Menu of Our 194 Interviews

Note: When the students transcribed their interviews, they retained the original grammar of the interviewees for the sake of authenticity.
Interviews are sorted alphabetically, by interviewer

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Note: We have updated this section as of 11/2004.

Subject

Interviewer

Summary
Dr. J. Lebron The class Our former Principal discusses his early years with our students.
Felena Goulbourne Khalil Adams The lady who traveled here for a better life
Carmen A. Melendez Kenia Agosto Desperate woman leaves her homeland of Puerto Rico in an attempt to find work and a better economy. Is she successful?
Nydia Lugo Nyra Aguilera Lugo Twin sisters can not be separated
Marisol Serrano Marylou Albino Philadelphia is a better place to be home
Isabel Ramos Marybelis Alfaro She came to the US with her family to progress and ended up wanting to go home
Jose Manuel Alicea Ileana Alicea I just made some bad choices that I deeply regret
Alexander Rodriguez Frances Alvarado A lack of friends helps him get a good education
Jeanette Cruz Yomaira Andujar First years in Philly
Judith Colon Milton Baez She likes living in Philly better than Puerto Rico and there is no city better than Philly and she'll live here forever
Luis Antonetty Ortiz Yalitza Berrios A man struggles for opportunity but never forgets his island.
Myrna I. Arroyo Raul Benitez The trouble with moving on
Miriam Gonzalez Debbora Bermudez Young woman discovers a new life in Philadelphia
Lisa Ann Cintron Miralles Denise Bermudez  Single mom struggles to raise her four kids with their family from another state and by their roots.
Margarita Bernard Elizabeth Bernard  A loving mother that sacrifices everything for her family.
Sheila Daniels Walter Blair The one and only interviewee from Portsmith, Virginia. Sheila Daniels: a single mother with a great outlook on life.
Jose Rivera Luisa Bonet A man who wants a better life for his family and himself.
Nghiep Bui Chau Bui  A man who left Vietnam to pursue a better life for his family.
Lisa Maxine Scipio Candice Brown Women comes from Trinidad and Tobago to the United States for economic opportunity
Joel Burgos Quiles Idalis Burgos A Puerto Rican young man comes to the U.S. on vacation to visit his siblings. He finds better opportunities to further his education and stays.
Jose Ortega Troy Burris He seeks to gain independence
Julio Cesar Puheria Marisella Campos Someone that continued life
Angel Ortiz Nastagia Cartagena He and his family are just looking for a better life
Rosa E. Perez Daisy Cardona She was raped, and became pregnant. She was forced to leave her country because her parents were ashamed
Jorge Rivas Christina Carrion A man whom risked his life for freedom.
Omar Madinez Veronica Castro At first people picked on her but now her family owns a store.
Ada Rivera Jose Clark Poor migrant seeks a wealthier life and finds it.
Thomas Webb Issac Clinton Young man sees the world and discovers he's an American
Haydee Romero Marli Cordero A Puerto Rican mother with her dreams coming true.
Carmen Hernandez Benita Colon He gave up his education for job opportunities
Elizabeth Borges Edith Colon I sacrificed myself to work 
Antonio Torres Ismaelys Colon  The green bananas: because they were everywhere
Ruby Lyons Rodriquez Lissandra Nicole Colon Mother leaves home to find a better life for her kids
Rafael Colon Liza Colon Man comes to Philadelphia expecting nothing, and finds a better life
Salvador Kavistan Veronica Colon A pastor comes to America to lead a new flock.
Maria D’Carmen Colon M Concepcion My grandmother came here when she was sick and I came to live with her.
Maria Ramos Carlos Castillo A girl who was surrounded by poverty and corruption; she wanted out
Haydee Romero Marli Cordero A Puerto Rican mother with her dreams coming true.
Teresa Irizarry Jomyra Crespo How my Grandmother survived on her own without her family
Miguel Ruiz Abdon Cruz  Build a Better Future
Ibrahim Mohamad Helena Cruz A man comes to America because of a change in regime in The Sudan.
Lucia Cruz De Jesus Joanmarie Cruz From a small town to a big city.
Vidalina Narvaez Nael Cruz Today she finds drugs dealers are like bugs
Santa Cruz Natasha Cruz Flees homeland for better life
Cush Cubano David Cubano A man leaves New York for New Experiences
Dorcas Melendez Motos Anthony Ryan Custalow Jr.  A better living for us
Mohammed Abd Aziz Yasir A Darwish Struggle for life
Gilbert Harris Antroin Deeds His goal was to return to Puerto Rico and chill
Louis F. Spina Dina De Gregorio From Sicily to Little Italy
Luz Caraballo Felix Delgado Due to not having a job I left my country, and more importantly I left my family behind to search for a job. 
Olga Morales Irma De Jesus A woman's journey to be with the love of her life
Carmen Diaz Jasmine Diaz A family torn apart.
Sonia Bonilla Javier Estrada A Spanish woman who wanted a better life for her family
Jenny Agosto Mineris Figueroa I would like to die in my country... on my soil
Wilfredo Figueroa N Figueroa I decided to come because I wanted to make things better for myself and my family
Manuel Buford Joanna Filomeno  From a very calm environment to a very busy environment on the East Coast
Bladimir Filpo Emmanuel Filpo A man who left the country he loves for a better life and to give his kids a better education
Yahaira Felix Enrique Gomez He likes Sky Scrapers!
Noris Colon Nelly Gomez From a little town to a big state.
Eduardo Gonzalez Edward Gonzalez Sacrifice and hard work, a wise decision a father made
Elena Diaz Elaine Gonzalez A large family leads Christian lives
Name withheld Gabriel Gonzalez The way of life in Sierra Leone
Ester Haynes-Lenail Michael Haynes A women leaves to help her sister
Leroy Williams Helena Henry Living on the farm was hard but fair, what you raised or grew was your meal
Etheleen Palmer Katie Hernandez Her neighbors didn't like her at first.
Beulah Hill Jesseea Hill She doesn't always give you an answer but when she does it's interesting!
Trissa Hill Krystle Hill A young woman who is stuck between the luxuries of the city and the peacefulness of the country
Kareem Himean Green Latavia Hudson Change: A New City, A New Man!
Magdaleno Izquierdo Juan Izquierdo A man escapes slavery and heads for the land of the free
Carlos Otero Irene Hunter After struggling for so long, my mother decided to move five kids and herself to Philadelphia
Jose Antonio Jimenez
Jesenia Jimenez A man moved to Philly from Puerto Rico and how his life was when he first got here.
Paz R. Joven Marc Joven The family moved to find happiness
Isabel Ramos Nicholous Knight She moved from her country to get a good job and have a better life.
Ana Castro Maria Laureano A lady that traveled to make her life better
Leon E. Cappa Jacqueline Lazu My life through the years of becoming a teacher
Leticia Lebron Christina Lebron My Grandmother came to visit her aunts.  Then she met a man.
Irene Dixon Lovett Irene Lovett I would have been broke, still living in Sandersville with 5 children.
Blanca Lozada Marian Lozada She is not thrilled with Philadelphia but has made here life here.
Steven C. Magnin Steven S. Magnin Man moves to Philadelphia for marriage
Margarita Maldonado Jessica Maldonado Her experience in living in Puerto Rico to moving to Philadelphia
Rafarl Doniyer Taina Martinez A man makes it with hope
Roberta Matthews Taina Martinez  In search for a better life for herself
H. Rosado Eileen Matos Woman leaves home to further her education
Neftaly Mendez Anatasha Mendez A man leaving his birthplace and finds he likes traveling
Isaura Fernandez Elonda Melton I was always sick because of the changing weather.
Yolanda Tapia Luz Mendez She's an old Philly Chick!
Jose Diaz Pierre Mendez By boat and train to Philadelphia
Millen Worku Gebreselassie Jacklyn Miranda People were being killed and you don't know what's going to happen
Brunilda Rivera Eriberto Montanez A Mother who left the ocean behind for a better life
Maria Margerita Rivera Rosa Montijo A sacrifice to succeed
Jeannett Socorro Torres Jennifer Moran The life that was given to me!
Name withheld by request Irmailiz Mauras His first trip to the United States
Julia Andrea Chavez Rodriguez Johnathan Munoz The trip to a better life
Gabriela Torres Ilham Mustafa Girl leaves behind her friends and her boyfriend to move to Philly
Victoria Diaz Berkys Mutt A woman's life is ruined because she was taken out of school and sent to baby-sit in another state
Isabel Velez Jessica Narvaez A lady who worshipped her husband and lived a fortunate life
Omar J. Negron Shana D. Negron A teenager moving around and making new friends
Nelson Ramirez Kimberly Nieves Man misses his homeland and wishes one day to return!
Name withheld by request Yolanda Nunez Diaz A man leaves his country to save his life.
David Ngo May Ngo Man survives 2 months in boat.
Chau Nguyen Nguyen Trung Dung A young guy coming to the U.S. with his two older brothers to find a better life
Diem Tran Nguyen Ngo Leaving with her family to look for freedom.
Chinh V. Nguyen Tuan Nguyen A tailor seeks a better life
Felicia Feliciano 
 Zunibel Olivares A woman who changed her way of living for a better future
David Oney Shante Oney There's no place like home.
Irma Martinez Irma Ortiz She still remembers the child that she lost and left behind
Lydia Margarita Rosario Luz Amparo Ortiz A long struggle
Nilda Ortiz Mary Ortiz Women moves to Philly to find a better job 
Milogros Muniz Vivian Padilla A woman and her family give up everything they own, in hopes of finding a better life.
Carmen M. Valentin Lynette M. Padin Years of suffering leads to a impressive ending!!!
Ghislaine Brevil Enid Pagan Woman has her only friend horribly betray her and that is only part of her burden
Santa Acosta Jacqueline Pagan A woman moves to Philly to build a better life for her and her family!
Elaine Alicea Jessica Pagan Life is not that hard
Juanita Sanchez Natasha Pagan She couldn't afford to live in Puerto Rico
Aida Cartagena Jessica Pantoja A women migrates from Puerto Rico to the United States and adapts to her new environment.
Norma Resto Perez Elaine Perez Small town girl, moves to big city.
Diana Miriam Chuman Erika Perales At first I regret moving but after I got use to Philly it wasn't half bad.
Christopher Clarke Angel Perez A kid from the Bahamas comes to Philadelphia with his family to change their lives. A few years later he meets a wonderful young lady and has his own family.
Maria Soza Carmelo Perez A big change in my life, ever since I moved to the U.S.A.
Basilica Perez Joselina Perez Woman leaves her important career to follow her husband to United States.
Justo Perez Colon M Perez When I came I had my passport and about thirty dollars.
Van Nguyen Charlie Pham A man leaves his country and everything behind in a journey to America that takes him several years.
Phuong Kim Hiep Pham
A woman who’s a wife and a mother looking for a better life in America
Juan Manuel Ayala Juan Pitre Man finds Golden Block in North Philly
Miguel Rodriguez Joel Plaza I began to imitate the people around me little bit by little bit.
Angela Romero Jennifer Ramirez Her goals were to learn to speak, write and read English, to get her diploma and become a cosmetologist: through her struggles, and with courage, she accomplished her goals
Jacquline Baez Melissa Quinones A woman who moved from Tampa, Florida to Philadelphia and how her life changed.
Ileana Julissa Ramos I didn't know how to get to places. I felt lost.
Eleanor Redding John Redding My Great Grandmom comes to Philadelphia to see family again, goes through some troubles but gets through them.
Anonymous Angelice Reyes A young woman struggles for happiness
Isabel Acevedo Nelbalyz Reyes She found herself going to Georgetown University and Cornell Law and fulfilling her dreams of becoming a lawyer
Eja Betrand Tiffany Ristine  Eja came to see if she could get a better education for herself and a better life for her family
Maria Mercedes Roldan Angel Rivera A young women leaves happiness and friends behind to live with her husband in Philadelphia.
Elisa Staton H. Rivera Why my mother left New York
Karen J. Opio Jaime L Rivera She came with no education and now is in her first year of college
Anna L. Rivera Jannette Rivera A woman struggles for a better way of life in spite of lack of skills
Frank Frederick Leroy Cooper Luis Rivera A man that never knew his family fights for his country.
Antonio Bienvenido Quinoa Louis Rivera The best thing my family ever did was to leave Cuba and come to the U.S.
Luz Neraida Santiago Monica Rivera We didn't have much but my father worked and he gave my mother whatever he had until we settled down.
Olga I. Medina Yahaira Rivera A woman who was moved from the only life she knew.
Name withheld by request Amneris Rodriguez A woman who loves her island so much that she can't wait until the day she returns
Migdalia Rosario Jorge Rodriguez A young girl in a new country
Miriam Rodriguez Nichole Rodriguez My mom moving from New York City over here to Philadelphia
Wendyde Jesus Rodriguez Rosmery Rodríguez A young man who, like many Hispanics coming to the US, had to face all the new changes of his life
Melanie Lopez Frances Rodriguez Woman leaves her country for a better future.
Theresa Santiago Theresa Rolan Young girl leaves country to grow up in a big city with her family.
Myrna Romero Ismael Romero A caring mother in search for a better future for her children
Ruth Hartz Evaliz Rosado A story like Anne Frank's - only with a happier ending.
Mireya Campos Castrillo Valles Jose Rosario Woman leaves her home country with no money to study at Temple
Guillermo Alberto Salas Ledezma Gabriel Salas I got better job, better life, better way to live
Xiomata Martinez  E Sanabria A Run for Paradise
Jose Rosa Angel Sanabria 14-year old flees difficult and poor life and comes to the U.S. only to come across more troubles. Eventually he adapts
Natalia Salcedo Francisco Sanchez A woman that leaves her family for a better future
Cira Magally Moran Miguel Sanchez Learning about my mom's arrival to the United States, and how she is comfortable with what she has.
David Santiago Alexander Santiago My father: A man that found a better life when he moved to Philadelphia.
Carmen Santiago Iesha Santiago She misses the swimming everyday
Evelyn Rivera Ruby Santiago The difference is the sounds. It's not as loud as NY at night.
Isabel Rimos Manilito Santos To live better and to prosper
Sarah R Boose Tiana M Sawyer A wish come true
Frances Borges Erica Sicard Problems with her mother opens a new life
Hector Gonzales Angel Serrano A man trying to adapt to his surroundings
Sonia Marixa Cortes David Serrano Jr. Through my past I gave my children a future
Pedro Perez Juan Sostre A person who struggled to adjust to the life in the U.S. He left Puerto Rico chasing the great American dream.
Rafael Angel Soto, Sr. Rafael Angel Soto, Jr. When the sun same out it showed how beautiful Puerto Rico really was.
Thomas Strong Anthony Speedwell Mother kicks 15 year-old boy out of the State.
T. Carpenter R Stoloff A man moves from a small town to the big city and starts a career as a teacher
Tran Chan Quy Tang A tremendous experience of a little Vietnamese boy.
Jamil J. Lugo E. Tapia Man comes for a short time to make some money then decides to stay
Marie Rojas Harry Tapia Family comes for medical care in Philadelphia and stays.
Efrain Caraballo Perez Roberta Tate Since being born and raised in Brooklyn I came out and decided to come to Philly then I expected the worst but it doesn't seem to be bad after all
Robyn Mahoso Charles Taylor A young women and her family searches for a better education in the US
Julio Cesar Reyes Matea Tihsheem Tilghman Career moves man from Santo Domingo to Philly - but perhaps not for long
Elba I. Santiago
Sophy Torres Independent mother
Sonia Medina Thomas Vargas My father brought us to Philadelphia and went back home to Puerto Rico.
Samuel Estevez Maximina Velasquez He moved from his country because his sister was suffering from cancer and also to make a better life for himself
Sau Thi Nguyen Loc Tran Woman finds a difficult life in Vietnam, finds a better life in Philadelphia!
Hung Tran Cuc Truong He may go back to Vietnam to find a wife
Maria Cruz Jaritza Vazquez Left hometown without knowing what was ahead of her and found a successful life.
Nivea M. Santiago Benjamin R. Vega A life of hope for the future.
Octavio Pineda Ivelisse Vega A guy that moved to Philadelphia with his mother so she could pursue her career.  Did he make it?
Marta Zayas Juan Vega The life of a women leaving her homeland for greater opportunities.
Carmen Crespo Jennifer Valentin Woman leaves her country to start a better life for her and her children.
Maria Elena Velez Moises Valez His mother's a cop! 
Reggie Velasquez David Velasquez Leaving everything behind for a better life
Samuel Estevez Maximina Velasquez He moved from his country because his sister was suffering from cancer and also to make a better life for himself.
Jose Oscar Nava Camacho Steve Velasquez A man lives in the US but loves his country.
Lydia Maria Rodriguez Diana Velez The woman who loved moving to Philadelphia because of the better income her parents were getting in Philadelphia.
Ramona Cruz Atalia Villafane The best for my daughter
Nam Ho Tran Vuong Tran I think that's enough information for you to know me better.
Maria Elena Valez Nancy Vera A woman comes to the US and becomes a police officer.
Betty Ann Walker Matthews Ebone Walker She’s a nice person to interview and get to know: she’s crazy
Tressa Harvy Devonn Weston She's on a Mission and must find a way to survive in a new place
Doreen Wiggins Shannon Wiggins Leaving her friends and family behind
Diane Reddie Kaleisha Williams A women who struggles with life's challenges.
Digna Negron Figueroa Christina Zambrana A Puerto Rican woman has to find someone and somewhere else to get married because her father wanted her to have a good husband & a beautiful wedding
Carmen Delia Zayas Bianca Zayas A women with dreams and goals in search of a better life

To contact the teachers involved with any questions or comments, please send e-mail to:

Evelyn Bender Ron Stoloff