Petrona Rubio was born in El Salvador in 1952. She lived a happy life there, working on a farm, relaxing, and surrounding herself with friends and family. She described life in El Salvador as being community oriented, where family lived close by and neighbors felt like extended family members. She pointed out that in the United States, “everybody works, comes home, closes the doors and goes to sleep.” The isolated, individualistic lifestyle in the United States was a drastic change, according to Petrona, who was accustomed to a community oriented, family-based way of life in El Salvador. While both Petrona and her daughter Aleida, now 39, have fond memories of their home country, the Civil War in El Salvador changed everything. When she was 26 years old, Petrona moved to the capital for a year to work to provide a life for her family, but tensions and violence in El Salvador quickly rose until a full-fledged war broke out in 1979. “I was renting a room in the capital…and a bomb exploded in the next house and the windows came in. Because I wasn’t sleeping, it was one in the morning, I saw them throw a dead body through the window…I went to the street just to see what happened, because there was nobody, and the doors were on the floor and it was only the base of the house; everything was on the floor. It gets so scary.” Fearing for her safety, she felt that she needed to find a better life somewhere else for herself and her children. Petrona migrated to the United States in 1979, leaving her children to live with her mother. “It was very hard, yes, because I had to leave my kids. They started crying and I said I’ll be back, I’ll be back in two years for you. Please don’t cry.” Petrona arrived in Texas; she remembers feeling very intimidated about living in the United States because she couldn’t speak English. “I went to apply for jobs, but it was so hard for me because I could say a few words but due to my accent people couldn’t understand what I was saying.” She was unsure if she would be able to last in America, but she now says that it was the best decision she ever made. Two years later, when Aleida was almost seven years old, her mother came back just like she promised. Petrona brought her children to the United States, even though they were undocumented. In the span of twenty years, the family moved from Texas to Wisconsin so Petrona could find a better job, and then to Minnesota to be closer to Petrona’s sister who was living there at the time. Aleida was thrown into English classes with no knowledge of how to speak the language. She was lucky enough, however, to have teachers and friends who helped her, and she and her two sisters adjusted well to life in the United States. Aleida said, “If we stayed in El Salvador, we would not be where we are.” Aleida ended up meeting her husband, Nick, in Minnesota, and the two moved to Rhode Island eight years ago. They now have two children, Maya and Noah, and Petrona has been living with them since November of 2012. Petrona always emphasized, during Aleida’s childhood, the importance of working for success and not waiting for good things to happen to you. “There’s a lot of opportunities here and you see the opportunities and you take them. You work for what you want and you can get what you want. But if you don’t work for what you want, and you expect the government to help you, you will stay in the same place; you won’t move.” Petrona believes “education is a way to better yourself.” As Aleida explained, becoming educated is “how your dreams come true in reality; they’re not just fairytales.” Due to her hard work and dedication, Aleida earned her Master’s degree in Community Based Art Education, and she now teaches at The Gordon School in Providence, RI where her children are currently attending. Her older sister is a nurse and her younger sister is graduating from law school this May. Petrona told her daughters to go to college so they could create better lives for themselves and their future children, and as she said with a smile, “I’m very happy. I have to thank them because they listened.” Many of the values Aleida teaches in her house are ones her mother stressed while she was growing up. She wants to teach her children to respect everyone and understand that life is complicated, but most importantly she wants them to understand that everyone has a story, and it is important to preserve their family’s story and heritage. “I think Rhode Island has a promising future…it seems like Rhode Island is embracing the differences in diversity and all kinds of backgrounds and hopefully we’ll allow students who’ve come to the United States very young with their parents to be able to go to college and think about their future…For me I feel like you’re being disconnected from your dreams if you are unable to go to a school that can support you and can show you how to do well in school. That’s cutting off an entire generation if they are not able to go to college.” The family currently lives in Providence, Rhode Island and they are very happy with their life here. Written and compiled by Olivia Lieberthal and Muhammad Malik
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Petrona Rubio was born in El Salvador in 1952. She lived a happy life there, working on a farm, relaxing, and surrounding herself with friends and family. She described life in El Salvador as being community oriented, where family lived close by and neighbors felt like extended family members. She pointed out that in the United States, “everybody works, comes home, closes the doors and goes to sleep.” The isolated, individualistic lifestyle in the United States was a drastic change, according to Petrona, who was accustomed to a community oriented, family-based way of life in El Salvador.

While both Petrona and her daughter Aleida, now 39, have fond memories of their home country, the Civil War in El Salvador changed everything. When she was 26 years old, Petrona moved to the capital for a year to work to provide a life for her family, but tensions and violence in El Salvador quickly rose until a full-fledged war broke out in 1979.

“I was renting a room in the capital…and a bomb exploded in the next house and the windows came in. Because I wasn’t sleeping, it was one in the morning, I saw them throw a dead body through the window…I went to the street just to see what happened, because there was nobody, and the doors were on the floor and it was only the base of the house; everything was on the floor. It gets so scary.”

Fearing for her safety, she felt that she needed to find a better life somewhere else for herself and her children. Petrona migrated to the United States in 1979, leaving her children to live with her mother. “It was very hard, yes, because I had to leave my kids. They started crying and I said I’ll be back, I’ll be back in two years for you. Please don’t cry.”

Petrona arrived in Texas; she remembers feeling very intimidated about living in the United States because she couldn’t speak English. “I went to apply for jobs, but it was so hard for me because I could say a few words but due to my accent people couldn’t understand what I was saying.” She was unsure if she would be able to last in America, but she now says that it was the best decision she ever made.

Two years later, when Aleida was almost seven years old, her mother came back just like she promised. Petrona brought her children to the United States, even though they were undocumented. In the span of twenty years, the family moved from Texas to Wisconsin so Petrona could find a better job, and then to Minnesota to be closer to Petrona’s sister who was living there at the time.

Aleida was thrown into English classes with no knowledge of how to speak the language. She was lucky enough, however, to have teachers and friends who helped her, and she and her two sisters adjusted well to life in the United States. Aleida said, “If we stayed in El Salvador, we would not be where we are.”

Aleida ended up meeting her husband, Nick, in Minnesota, and the two moved to Rhode Island eight years ago. They now have two children, Maya and Noah, and Petrona has been living with them since November of 2012. Petrona always emphasized, during Aleida’s childhood, the importance of working for success and not waiting for good things to happen to you.

“There’s a lot of opportunities here and you see the opportunities and you take them. You work for what you want and you can get what you want. But if you don’t work for what you want, and you expect the government to help you, you will stay in the same place; you won’t move.”

Petrona believes “education is a way to better yourself.” As Aleida explained, becoming educated is “how your dreams come true in reality; they’re not just fairytales.” Due to her hard work and dedication, Aleida earned her Master’s degree in Community Based Art Education, and she now teaches at The Gordon School in Providence, RI where her children are currently attending. Her older sister is a nurse and her younger sister is graduating from law school this May. Petrona told her daughters to go to college so they could create better lives for themselves and their future children, and as she said with a smile, “I’m very happy. I have to thank them because they listened.”

Many of the values Aleida teaches in her house are ones her mother stressed while she was growing up. She wants to teach her children to respect everyone and understand that life is complicated, but most importantly she wants them to understand that everyone has a story, and it is important to preserve their family’s story and heritage.

“I think Rhode Island has a promising future…it seems like Rhode Island is embracing the differences in diversity and all kinds of backgrounds and hopefully we’ll allow students who’ve come to the United States very young with their parents to be able to go to college and think about their future…For me I feel like you’re being disconnected from your dreams if you are unable to go to a school that can support you and can show you how to do well in school. That’s cutting off an entire generation if they are not able to go to college.”

The family currently lives in Providence, Rhode Island and they are very happy with their life here.

Written and compiled by Olivia Lieberthal and Muhammad Malik

Jessica Monteiro was born in Cape Verde in 1973. While raising a family of four kids, Jessica’s parents decided to come to America because of the lack of universities in Cape Verde.  Her grandparents already resided in the United States, making the adjustment easier compared to many Cape Verdean immigrants. Jessica’s grandparents helped her parents through the immigration process by petitioning on their behalf. Soon after her parent’s arrival, Jessica and her siblings moved as well. In order to join her parents, Jessica had to leave Cape Verde and move across the Atlantic: “The moment I left, August 6, 1991, never forget, it was a little bit sad because none of us wanted to come, I was seventeen years old and we didn’t want to leave but my mom and dad were already here.” Upon arriving to Providence, Rhode Island, Jessica started high school, which presented many challenges: “My first memory was going to the school, it was tough. I went to Hope High School where there weren’t a lot of Cape Verdeans. There was a language barrier.” She was immediately placed in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes because of her status as an immigrant. Jessica was frustrated by her placement in these classes, as she took ESL in Cape Verde that was more difficult than what she had experience at Hope. After graduating from Hope High School, Jessica was interested in the possibility of becoming a flight attendant. Eventually she changed her mind, and decided to enroll in the University of Rhode Island. She pursued a double major in Spanish and Psychology, and later decided to go into social work after graduating. She first began working in a school system, but is currently working as an Outpatient Clinician at the Providence Center. Jessica has considered returning to Cape Verde many times.  “I would love to go back to Cape Verde and practice either social work or work for a shelter, homeless shelter, that’s what my goal was, if I go back to Cape Verde that’s what I would like to do.” Along with her interest in returning to Cape Verde, she also has Rhode Island aspirations.  She would like to go back to school in order to get her PhD or become a psychiatrist. Some of this inspiration comes from her recognition of the areas in her field where Rhode Island falls short – such as a lack of sufficient bilingual psychiatrists. Jessica continues to celebrate her Cape Verdean roots by speaking Creole with her son. She also celebrates Cape Verdean holidays, such as Cape Verde’s Independence Day on July 5th.  She is not shy to show her pride for Cape Verde. “I still see my country as my first home. Even though I’ve been here for twenty-one years, I still say I’m going back home.” Although Jessica has achieved some personal success in the United States, she still possesses the ideal of working hard and striving for future goals. When asked about the future, she states, “I don’t have fears, no I take everything day by day and I look at it, you know, how am I going to accomplish this.” She maintains a positive attitude and wants to make a difference in her community in Rhode Island, as well as in her first home of Cape Verde. Written and compiled by Cathlin O’Neill and Mollie Stackhouse
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Jessica Monteiro was born in Cape Verde in 1973. While raising a family of four kids, Jessica’s parents decided to come to America because of the lack of universities in Cape Verde.  Her grandparents already resided in the United States, making the adjustment easier compared to many Cape Verdean immigrants. Jessica’s grandparents helped her parents through the immigration process by petitioning on their behalf. Soon after her parent’s arrival, Jessica and her siblings moved as well.

In order to join her parents, Jessica had to leave Cape Verde and move across the Atlantic:

“The moment I left, August 6, 1991, never forget, it was a little bit sad because none of us wanted to come, I was seventeen years old and we didn’t want to leave but my mom and dad were already here.”

Upon arriving to Providence, Rhode Island, Jessica started high school, which presented many challenges:

“My first memory was going to the school, it was tough. I went to Hope High School where there weren’t a lot of Cape Verdeans. There was a language barrier.”

She was immediately placed in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes because of her status as an immigrant. Jessica was frustrated by her placement in these classes, as she took ESL in Cape Verde that was more difficult than what she had experience at Hope.

After graduating from Hope High School, Jessica was interested in the possibility of becoming a flight attendant. Eventually she changed her mind, and decided to enroll in the University of Rhode Island. She pursued a double major in Spanish and Psychology, and later decided to go into social work after graduating. She first began working in a school system, but is currently working as an Outpatient Clinician at the Providence Center.

Jessica has considered returning to Cape Verde many times.  “I would love to go back to Cape Verde and practice either social work or work for a shelter, homeless shelter, that’s what my goal was, if I go back to Cape Verde that’s what I would like to do.” Along with her interest in returning to Cape Verde, she also has Rhode Island aspirations.  She would like to go back to school in order to get her PhD or become a psychiatrist. Some of this inspiration comes from her recognition of the areas in her field where Rhode Island falls short – such as a lack of sufficient bilingual psychiatrists.

Jessica continues to celebrate her Cape Verdean roots by speaking Creole with her son. She also celebrates Cape Verdean holidays, such as Cape Verde’s Independence Day on July 5th.  She is not shy to show her pride for Cape Verde. “I still see my country as my first home. Even though I’ve been here for twenty-one years, I still say I’m going back home.” Although Jessica has achieved some personal success in the United States, she still possesses the ideal of working hard and striving for future goals. When asked about the future, she states,

“I don’t have fears, no I take everything day by day and I look at it, you know, how am I going to accomplish this.”

She maintains a positive attitude and wants to make a difference in her community in Rhode Island, as well as in her first home of Cape Verde.

Written and compiled by Cathlin O’Neill and Mollie Stackhouse

Ricardo Reyes was born in Mexico City, but was raised in Acapulco, Mexico. He lived with his parents and grandparents for most of his adolescent years. At the age of 19, Ricardo decided to leave home and moved to Cancun, where he found work as a lifeguard. He enjoyed this new sense of freedom and independence that he had never really experienced before. While living in Cancun for a couple of years, he met Amy Turner from Rhode Island, who would become his future wife. She frequently traveled to the Yucatan Peninsula to vacation. After dating for some time, he asked her to marry him and she accepted. Amy moved to Cancun for a few months, but wasn’t able to adapt well. Ricardo then made the decision to leave his job as a lifeguard and move to the United States with her. After completing all of the necessary paper work and paying the fees for a visa, he was able to travel to the United States. “When all [the] paper work was done, they granted me a visa, and I crossed the border in a cab. It’s not like in the movies or anything like that. I just caught a cab. After that I ended up in Houston, Texas [and] then flew to Rhode Island.” As he settled in Rhode Island, Ricardo had no idea how he was going to make a living for himself, because being a lifeguard in New England was impractical with its fluctuating weather. He also did not have a formal or technological education that could be transferrable or make the process in finding a job easier. Ricardo thought that if anything, he would work in a factory, but to his surprise, there were no factory jobs available at the time. “I thought, I‘ll just probably go and work in a factory for now. Then when I came here I realized that factories had been gone for ten, fifteen, twenty years.” With job availability being scarce, he thought he would end up washing dishes or mopping floors. For a period of time he worked as a landscaper in Potowomut and Valley Country Club golf courses, and was a dishwasher for Chelo’s. Although the transition was hard, with the help and support from his wife and his new family members, Ricardo felt at home. Prior to arriving in the United States, he had heard that Americans were able to speak freely, and was glad that this was true. He is proud to say that he has this right of free speech in America, and that everyone has a voice and there is nothing that can stop a person from expressing it. Ricardo is a proud Rhode Islander and considers Rhode Island and this country as his home. He admits that there have been certain aspects about the United States that discourage him, such as the weather or something more serious, like discrimination. Ricardo says, however, that he was not completely shocked by discrimination because it is something that exists everywhere.  “Even among Mexicans there is discrimination based on one’s appearance and the type of clothing one wears.” Ricardo currently lives with his wife and children in Warwick. He works as an Interpreter at Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, which helps new immigrants and refugees make the transition to life in Rhode Island, as he did. Written and compiled by Biverly Jeannis and Viviana Zendejas
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Ricardo Reyes was born in Mexico City, but was raised in Acapulco, Mexico. He lived with his parents and grandparents for most of his adolescent years.

At the age of 19, Ricardo decided to leave home and moved to Cancun, where he found work as a lifeguard. He enjoyed this new sense of freedom and independence that he had never really experienced before. While living in Cancun for a couple of years, he met Amy Turner from Rhode Island, who would become his future wife. She frequently traveled to the Yucatan Peninsula to vacation. After dating for some time, he asked her to marry him and she accepted. Amy moved to Cancun for a few months, but wasn’t able to adapt well. Ricardo then made the decision to leave his job as a lifeguard and move to the United States with her. After completing all of the necessary paper work and paying the fees for a visa, he was able to travel to the United States.

“When all [the] paper work was done, they granted me a visa, and I crossed the border in a cab. It’s not like in the movies or anything like that. I just caught a cab. After that I ended up in Houston, Texas [and] then flew to Rhode Island.”

As he settled in Rhode Island, Ricardo had no idea how he was going to make a living for himself, because being a lifeguard in New England was impractical with its fluctuating weather. He also did not have a formal or technological education that could be transferrable or make the process in finding a job easier. Ricardo thought that if anything, he would work in a factory, but to his surprise, there were no factory jobs available at the time.

“I thought, I‘ll just probably go and work in a factory for now. Then when I came here I realized that factories had been gone for ten, fifteen, twenty years.”

With job availability being scarce, he thought he would end up washing dishes or mopping floors. For a period of time he worked as a landscaper in Potowomut and Valley Country Club golf courses, and was a dishwasher for Chelo’s.

Although the transition was hard, with the help and support from his wife and his new family members, Ricardo felt at home. Prior to arriving in the United States, he had heard that Americans were able to speak freely, and was glad that this was true. He is proud to say that he has this right of free speech in America, and that everyone has a voice and there is nothing that can stop a person from expressing it.

Ricardo is a proud Rhode Islander and considers Rhode Island and this country as his home. He admits that there have been certain aspects about the United States that discourage him, such as the weather or something more serious, like discrimination. Ricardo says, however, that he was not completely shocked by discrimination because it is something that exists everywhere.  “Even among Mexicans there is discrimination based on one’s appearance and the type of clothing one wears.”

Ricardo currently lives with his wife and children in Warwick. He works as an Interpreter at Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, which helps new immigrants and refugees make the transition to life in Rhode Island, as he did.

Written and compiled by Biverly Jeannis and Viviana Zendejas

Simony Ing was born in Cambodia in 1967 and lived there with her family until the age of seven. Her parents sensed the danger of political turmoil when Pol Pot came to power and arranged for her family to leave the country. “I wasn’t aware of the Khmer Rouge because I was so young… My mom was the one who took care of us.” Her father, an educated man and CEO of a Cambodian bank, and her mother, had to pretend to be ignorant, uneducated citizens in order to avoid persecution by the government. Simony’s mother and father would tell officials that they were “uneducated, simple people,” or farmers. If the officials were to find out the truth, everyone in the family would be killed. Simony’s mother paid a man from Vietnam to pretend that the Ings were his family; this helped them escape Cambodia safely into Vietnam where they sought refuge for about one year before moving to France where her parents eventually opened a Chinese restaurant. At the beginning of her time in Vietnam, her family was separated from her father. When her family finally joined him in their new home, everyone felt a sense of relief and comfort. Simony learned French and settled into her new home and Cambodian community. Simony and her family were extremely grateful to have fled Cambodia before the genocide. Thousands of other people were not as lucky. Simony met her husband, also from Cambodia, in France where they married soon after, and quickly made the decision to move to the United States; sponsored by his family who had already settled there. They settled into Providence, Rhode Island, where they have been living ever since. After a few years in Providence, with a child on the way, Simony applied to become a U.S. citizen. Upon arrival Simony, having no English skills, worked in a factory for two years. Discontent with this occupation, she began taking English as a Second Language (ESL) and GED classes at the Genesis Center. After receiving her GED, Simony worked at a non-profit organization for five years as a loan specialist, followed by four years at the bank. She was suddenly diagnosed with breast cancer, where she then spent two years attending chemotherapy and radiation treatments. When asked about her cancer, she proudly exclaimed, “I’m a survivor now… that’s what they said!” During the two years that she was being treated for her cancer, Simony worked for the census bureau. Since then, due to the current recession, she has had trouble finding a stable job, and now works as a self-employed interpreter in Cambodian and French. She is happy with her life in Rhode Island where she can provide for her two sons financially, and give them everything they need in order to be successful. Her two sons are doing extremely well in high school and her oldest plans to attend college out of state. When reflecting on the life Simony and her husband have provided for their sons, she claims, “My children, they have everything. So we provide them with everything. They don’t have anything missing like us. From generation to generation, they have more choice than us.” Although she misses her family in France, she enjoys the cheaper cost of living in Rhode Island. Simony loves to travel and often embarks on road trips with her family throughout the whole country. Due to Simony’s desire to travel, she will be going to Cambodia this summer for the first time since she left her home country.  She will be traveling with other family members but her husband will not be taking part in the trip due to his personal memories of living through the genocide under the Khmer Rouge; he has no interest in ever returning to the country. For many, the genocide was a traumatizing period; Simony stated. “A lot of sad things happened during the Khmer Rouge… I heard a lot of sad stories… We left before the war; we were lucky.” In order to stay connected to their Cambodian roots, Simony and her family participate in Cambodian events in Providence’s three Cambodian temples, her favorite being the Cambodian New Year. She attends large events every couple of months, enjoying the fun social events and good food. Simony and people in her community have experienced some discrimination in Rhode Island, but nothing that severely damaged their sense of self. Simony is content with her life in Rhode Island and is excited about what the future will hold for her and her family. When asked if she could change anything about her past she responded, “No, I’m happy with my journey.” Written and Compiled By Maddie Mylod and Natalie Wingate
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Simony Ing was born in Cambodia in 1967 and lived there with her family until the age of seven. Her parents sensed the danger of political turmoil when Pol Pot came to power and arranged for her family to leave the country. “I wasn’t aware of the Khmer Rouge because I was so young… My mom was the one who took care of us.”

Her father, an educated man and CEO of a Cambodian bank, and her mother, had to pretend to be ignorant, uneducated citizens in order to avoid persecution by the government. Simony’s mother and father would tell officials that they were “uneducated, simple people,” or farmers. If the officials were to find out the truth, everyone in the family would be killed. Simony’s mother paid a man from Vietnam to pretend that the Ings were his family; this helped them escape Cambodia safely into Vietnam where they sought refuge for about one year before moving to France where her parents eventually opened a Chinese restaurant.

At the beginning of her time in Vietnam, her family was separated from her father. When her family finally joined him in their new home, everyone felt a sense of relief and comfort. Simony learned French and settled into her new home and Cambodian community. Simony and her family were extremely grateful to have fled Cambodia before the genocide. Thousands of other people were not as lucky.

Simony met her husband, also from Cambodia, in France where they married soon after, and quickly made the decision to move to the United States; sponsored by his family who had already settled there. They settled into Providence, Rhode Island, where they have been living ever since. After a few years in Providence, with a child on the way, Simony applied to become a U.S. citizen. Upon arrival Simony, having no English skills, worked in a factory for two years. Discontent with this occupation, she began taking English as a Second Language (ESL) and GED classes at the Genesis Center. After receiving her GED, Simony worked at a non-profit organization for five years as a loan specialist, followed by four years at the bank. She was suddenly diagnosed with breast cancer, where she then spent two years attending chemotherapy and radiation treatments. When asked about her cancer, she proudly exclaimed,

“I’m a survivor now… that’s what they said!”

During the two years that she was being treated for her cancer, Simony worked for the census bureau. Since then, due to the current recession, she has had trouble finding a stable job, and now works as a self-employed interpreter in Cambodian and French. She is happy with her life in Rhode Island where she can provide for her two sons financially, and give them everything they need in order to be successful. Her two sons are doing extremely well in high school and her oldest plans to attend college out of state. When reflecting on the life Simony and her husband have provided for their sons, she claims,

“My children, they have everything. So we provide them with everything. They don’t have anything missing like us. From generation to generation, they have more choice than us.”

Although she misses her family in France, she enjoys the cheaper cost of living in Rhode Island. Simony loves to travel and often embarks on road trips with her family throughout the whole country. Due to Simony’s desire to travel, she will be going to Cambodia this summer for the first time since she left her home country.  She will be traveling with other family members but her husband will not be taking part in the trip due to his personal memories of living through the genocide under the Khmer Rouge; he has no interest in ever returning to the country. For many, the genocide was a traumatizing period; Simony stated.

“A lot of sad things happened during the Khmer Rouge… I heard a lot of sad stories… We left before the war; we were lucky.”

In order to stay connected to their Cambodian roots, Simony and her family participate in Cambodian events in Providence’s three Cambodian temples, her favorite being the Cambodian New Year. She attends large events every couple of months, enjoying the fun social events and good food. Simony and people in her community have experienced some discrimination in Rhode Island, but nothing that severely damaged their sense of self. Simony is content with her life in Rhode Island and is excited about what the future will hold for her and her family. When asked if she could change anything about her past she responded, “No, I’m happy with my journey.”

Written and Compiled By Maddie Mylod and Natalie Wingate

RI Latino Arts Network Event!

RI Latino Arts Network invites you to join them of their first arts networking event 
Friday May 17, 2013 
John Hope Settlement House
7 Thomas P Whitten Way, Providence
5:30 - Doors Open
6:00 - Dinner: Sabor Latino
7:00 - Concert
8:00 - Live salsa band!
This event will provide an opportunity for persons to engage in dialogue and exchange ideas with a focus on Latino artists and the arts in Rhode Island. RILAN is for artists, gallery and museum
staff, arts & culture organization, educators and members of the community at-large.
Enjoy the debut of Fantasía de Guayaba Habanera a new piece by Venezuelan composer Gonzalo Grau, with violinist Johnny Gandelsman, Community MusicWorks Students & The CMW Players
 

Event in Honor of Norway’s National Day

Dovre Lodge, Sons of Norway, andThe Norwegian Subcommittee

R.I. Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission Present:

Our 16th Annual Musical Program

“Potpourri for Syttende Mai”

[17th of May]

 

In Honor of Norway’s National Day

Friday, May 17, 2013

7:00 P.M.

 William Hall Library

1825 Broad Street, Cranston, RI

Lower level – entrance at north side of building

 

This free program will include music of Grieg and Chopin (among others) as well as Norwegian Folk Songs, featuring 6 musicians, 4 different instruments, and audience participation!

Refreshments will be offered, and, of course, COFFEE!

 

Do please join us!!

Information: iwoolman@verizon.net

Tom Lanigan was born on the Fourth of July in 1977 in Dublin, Ireland. He left for the United States about nineteen years ago with his parents and sister, moving to Warwick, Rhode Island and remaining there ever since. Tom suggests the dwindling economy was one of the main reasons his family opted to leave Ireland. He had an uncle who had already been living in the U.S for about ten years. Tom and his family decided it was time to join that uncle. Tom’s childhood in Ireland consisted of interest in theater and plays when he wasn’t busy with school or participating in soccer.  He mentioned working for his father, who was self-employed, on numerous occasions.  Tom is an individual who is very committed to family life; mentioning how“he greatly misses his family back home.” He hasn’t had the chance to return to Ireland in about six years but is hopeful to get the chance to go back soon. When Tom first arrived in the United States with his family, he was in his senior year of high school.  Entering into a new environment, Tom says he was able to feel at ease being a part of a new school.  There was a brief period in which Tom attended Rhode Island College.  Ultimately he decided to pursue his love for music and that has been his employment as well as enjoyment for the past sixteen years.  He has a variety of other talents, such as reading and writing, alsoplaying the piano when he has the chance.  As mentioned, music is very important in Tom’s life.  He says he wants to focus on growing his band, The Tom Lanigan Band, working to get into larger venues and more recording opportunities.  Currently, he is working on his first originally written album. Tom has been given many opportunities to move from Rhode Island over the years, however he has always been so comfortable with the area that he has decided to stay every time. He and his family have no plans to move anytime soon, for they have ultimately become very incorporated into the community. Tom especially enjoys Providence, stating he has enjoyed watching the city evolve over the years and views it as a “tolerant” location. Rhode Island has proved to be significantly accommodating for Tom and his family.  He talks of how the community has been very open to the performance of Irish music.  Tom has had success in terms of fundraising and charity work as a result of a very united environment.   He loves staying involved in his community through music. While Tom greatly enjoys the atmosphere of Rhode Island and the many opportunities it provides, he has noticed a saddening issue in terms of the homeless population.  He hopes aspects such as mental health and poverty can be improved upon within the community. Tom Lanigan is also proud of the recent role he played in advocating that Rhode Island not reinstate the use of the death penalty.  This is especially due to an Irish-Catholic man named John Gordon who was the last man executed under the death penalty in Rhode Island about one hundred sixty years ago.  It was soon after found he was unjustly executed during a time of prejudice towards Irish-Catholic individuals.  Inspired by the play called The Murder Trial of John Gordon, Tom was able to compose a very influential song titled The Ballad of John Gordon, which has had success reaching areas across the world.  Tom feels very strongly about the wrongness of the death penalty and has played an influential role in affecting the process of it not being reinstated. Overall, Tom feels it was easy for him and his family to become a part of an American community.  However he does make note of how there still seems to be prejudice present when it comes to immigrants from other countries.  Tom believes “everyone rightfully deserves equal opportunity and newcomers should be able to enter into a more understanding community.” Written and compiled by Jess Grainger and Lizzie Wahle
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Tom Lanigan was born on the Fourth of July in 1977 in Dublin, Ireland. He left for the United States about nineteen years ago with his parents and sister, moving to Warwick, Rhode Island and remaining there ever since.

Tom suggests the dwindling economy was one of the main reasons his family opted to leave Ireland. He had an uncle who had already been living in the U.S for about ten years. Tom and his family decided it was time to join that uncle.

Tom’s childhood in Ireland consisted of interest in theater and plays when he wasn’t busy with school or participating in soccer.  He mentioned working for his father, who was self-employed, on numerous occasions.  Tom is an individual who is very committed to family life; mentioning how“he greatly misses his family back home.” He hasn’t had the chance to return to Ireland in about six years but is hopeful to get the chance to go back soon.

When Tom first arrived in the United States with his family, he was in his senior year of high school.  Entering into a new environment, Tom says he was able to feel at ease being a part of a new school.  There was a brief period in which Tom attended Rhode Island College.  Ultimately he decided to pursue his love for music and that has been his employment as well as enjoyment for the past sixteen years.  He has a variety of other talents, such as reading and writing, alsoplaying the piano when he has the chance.  As mentioned, music is very important in Tom’s life.  He says he wants to focus on growing his band, The Tom Lanigan Band, working to get into larger venues and more recording opportunities.  Currently, he is working on his first originally written album.

Tom has been given many opportunities to move from Rhode Island over the years, however he has always been so comfortable with the area that he has decided to stay every time. He and his family have no plans to move anytime soon, for they have ultimately become very incorporated into the community.

Tom especially enjoys Providence, stating he has enjoyed watching the city evolve over the years and views it as a “tolerant” location.

Rhode Island has proved to be significantly accommodating for Tom and his family.  He talks of how the community has been very open to the performance of Irish music.  Tom has had success in terms of fundraising and charity work as a result of a very united environment.   He loves staying involved in his community through music.

While Tom greatly enjoys the atmosphere of Rhode Island and the many opportunities it provides, he has noticed a saddening issue in terms of the homeless population.  He hopes aspects such as mental health and poverty can be improved upon within the community.

Tom Lanigan is also proud of the recent role he played in advocating that Rhode Island not reinstate the use of the death penalty.  This is especially due to an Irish-Catholic man named John Gordon who was the last man executed under the death penalty in Rhode Island about one hundred sixty years ago.  It was soon after found he was unjustly executed during a time of prejudice towards Irish-Catholic individuals.  Inspired by the play called The Murder Trial of John Gordon, Tom was able to compose a very influential song titled The Ballad of John Gordon, which has had success reaching areas across the world.  Tom feels very strongly about the wrongness of the death penalty and has played an influential role in affecting the process of it not being reinstated.

Overall, Tom feels it was easy for him and his family to become a part of an American community.  However he does make note of how there still seems to be prejudice present when it comes to immigrants from other countries.  Tom believes “everyone rightfully deserves equal opportunity and newcomers should be able to enter into a more understanding community.”

Written and compiled by Jess Grainger and Lizzie Wahle

Analía Alcolea was born in Mar Del Plata, Argentina, to parents of Spanish and Italian descent. She was the middle child growing up with two brothers and spent her youth going to school, working and studying at the university to become a kindergarten teacher.  When she received her teaching degree she moved to Europe where she spent five years living in Holland. Analía eventually returned to Mar del Plata and went back to university to study to become a film critic. After returning to Argentina her days consisted of working at a five star hotel and organizing local film festivals. In 2001, Analía decided to come to the United States to obtain more economic opportunities. She eventually found work at the bilingual magazine, Tiempo Social. There, Analía says, “I’m connected with the Latin Community, which is something I’m very proud of, and I’m also part of organizing events.” When Analía first arrived in the United States she heard stories of racism.. A lot of Analia’s friends back home did not support her decision to call America home, because they felt as though she was not welcomed. She felt some discrimination in her time here, but she ignored it and instead felt bad for those people who are close-minded. She said, “there are people like that all over the world.” In contrast, the acceptance of others in Argentina is something that Analía is very proud of. In Argentina meeting people who live abroad is viewed as a wonderful opportunity.  Argentines greet outsiders with respect and hospitality. Analía remembers taking visitors on tours around her town, inviting them to social gatherings such as barbecues or parties. “Argentina is in the south; far from everything. Every time someone comes from another country, were like ‘WOAH!!! Somebody from the other [side of] world!’ and we like to ask him or her questions: Where are you from? What do you speak? What do you do? And we invite them everywhere, we make them barbecues, we take them everywhere. We are very friendly.” Analía misses some things about Argentina but also values her life here in the United States.  She misses the old rhythm of her life in Argentina and the particular sound of Argentinian Spanish. Analía is thankful that through technology she can remain connected with friends and family to know what is going on back home. She has also enjoyed the opportunities she has found in the United States. To Analía everyday is a new challenge and she loves waking up to tackle her day. Analía is most proud of her work with the community here in Rhode Island, she feels as though she has helped many people and touched many lives. She considers herself a self -made woman who has created her own image. She has no complaints about Rhode Island and loves its historical value and beautiful scenery.  In the future Analía hopes to reach her goals of purchasing a car, buying a dog, and most importantly obtaining a college degree from a university in the United States. Furthering her education is Analía’s number one priority: “The thing I want most is to educate myself. I would like to obtain an education that guides me to the arts, to work with the arts that I love; most likely to organize social and cultural events that open doors; that get people to know what’s happening on the other side of the world, by reading a book or watching a movie or seeing a play or dance or something. Because I am from the other side of the world, so I’m very interested to show how we live.”  Analía currently resides in the Federal Hill section of Providence. Written and compiled by Karissa Diaz and John Gilmour
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Analía Alcolea was born in Mar Del Plata, Argentina, to parents of Spanish and Italian descent. She was the middle child growing up with two brothers and spent her youth going to school, working and studying at the university to become a kindergarten teacher.  When she received her teaching degree she moved to Europe where she spent five years living in Holland. Analía eventually returned to Mar del Plata and went back to university to study to become a film critic. After returning to Argentina her days consisted of working at a five star hotel and organizing local film festivals.

In 2001, Analía decided to come to the United States to obtain more economic opportunities. She eventually found work at the bilingual magazine, Tiempo Social. There, Analía says,

“I’m connected with the Latin Community, which is something I’m very proud of, and I’m also part of organizing events.”

When Analía first arrived in the United States she heard stories of racism.. A lot of Analia’s friends back home did not support her decision to call America home, because they felt as though she was not welcomed. She felt some discrimination in her time here, but she ignored it and instead felt bad for those people who are close-minded. She said, “there are people like that all over the world.”

In contrast, the acceptance of others in Argentina is something that Analía is very proud of. In Argentina meeting people who live abroad is viewed as a wonderful opportunity.  Argentines greet outsiders with respect and hospitality. Analía remembers taking visitors on tours around her town, inviting them to social gatherings such as barbecues or parties.

“Argentina is in the south; far from everything. Every time someone comes from another country, were like ‘WOAH!!! Somebody from the other [side of] world!’ and we like to ask him or her questions: Where are you from? What do you speak? What do you do? And we invite them everywhere, we make them barbecues, we take them everywhere. We are very friendly.”

Analía misses some things about Argentina but also values her life here in the United States.  She misses the old rhythm of her life in Argentina and the particular sound of Argentinian Spanish. Analía is thankful that through technology she can remain connected with friends and family to know what is going on back home. She has also enjoyed the opportunities she has found in the United States. To Analía everyday is a new challenge and she loves waking up to tackle her day.

Analía is most proud of her work with the community here in Rhode Island, she feels as though she has helped many people and touched many lives. She considers herself a self -made woman who has created her own image. She has no complaints about Rhode Island and loves its historical value and beautiful scenery.  In the future Analía hopes to reach her goals of purchasing a car, buying a dog, and most importantly obtaining a college degree from a university in the United States. Furthering her education is Analía’s number one priority:

“The thing I want most is to educate myself. I would like to obtain an education that guides me to the arts, to work with the arts that I love; most likely to organize social and cultural events that open doors; that get people to know what’s happening on the other side of the world, by reading a book or watching a movie or seeing a play or dance or something. Because I am from the other side of the world, so I’m very interested to show how we live.” 

Analía currently resides in the Federal Hill section of Providence.

Written and compiled by Karissa Diaz and John Gilmour

10 Immigrant Entrepreneurs in the US

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According to a new report, immigrants were twice as likely to start businesses as native-born Americans in 2012. The number of new Latino entrepreneurs has also nearly doubled, from 10.5 percent to 19.5 percent since 1996. As part of our Immigration Nation series, here is just a sampling of some immigrant pioneers.

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