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<title>RSS Feed</title><link>https://nuestrasraicesri.net/index.html</link><description>RILatinoStories</description><dc:language>en</dc:language><language>en</language><dc:creator>Marta V. Martinez</dc:creator><dc:rights>Copyright 2020 &#x2022; Nuestras Raices</dc:rights><dc:date>2020-05-08T06:50:00-04:00</dc:date><admin:generatorAgent rdf:resource="http://www.realmacsoftware.com/" />
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<lastBuildDate>Fri, 28 Sep 2012 11:49:28 -0400</lastBuildDate><item><title>Love In the Time of the Pandemic &#x7c; 2020</title><dc:creator>Marta V. Martinez</dc:creator><category>Latino Heritage</category><category>Oral History</category><dc:date>2020-05-11T11:19:00-04:00</dc:date><link>https://nuestrasraicesri.net/COVID19Stories_files/6e4714812f2532de0f3963e16eb65534-0.html#unique-entry-id-0</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://nuestrasraicesri.net/COVID19Stories_files/6e4714812f2532de0f3963e16eb65534-0.html#unique-entry-id-0</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[By February WHO is now referring to this virus as COVID-19: COrona VIrus Disease; and the number comes from the year when it was first discovered or 2019. 


...Mart&iacute;nez, Oral Historian and RILA's Executive Director and the two Brown Professors quickly spoke because as part of their Latin American Diaspora Class, students had been assigned to community groups or individuals to form mentorships and offer volunteer opportunities. ...  The professors were looking for ways for their students to continue their studies, and with the uniqueness of the community partnerships, they found themselves at a loss because the class required students to make in-person visits with a community organization of their choice as part of their community engagement requirements for the Hispanic Studies class. 

...Because of the nature of how oral histories work, and because of the ability for students to speak with people either by phone or video, Marta made provisions for ten students from the Hispanic Studies class to connect with and interview Latinos to gather their stories related to the COVID-19 pandemic.   Marta had recently spoken to two individuals, both immigrants from Latin countries, who said this pandemic, the feelings they were having and how people were living their lives, reminded them of times back home when they had lived in fear either from an oppressive government or because food was scarce. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Jos&#xe9; Mendoza</title><dc:creator>Marta V. Martinez</dc:creator><dc:subject>COVID-19 Pandemic</dc:subject><dc:date>2020-05-08T06:50:00-04:00</dc:date><link>https://nuestrasraicesri.net/COVID19Stories_files/24ad767d6bef1269b441753ab25a5f6e-60.html#unique-entry-id-60</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://nuestrasraicesri.net/COVID19Stories_files/24ad767d6bef1269b441753ab25a5f6e-60.html#unique-entry-id-60</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[He is the financial coordinator for the Brown University Department of Hispanic and French Studies, and along with everyone at Brown, was forced to work from home when the University quickly closed due to COVID-19.


...Since the quarantine, he&rsquo;s only seen them once, when he made a quick visit to their home to let them know he&rsquo;s fine, and to check on them &ndash; and then he took special care to wear a mask, gloves and kept careful distance from them. 


...But mostly, Jos&eacute; misses spending intimate time with them: &ldquo;Lo m&aacute;s que quiero es sentarme con mi familia a comer una comida, y estar con ellos un rato y hablar,&rdquo; he says. 


...He adds that he is very grateful for his health, and feels fortunate to have the opportunity to maintain his job while working from home because many others do not have the option: &ldquo;Estoy muy agradecido de que todav&iacute;a tengo mi trabajo. 

...Jos&eacute; has been able to stay connected to his local friend group, with whom he has a weekly trivia night on Zoom; the winner every week gets to choose a nonprofit organization or charity to receive a pot of funds. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Carolina Briones</title><dc:creator>Marta V. Martinez</dc:creator><dc:subject>COVID-19 Pandemic</dc:subject><dc:date>2020-04-28T06:15:17-04:00</dc:date><link>https://nuestrasraicesri.net/COVID19Stories_files/68a4aefb8e2efb52536250193922315e-57.html#unique-entry-id-57</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://nuestrasraicesri.net/COVID19Stories_files/68a4aefb8e2efb52536250193922315e-57.html#unique-entry-id-57</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The current pandemic has impacted individuals in every country, but Carolina feels it has been particularly hard on Latinos due to their tendencies to show a lot of physical affection towards one another: &ldquo;A los latinos nos gusta abrazarnos, darnos besito en la mejilla cuando nos vemos.&rdquo;


...Carolina is someone who loves to be around family and friends, but during this time she has not been able to even get together with her own daughters.   Carolina is someone who is in the &ldquo;at-risk&rdquo; category of people encouraged to take extra care, so her daughters have been offering her a lot of support, dropping off groceries on her front steps. 

...Being the president of this organization, Carolina is making plans to help the community of Guayaquil by raising and sending money and collecting other resources that might be needed during these tough times. 


...Although this pandemic has been hard on everyone, Carolina remains optimistic about the future and takes this situation as a lesson learned: &ldquo;Esto nos va a dejar una lecci&oacute;n de vida a la humanidad completa.&rdquo;
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Marcel Mascar&#xf3;</title><dc:creator>Marta V. Martinez</dc:creator><dc:subject>COVID-19 Pandemic</dc:subject><dc:date>2020-04-27T06:20:07-04:00</dc:date><link>https://nuestrasraicesri.net/COVID19Stories_files/83804fab31f5664664a1a0d5f541654f-59.html#unique-entry-id-59</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://nuestrasraicesri.net/COVID19Stories_files/83804fab31f5664664a1a0d5f541654f-59.html#unique-entry-id-59</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Marcel elaborates on a strong pull to their family in Miami as panic began to set in around the country: &ldquo;I knew right away I had to go there because if I were to get sick, they're all I have. 

...&ldquo;I know my father has access to medical journals, American medical journals, and has some friends in Cuba, that are doctors,&rdquo; which provide Marcel and the family with the necessary facts and realities of the pandemic situation, and squelches any rumors.


...Marcel shares the empty shelves of the grocery stores are no strange concept to their parents because they lived through years of El Per&iacute;odo Especial in Cuba, a period of widespread food shortages due to the economic crisis that began in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. 

...During the first weeks of the pandemic, while they shopped at a local grocery store in Providence, Mascar&oacute; describes observing panic and fear among many Latin-American families because they felt so many of them, like their own family, have suffered from extreme hunger in the past: &ldquo;I stock up because I know I can stock up, and I also know what it&rsquo;s like to be without.&rdquo; 

...&ldquo;That scared me because I know that in Providence there are a lot of Latin-American families who are in need &ndash; if they're not going hungry, they're not eating well because the best things to stock up on are carbs, dried foods, or canned goods,&rdquo; Mascar&oacute; explains. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Ceci Cano</title><dc:creator>Marta V. Martinez</dc:creator><dc:subject>COVID-19 Pandemic</dc:subject><dc:date>2020-04-24T06:18:45-04:00</dc:date><link>https://nuestrasraicesri.net/COVID19Stories_files/1e4a3bab72e40aa4e3e8e83b20693e6c-58.html#unique-entry-id-58</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://nuestrasraicesri.net/COVID19Stories_files/1e4a3bab72e40aa4e3e8e83b20693e6c-58.html#unique-entry-id-58</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Though Ceci is unable physically to be with all of her family right now, she is making the most of the situation, posting on Facebook daily to spark conversations with those abroad, or sending messages to everyone in Colombia via WhatsApp.   It&rsquo;s clear that, despite the pain of not knowing when she is able to physically be with her family in Colombia, Ceci is demonstrating her strength by making the most of our new reality and keeping her loved ones close. 


...The latter has been an exciting challenge for Ceci because it gives her the opportunity to learn more about what goes on behind-the-scenes of the government&rsquo;s coronavirus response. 


...We spoke about how she has started to share pictures of herself on Facebook from the Governor&rsquo;s press conferences, and how her friends excitedly wait for them to be posted so they can stay up-to-date on her life. 


...There is no denying that this is a challenging time in the world right now, and Ceci is trying her hardest to make the most of the situation. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Hugo Figueroa</title><dc:creator>Marta V. Martinez</dc:creator><dc:subject>COVID-19 Pandemic</dc:subject><dc:date>2020-04-22T17:41:13-04:00</dc:date><link>https://nuestrasraicesri.net/COVID19Stories_files/c372d6fd2383d5b1bbb5bd47706edb01-56.html#unique-entry-id-56</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://nuestrasraicesri.net/COVID19Stories_files/c372d6fd2383d5b1bbb5bd47706edb01-56.html#unique-entry-id-56</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[He knows it will affect some areas more than others, but adds that this is a fighting country, with a lot of potential. 


He thinks that El Salvador will also rebound because its people are hard-working and always find a way to move forward.   Figueroa has family in both El Salvador and the United States, but no one has been affected by the virus. 

...And perhaps the saddest, most immediate change for him is that he was planning to visit El Salvador this month, but had to cancel his flight.


...But for now, all he can do is continue what he has been doing&mdash;staying at home, enjoying his wife&rsquo;s pupusas, and appreciating his family. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Ashley Soto</title><dc:creator>Marta V. Martinez</dc:creator><dc:subject>COVID-19 Pandemic</dc:subject><dc:date>2020-04-17T06:04:17-04:00</dc:date><link>https://nuestrasraicesri.net/COVID19Stories_files/Ashley%20Soto.html#unique-entry-id-55</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://nuestrasraicesri.net/COVID19Stories_files/Ashley%20Soto.html#unique-entry-id-55</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Ashley Soto, a Providence resident, has exhibited impressive perseverance and kindness during the coronavirus pandemic through her various outreach efforts as a singer, medical interpreter, and current Miss Rhode Island titleholder. 

...Despite the widespread panic, she continued to provide essential interpretation services, which are even more necessary during a public health emergency, until she determined it was no longer safe to visit hospitals in person. 


...Due to the heightened dangers that immunocompromised people face, Ashley is constantly disinfecting the house and even under normal circumstances, is careful to thoroughly decontaminate shoes, clothes, and her car after returning from the hospital. 


...She adds that it is one thing to read about a public health crisis in the news, thinking &ldquo;it&rsquo;s not going to touch me,&rdquo; and another entirely to watch helplessly while a loved one gets sick with the virus. 


...She can&rsquo;t wait to return to the stage and sing; her voice lit up when she told me that she&rsquo;s actually recording her first song in a home studio right now! ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Memories of Conant Thread</title><dc:creator>Marta V. Martinez</dc:creator><dc:subject>COVID-19 Pandemic</dc:subject><dc:date>2020-03-18T15:47:46-04:00</dc:date><link>https://nuestrasraicesri.net/COVID19Stories_files/c03d5bb565fe4861cabc068307d99297-54.html#unique-entry-id-54</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://nuestrasraicesri.net/COVID19Stories_files/c03d5bb565fe4861cabc068307d99297-54.html#unique-entry-id-54</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[When the old mills were designated as a new site for development, we knew that this place was going to change drastically in the upcoming years. 

...On Saturday, March 14, while many of us slept, a great fire took over The Conant Thread, temporarily displacing the residents in close proximity to the fire. 

...Like myself, many Central Falls residents woke up to the news, and were in disbelief that such a prominent strong landmark could disappear in just one night.   When I went out that morning, the city was covered in fog and yellow light, like a golden hour at the end of a day. 


As someone who lived near the Conant Thread, I would often catch glimpse of the identical towers at the end of Cross Street on my way back home. ]]></content:encoded></item></channel>
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