“[In Spanish] I feel that I have found [Richmond] needs many changes. And that there is a lot of need out there. And before, when I had recently arrived, I couldn’t see that either — because normally when we arrive we submerge ourselves in a job, in long hours, and we don’t see that.”

That is the experience of Richmond resident Claudia Leolo, captured in the Latino Virginia Oral History Project, which involved conducting over 140 interviews with Virginians who share a background or heritage in Latin America.

The research was led by VCU associate professor of sociology Gabriela León-Pérez and associate professor of history Daniel Morales.

León-Pérez said their main goal with the interviews was to dispel myths and stereotypes about Latin American migration.

“In some cases, yes, it’s because of better economic opportunities, but also it can be for family reunification for families that have been separated, it can be due to domestic violence in the country of origin, or for better educational opportunities,” León-Pérez said.

Visit The Commonwealth Times to read the full article.