without going to Providence, and I don't have to go to a bigger city to get what I need or want. There is a growing Latino community here and I believe that Latinos are the backbone of the economy in Woonsocket, because most of them open businesses, they are entrepreneurs or many of us own a small business.

To close the conversation, I want to say that in my opinion, I think we need more Latino representation in the city, because we represent a large portion of the population. Someone like the pastor, for example, when other Latinos see her, they will understand and will realize ‘I can do that too.’ In that way, we will grow more and what one has to say will matter.

That is my story. Thanks to you for doing this. ◼︎

Interview by Teresa Ordinola and Yaruska Ordinola
Woonsocket, RI | August 13, 2022

My name is Carmen Boucher. I am from Puerto Rico and came to Rhode Island in 1983. My first goal after I arrived was to finish school. In Puerto Rico, I had health issues, so my parents wanted to keep me safe and they just took me out of school. When I first came here, I stayed with my uncle in Providence, and eventually fulfilled my goal: I went to middle school and high school, and then graduated from CCRI.

While at CCRI, I met my husband, who was actually my co-worker. We dated for a while and then, in 1991, we got married. In 1992 we moved to this place called Woonsocket, and we have been living here ever since.

One of the first memories I have of when I first arrived to Rhode Island is, it was Fall and I saw that the trees didn't have leaves! I came from a farm, so seeing trees with no leaves, I thought to myself: ‘Oh, my goodness! This place is ugly.’ Another first memory is seeing snow for the first time, and that was beautiful!

One thing I struggled with at first is the language. We studied English in school while I was in Puerto Rico, but it never occurred to me that I would ever end up in here, in the mainland, and I always thought, “Why do I have to learn it?” So, when I came here, I did not speak a word of English, and I can't even tell you how difficult that was. To this day, it still continues to haunt me a bit because when I see others that come and can’t speak English, I can relate. Also, writing in English is still difficult even all these years later. I am working professionally and I feel I cannot grow or move up in my career because my vocabulary is not as extensive as it should be. I often feel people underestimate me because of the way that I express myself; not because I don’t understand what is being said, but because I just don’t always have the vocabulary to express myself.

What I like most about living in Rhode Island is that I got the opportunity to get an education and now have provided an education for my kids. I also feel so lucky that I was able to meet my husband — I’m really proud of him and how we have been able to build a family together, raising our two girls. I’m especially grateful that he accepted me for who I am. He gets along so well with my family in Puerto Rico. We visit often and eventually we bought land and built a house there. And now we get to go back and forth, and we’ve built this multicultural family and life: he is French-Canadian and we have blended our cultures and foods and I feel it’s a beautiful thing we have together. I'm really proud of that.

Together, we have a big family and we have been able to be involved in the development of a community here in Woonsocket. I love being involved in the school with our girls; being involved in something as big advocating for the middle school, as well as in the building committee for the school. We made systematic changes, and that has all been so huge for me!

I think as we look toward the future and think of the next generation, that we should work toward understanding how we must continue to appreciate each other's cultures. How can we teach our children to live in two worlds, to appreciate the rich cultures that can unite us and which bring America together? My goal is to continue to advocate that we can and must all meet together, have conversations and be united. ◼︎

Interview by Tally Williams
Woonsocket, RI | August 13, 2022

Katya Zamot, Sonia García, and Susan Negrón are related, they are a family. They are all from the Island of Puerto Rico (PR). This interview, which takes place at the Museum of Work & Culture in Woonsocket, is translated from Spanish and was led by Yaruska Ordinola, a volunteer for Rhode Island Latino Arts (RILA).

Katya came to Rhode Island in 2002, and the others came in 2006. They all came for health reasons, seeking medical care. They immediately noticed the better quality care that one receives here. For example, getting an appointment was done quickly and the waiting time at the doctor’s office was shorter. Medicine was prescribed, called in by the doctor’s office, and in their hands by the end of the day. “A difference of night and day,” according to Sonia.

The wooden houses here also impressed Sonia. She remembers drawing houses with slanted roofs and a chimney as a child but never imagined she would live in one. In PR the houses are made of concrete and they are square. Also, the green lawns, vegetation, etc in Rhode Island were very different.

Katya came when she was young, 12 years old. She did not like the lifestyle here because it was too confining. In Lincoln, where she lived, it was very quiet and she was used to the hustle-bustle of city life and more celebrations in PR.

“For a girl of twelve, thirteen years old at that time, for me, it was a huge difference … I cried a lot and I want to go back to Puerto Rico. Because I have type one diabetes, we moved here so I could get good health care. It's just that I didn't understand, I didn't want to understand that what my mom was looking for was the best for my health. I also missed my large extended family back in PR.”

Susan: Driving around was challenging and it took me about a month to learn how to get to where I lived because the roads were confusing and I often got lost. I was also very sad because I really didn't want to leave my island and missed everything about it. But over time, I managed to adapt and learn, then I got a job. At first, I didn't know English and I felt I was never going to learn English. But, little by little I learned.

Each of the women reminisces on what they miss about Puerto Rico. The people and the feeling of “community” in the island come up a lot. They talk about how in Puerto Rico, one always looks out for their neighbors, contrary to what we see in the United States, where one may not even know the names of their neighbors. In Puerto Rico, when someone is sick, word gets out and the entire community comes together to personally visit their home, bearing food, helping to clean, etc. When it came to holidays, neighbors would come together at church, and then afterward for a celebration on the streets [Parrandas] where everyone would sing songs and play instruments. Sonia also mentions how in the United States, there are always complaints about noise past 9 pm. In Puerto Rico, one can be as loud as one wants to, and there are always places to go to listen to music, to people watch, make crafts, etc. They also mention that they miss the food of Puerto Rico.

Susan & Katya go on to talk about what they would miss if they left the United States. Both of them return to the subject of the healthcare system and how it is much better here than in Puerto Rico. Susan has grandchildren that are in the school system, and although she isn’t in school herself, she is grateful that her family is able to gain a better education. Sonia agrees with both of them that the United States has a better health system, and she feels more secure.

Katya agrees that she feels secure here. “I feel very safe, I trust the doctors here. I thank God for the decision that my mother made at that moment, and I would not want to go back for this reason, because I truly believe that it was the best decision.”

Sonia talks about the difficulty of teaching the Spanish language to the children who grow up here in her family. “We came here, but it takes them a while to speak, it makes it a little more difficult, but in the end when they do, they are speaking two languages.” Susan comes in to say when she first migrated here, everyone spoke only English, but now there is a mix of languages. Katya agrees, “Now you see more people, more businesses, more Hispanics. You can see more culture, not only Puerto Ricans, but all languages.”

Yaruska asks the women what they would like to see more of in Woonsocket. Susan mentions wanting to see more activities among Latinos especially during the holidays.

Sonia reminisces: “I remember that a few years after we came here near Downtown, they did some outdoor activities, where people went and there was music, there was food, they also set up tables with clothes and things for people who needed them, and one would go and stay for a while. But now they do nothing, nothing, nothing.” Susan joins in and says that in San Juan, Puerto Rico there were plenty of activities and celebrations surrounding the community, such as food, crafts, vendors, etc.

They bring a painting and explain its significance …

There is also a cart in the painting that Sonia describes as being “used to transport cane, sugar or coffee, or things like that, that were grown there.” She adds that there are still coffee farms like this in Puerto Rico, and sugar cane is still grown there.

In the painting, one can also see the landscape of Puerto Rico. A tree, which she calls a flamboyán is depicted, a tree not native to the island, but has become one of the main trees of Puerto Rico and is loved by the islanders. You can also see the mountains of Puerto Rico in the painting, “the topography of Puerto Rico is very mountainous, so…it's all there.” Says Sonia.

Susan comes into the conversation to describe the houses in the painting. “That looks like one of the houses of people with money, not everyone has this type of house.” Sonia earlier said that the houses depicted can be seen in the town of Ponce. They go on to explain that the house of someone who has money is made of cement, while those in poverty had wooden homes and small ranches. This painting is a representation of someone who lives well. Sonia clarifies that it is most-likely a middle-class home, because those who were rich had much bigger homes.

“So, when you see little houses like this, everyone is... happy because, they say, oh wow, our culture, how we were before, how our grandparents, our great-great-grandparents lived. We also came to live in wooden houses.”

Sonia goes on to talk more about her father and how it is important to him that this painting be donated to a place that holds the history of Puerto Ricans in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. NOTE: The painting was donated to Rhode Island Latino Arts, where it will be on display at La Galería del Pueblo in Central Falls during 2023. ◼︎