An audio recording of an oral history of Cleo Leigh on the culture shock of moving from Hong Kong to New York for college, how she came to Oregon, and challenges she faced as an immigrant.
An audio recording of an oral history of Liz Ben-Jumbo. Ben-Jumbo grew up in Nigeria and traveled to the U.S. at 23 to go to college in Port Angeles, Washington. While in Port Angeles, she worked at a nursing home. She moved to Seattle to study Psychology at the University of Washington, returned to Nigeria, did service work and met her husband then came again to the U.S., first to attend Mississippi State, then graduated from Ohio State University in 1991 and moved to Portland, Oregon. She talks about her experiences of racial prejudice in the U.S. and her work as an educator on multicultural issues. She also goes by Elizabeth (Joy) Wosley-George, which she explains in the interview is her other last name. The recording stops and starts many times due to an issue with the tape recorder.
An audio recording of an oral history of Liz Ben-Jumbo. Ben-Jumbo grew up in Nigeria and traveled to the U.S. at 23 to go to college in Port Angeles, Washington. While in Port Angeles, she worked at a nursing home. She moved to Seattle to study Psychology at the University of Washington, returned to Nigeria, did service work and met her husband then came again to the U.S., first to attend Mississippi State, then graduated from Ohio State University in 1991 and moved to Portland, Oregon. She talks about her experiences of racial prejudice in the U.S. and her work as an educator on multicultural issues. She also goes by Elizabeth (Joy) Wosley-George, which she explains in the interview is her other last name. The recording stops and starts many times due to an issue with the tape recorder.
A transcript of an oral history of Oralia Aguilar-Becerra, student at Century High School, on Hispanics in the Hillsboro schools. Ms. Aguilar-Becerra emigrated from Mexico with her family. She expresses her feelings that the school provides a lot of support for Hispanic students and the teachers and staff are supportive. In her spare time Aguilar-Becerra volunteers in the Western Farmworkers’ Association.
A transcript of an oral history of Ana Alonso, student at Century High School, on Hispanics in the Hillsboro schools. Ana emigrated from Mexico City with her family after her father had already been here. Later the family settled in Hillsboro because there were more opportunities in the area and other family was located in Hillsboro. Ana participated in ESL during 7th and 8th grade and found it very helpful. She explains that she would like to see more programs for Hispanic students at Century High School. At the time of the interview, Ana was on the dance team and participated in Jag TV doing the Spanish News. She feels that she is role model for other Hispanic students. Another activity Miss Alonso was involved in was Project Plus, which has been very supportive in helping with college and scholarships. She has also been president of the club Latinos Sin Fronteras.
A transcript of an oral history of Estella De Jesus Hernandez, student at Century High School, on Hispanics in the Hillsboro schools. Estella immigrated from Guaca, Mexico with her family in 2002 when she was 17. Her father works in a nursery and applied for his family visas in 1995. She feels the school’s programs have been helpful to her and is currently still involved in ESL. Her brother attends the migrant summer school also. She plans to attend PCC to take daily ESL and would like to become a nurse.
A transcript of an oral history of Flori Exiquio, student at Century High School, on Hispanics in the Hillsboro schools. She emigrated from Mexico with her family when she was an infant. They lived in California before moving to Oregon. Her family is very supportive of her education. She had ESL in elementary school and would like to see Hispanic students make more of an effort to use school support. Miss Exiquio is friends with diverse ethnic groups and feels comfortable. Exiquio had a teacher in 5th and 6th grade, Miss Crawford, who was very supportive and motivated her to do well.
A transcript of an oral history of Jose Jesus Guzman, student at Century High School, on Hispanics in the Hillsboro schools. Guzman emigrated from Mexico with his family to California when he was seven. His father had been in California for the previous two years and moved to Oregon to be near family. Mr. Guzman was in the ESL program and he found it very helpful. He learned about the Caesar Chavez movement, however, he did not become involved with it.
A transcript of an oral history of Marle Guzman, student at Century High School, on Hispanics in the Hillsboro schools. Marle is in ESL 2 at Century High School. She can read and understand English but has some trouble speaking which causes her to feel some discrimination. She would like to see more classes with help for ESL students.
A transcript of an oral history of Veronica Guzman, student at Century High School, on Hispanics in the Hillsboro schools. The transcript contains Guzman’s answers to questions only. Miss Guzman and her family are from Michoacan, Mexico. She is in the ESL program and also the Spanish news for Jag TV. She feels it helps Hispanic students become more involved in school. She is also in the Hispanic club, Latinos Sin Fronteras.
A transcript of an oral history of Miriam Ramirez, student at Century High School, on Hispanics in the Hillsboro schools. Miss Ramirez is a student at Century High School and is an anchor person for the Spanish News program. Three years ago she came from Mexico and began participating in both the ESL program and the summer school program. She is a member of Latinos Sin Fronteras, a Hispanic club focused on education and getting students involved in school.
A transcript of an oral history of Maricruz Serrata, student at Century High School, on Hispanics in the Hillsboro schools. In 1989 Maricruz Serrata and her family emigrated from Mexico to the U.S. They settled in Hillsboro where they already had relatives. Her parents were well educated in Mexico and often stressed the importance of a good education. She was in ESL only in Kindergarten and later was placed in English classes. Miss Serrata expresses her favor towards emmersion in English classes rather than continual ESL. She has received a college scholarship from the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber.
A transcript of an oral history of Roberto Sanchez, ESL Teacher at Glencoe High School, on Hispanics in the Hillsboro schools. Mr. Sanchez came to the U.S. at age 17 and worked his first year here. Later he enrolled at Glencoe High School at age 18, and graduated in 1992. While attending Glencoe High School, Sanchez partcipated in the ESL program. After graduating, he went back to Mexico, but would return to attend Oregon State University. Mr. Sanchez is working on getting parents more involved with their children’s education and school. Some elementary schools have a dual program, where students are taught in English and Spanish.
A transcript of an oral history of Mario Alba, Principal at Thomas Middle School, on Hispanics in the Hillsboro schools. Beside his job as principal, Mr. Alba belongs to Union America, an informal group of Hispanic administrators and teachers to be supportive of each other. The goal for the Hillsboro School District is to understand Hispanic culture and how it affects students learning. The large drop-out rate is believed to be partially due to family economic circumstances. They need to emphasize education as investment in their futures. Mr. Alba came to U.S. from Mexico in 1962 when he was 10. Grew up in Idaho and Salt Lake City, attended Brigham Young University. Has been in Hillsboro School District since 1966. Hispanic Outreach Program, at the time of the interview was being run by Olga Acuña. Alba has made efforts to hire both bilingual and bicultural people of Hispanic descent to help students achieve and as role models. In 1996 Mr. Alba and Carlos Perez were the only Hispanic administrators in Hillsboro, now there are five and more teachers. District has different teaching models, one is sheltered instruction, as students have different learning styles. He took part in the “Understanding Racism” Foundation course. Olga Acuña put together “The Night of Bohemians” at Century High School; a type of fine arts presentation by Hispanic students. Mr. Alba and Carlos Perez began a statewide program for Latino administrators, OALA or Oregon Association of Latino Administrators. They were also a part of URF a curriculum group, OLI also known as Oregon Latino Institute and OCHA the advancement of Hispanic students. The book “A Day Without Hispanics” explains the economic power of Hispanics as a group. Intercultural discrimination in Latin America between people of European descent and Native American descent.
A transcript of an oral history of Julio Cesar Flores Gonzales (Sr.), Sherrie Flores, Adrian Enrique Flores-Cohrs, and Julio Cesar Flores-Cohrs (Jr.) on Hispanics in the Hillsboro schools. Mr. Flores Gonzales (Sr.) grew up in Mexico and moved to the United States 15 years ago. He currently works for a landscape company. His wife Mrs. Flores is from the U.S. and learned Spanish as a second language. She has a college education and works as a travel agent. Their children, Adrian, 11, and Julio Jr., 9, speak English and Spanish. Adrian prefers to speak English as he finds it easier than Spanish, he will be taking a Spanish class in school next year. Julio Jr. has been in a bilingual program at school since Kindergarten. Mrs. Flores is very involved in their sons’ education. Having a multilingual school staff helps parents be more involved with school. Mr. Flores Gonzales had no formal education in Mexico. As a result he stresses the importance of education to his children. At home, Mr. Flores Gonzales peaks Spanish in order to help his children learn Spanish – meanwhile, they help him learn English. Mr. Flores Gonzales explains that in the Hispanic culture some want to move forward, while some stay within the old culture, and some take advantage of the system.
