Archives

Synopsis:

Dr. Audrey Lucero is an Associate Professor in the Department of Education Studies at the University of Oregon and director of the Latinx Studies program. With roots stemming from New Mexico, she was born and raised in Colorado. In the past decade, these roots have been sowed into the state of Oregon and, most notably, the University of Oregon since 2011 and her work with Latinx Studies. She is motivated by her own experiences and her family’s surrounding language and identity. As a child, her parents decided not to teach her or her brother Spanish due to the difficulties they had experienced in school. In her work and story, Dr. Lucero has woven community and language as mutually grounding one’s sense of belonging. Her story reveals how the learning and transformation of identities are made possible across territories and through discussions of Latinidad.

Producer’s Bio:

Polet Campos-Melchor is a PhD student in Anthropology and a Graduate Certificate student in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at the University of Oregon. Polet’s doctoral research examines community care practices between Mexican migrants in their household kitchens in Oregon. Her research explores how migrants articulate strategies of belonging, expanding beyond only the imaginary into everyday practices of community care. In participating in Latino Roots and alongside her peers and Dr. Lynn Stephen, Dr. Gabriela Martínez, and Shuo Xu, Polet has learned storytelling through a digital lens.

Synopsis:

Carmen Ramírez has dedicated her life to community service. She is the first woman to be elected as Vice-President of Oregon’s only farmworker labor union, Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN).  She grew up as a seasonal farmworker traveling with her family across the USA, picking sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables and cotton.  She promised herself to study hard to get herself out of the fields, and she accomplished her dream when she graduated as a vocational nurse. After moving to California and later Oregon, she dedicated her life to serving her community.  From organizing health visitations with a community clinic, advocating for farmers housing, preparing files for immigration process, she recalls her activism in PCUN. She encourages the newer generation to not be afraid to raise their voice and be part of the solution to injustices and social problems.  

Producer’s Bio:

Lidia Muñoz Paniagua is an Anthropology Graduate student at the University of Oregon. Her research focuses on Mexican labor and migration in the United States. Through this course, she has been able to learn about the history and impact of women in leadership in PCUN and its positive impact on farmworkers rights in the region.

Synopsis:

The west side of Phoenix, Arizona is comprised of a very large Mexican American and immigrant population of various generations full of culture and different linguistic styles both in English and Spanish. Sergio Loza grew up in this community and developed an interesting relationship with language starting in Spanish, and eventually forced into English through racist laws in Arizona that soon forced him to no longer feel as comfortable speaking Spanish. This relationship and conflict stuck with him up to college at ASU where he took a Spanish heritage language course that changed the way he understood his use of Spanish and shaped his future. He is now the director of the Spanish Heritage Language program at the University of Oregon.

Producer’s Bio:

Martin Abraham Zepeda is an undergraduate student at the University of Oregon. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism at the School of Journalism and Communications with a minor in Latinx Studies and Political Science. Martin’s focus is on written journalism but decided to make his first documentary film as he was extremely passionate about recognizing and displaying the excellence of Latinx individuals in institutions of higher education. His goal was to find an interesting story that other Latinx people could see to recognize that their experiences with Spanish can be common and cherished.

Synopsis:

This film is about Edwin Marin Balbuena. He was 11 years old when his mother and siblings were forced to leave their home due to the unsafe environment of his father. For a couple of years, he and his family were struggling financially and became homeless. They had no choice but to live in a shelter in Portland, Oregon. With the support of his community and friends, he was able to navigate through the challenges of growing up without his father while also not having a stable home.

Producer’s Bio:

Sonia Sandra Fernandez-Lopez is an Undergraduate student at the University of Oregon. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a Minor in Latinx Studies. Her focus is to become a Phycologist and open a clinic to create a safe environment for young Latino/a/x children and teens. The Latino Roots course was able to build her skills of storytelling, filming, editing and creating community with her Peers.

Synopsis:

Eduardo Olivares knows the importance of hard work, humility, and following his dreams. Adjusting to the differences in life between the United States and Mexico brought many challenges, yet, from a young age, Eduardo watched his parents work tirelessly to provide a better life for their family. Thus, learning the power of hustle, dedication, and risk taking for success. Despite encountering many difficulties of his own, the unwavering support of his family, community of friends, and guidance of mentors, helped Eduardo find his way to the University of Oregon. It is here that he was able to realize his love for vintage clothing and the need for more of it on campus. While a full-time student, at the onset of a global pandemic, Eduardo saw an opportunity. Taking a major risk he created something in the City of Eugene that had never before been done.

Producer’s Bio:

Skyler Davis is a first-year graduate students at the University of Oregon; pursuing a Masters of Arts in International Community Development within the Department of Global Studies. Her graduate project concentration is in the interrelation of Black Indigenous Peoples of Color [BIPOC] and outdoor wilderness spaces. Through this course, she has been able to sharpen her story-telling and documentary creation skills. Skills that are vital to the ideation, execution, and presentation of her graduate capstone project.

Synopsis:

Growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood in Portland, Oregon, Jennifer Linares has sought out avenues to emerge herself within her Latinx roots. As a first-generation Mexican-American, Jennifer worked closely with mentors and peers to make her dreams of attending college a reality. In 2019, Jennifer applied and got into the University of Oregon where she is studying Political Science and Spanish. During her time at the University of Oregon, Jennifer has committed herself to representing Latinx students through leadership and mentorship roles. Through the Latinx spaces at the University of Oregon, Jennifer has been able to pave the way for not only herself and her family, but for other first-generation and BIPOC students.

Producer’s Bio:

Joselyne Tellez-Cardenas is an undergraduate student at the University of Oregon. She is currently on track to graduate in the Spring of 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and English with minors in Legal Studies and Anthropology. She plans to pursue a Masters of Arts at Oregon State University in the Fall. Through this course, she has been able to explore and portray Latinx history. In the short span of 20 weeks, Joselyne has not only made a documentary but learned how to successfully capture one’s story. Her overall goal was to inspire others with Jennifer’s story.

Synopsis:

As a Latino with Indigenous ancestry, Johanis Tadeo was not always treated fairly in Oregon. From the police, strangers, other kids, to his own teachers, people constantly made Johanis feel like it was not okay for him to be himself. As the years went on, Johanis faced challenges and doubted himself until he met mentors that saw his potential and guided him in the right direction. Soon after, Johanis gained the confidence to be his true self and is proud of his identity. He now uses his voice and power to advocate for others and encourages them to use their power to positively change things for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Como latino con ascendencia indígena, Johanis Tadeo no siempre recibió un trato justo en Oregón. Desde la policía, extraños, otros niños, hasta sus propios maestros, la gente constantemente hacía que Johanis sintiera que no estaba bien que fuera él mismo. Con el paso de los años, Johanis enfrentó desafíos y dudó de sí mismo hasta que conoció a mentores que vieron su potencial y lo guiaron en la dirección correcta. Poco después, Johanis ganó la confianza para ser él mismo y está orgulloso de su identidad. Ahora usa su voz y su poder para abogar por los demás y los alienta a usar su poder para cambiar positivamente las cosas para ellos, sus familias y sus comunidades.

Producer’s Bio:

Veronica Garcia is a graduate student at the University of Oregon. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Global Studies with a focus on Latin America and migrant health. Veronica is originally from Los Angeles, California and signed up for the Latino Roots course because she wanted to learn more about Latino histories in Oregon. She is grateful for the opportunity to learn about Johanis’ life story and to have the privilege of sharing it with others. Veronica hopes others can feel inspired by Johanis’ story and know that they too have the power to reclaim their own stories.

Verónica García es estudiante de posgrado en la Universidad de Oregón. Está cursando una Maestría en Estudios Globales con un enfoque en América Latina y la salud de los migrantes. Verónica es originaria de Los Ángeles, California y se inscribió en el curso Raíces Latinas porque quería aprender más sobre las historias latinas en Oregón. Está agradecida por la oportunidad de conocer la historia de Johanis y tener el privilegio de compartirla con otros. Verónica espera que otros puedan sentirse inspirados por la historia de Johanis y sepan que ellos también tienen el poder de reclamar sus propias historias.