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Interview with Carmen
Carmen Null and Amanda Null
Carmen Null compares and contrasts Roman Catholic traditions and Evangelical traditions from personal experience.
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Interview with Norma Cantú
Norma Cantú and Eloise Montemayor
During this interview Norma Cantú shares, with Eloise Montemayor, some of her knowledge and memories in regards to the segregation both in the area of the Rio Grande Valley and Harvard Law School. Lastly she speaks of the experiences that took her to work for the Department of Education and the University of Texas System, at different points in her life.
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Interview with Cecilia Garcia-Akers - Part 01
Cecilia Garcia-Akers and Eloise Montemayor
During this interview, part of a four part series, Cecilia Garcia-Akers shares with Eloise Montemayor the discrimination her family faced growing up in Corpus Christi.
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Interview with Blanca Vela
Blanca Vela and Margaret E. Dorsey
Dr. Margaret Dorsey interviewed Blanca Vela about her family history and life experiences.
The first woman mayor of Brownsville, Blanca (Sanchez) Vela (1936–2014) was born and raised in Harlingen, TX. She attended Texas Southmost College and holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Pan American University. Throughout her life, Vela championed education and literacy, advanced opportunities for women, and advocated for children and the underserved.
She married Filemon Vela, Sr. in 1962 and campaigned for his election as state representative the following year. While Filemon, later became a U.S. federal judge. Blanca became an activist for Mexican-Americans in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas and co-founded the Democratic Women's Club.
She served as the first woman on the Brownsville National Bank Board of Directors and the first woman and Chairwoman to serve on the Brownsville Public Utilities Board. Her service also included membership in the Texas Public Power Association, the American Public Power Association, and the Brownsville Public Library Foundation, which she co-founded with Betty Dodd and resulted in the opening of two public libraries.
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Volume 25 - Carmen Tafolla, From the Whispers of Her People
Manuel F. Medrano and Carmen Tafolla
This award-winning author and poet from San Antonio comments about how her family and barrio inspired her writing. Tafolla encourages young writers to find their own voices.
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Tribute to Estella Lane Treviño
Eloise Montemayor
Tribute to Estella "Mrs. T." Lane Treviño at Edinburg Auditorium recorded by Eloise Montemayor. The Mayor of Edinburg, Texas issued a proclamation that Sept. 23, 2011, would be celebrated as Estella Lane Treviño Day in Edinburg. Aaron Peña, Judge Ramon Garcia, Richard Lopez, Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, and Veronica Gonzalez were among some of the people to appear and extend their gratitude to Estella for her service and to congratulate her on her retirement.
Born in Red Gate, Texas, Treviño graduated from Edinburg High School at age 16. At age 17 she became owner of her first beauty salon which she operated for 21 years. She and her husband, who owned a barber shop, came to know everyone, which, along with her many community volunteer activities, helped her to later be elected as Edinburg's Justice of the Peace, the first woman ever elected to that office in Hidalgo County. She held that position for six years. As EHA director, a position she assumed in 1972, Treviño assisted generations of low-income families to secure, safe and affordable housing. The EHA, one of the largest low-income housing programs in South Texas, includes six campuses with 467 units, including the Edinburg Tower for the elderly. During her tenure, she supervised more than 900 Section 8 housing units and successfully steered more than 70 qualified low-income families toward home ownership in the Family Self Sufficiency Program.
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Volume 20 – Dr. Juliet V. García – Against the Odds
Manuel F. Medrano and Juliet V. Garcia
A native of Brownsville, Texas, Dr. Juliet V. García is the first Hispanic woman to head a four-year university in the United States. As one of the most influential educators in the country, she shares her life story and her experiences at The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College.
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Volume 22 – Mary Helen Berlanga, Education Advocate
Manuel F. Medrano and Mary Helen Berlanga
This immigration attorney and twenty-five year member of the Texas State Board of Education has championed textbook and curriculum equity for children much of her professional life. Her life struggles and achievements are chronicled in this profile.
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Volume 17 – Olga Lozano: Frontera Pharmacist
Manuel F. Medrano and Olga Lozano
This Harlingen, Texas native was one of the first Latinas to receive a pharmacy degree from The University of Texas at Austin. She recalls her early years in the Rio Grande Valley, her educational experiences in Austin and her later career.
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Volume 14 – Carmen Lomas Garza, Chicana Artist
Manuel F. Medrano and Carmen Lomas Garza
One of the most successful Chicana artists speaks about her youth in Kingsville, Texas and her motivation to become an artist. Lomas Garza also presents and comments about some of her art.
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Volume 10 – Barbara Warburton, La maestra
Manuel F. Medrano and Barbara Warburton
For over three decades, this biology teacher established a rich tradition of classroom teaching and research at Texas Southmost College. She helped to establish the Rancho del Cielo biological research station in northern Mexico.
Interviewees include: Juliet V. Garcia, Paula Gomez, Eloisa Thelma Gonzalez, Tony Gonzalez, Manuel Guajardo, Larry Lof, Alma Solis, Martha Warburton, and Barbara Warburton.
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