Calling All Boricuas - New Haven Puerto Rican Oral History Project

[Amanda Rivera]

Are you a Puerto Rican living in New Haven? Are you interested in being part of building an archive of local Puerto Ricans?

If so, then please consider participating in the New Haven Puerto Rican Oral History Project!

My name is Amanda Rivera, I’m a third-generation Boricua from New Jersey, and I’m a graduate student researcher in the Department of American Studies at Yale University. I’m really passionate about studying our people and the ways we’ve built (and continue to build) communities on the mainland. For my research, I’m studying Puerto Rican communities in New Haven and Bridgeport, emphasizing the different education-related projects we’ve been involved with, from the 1960s through present day (ex. bringing bilingual education to public schools in the 1970s; having access to college after affirmative action in the 1970s and 1980s, etc).

As part of that research, I'm creating oral history collections, sitting down with folks for an hour or so and asking them to share about their lives. For folks here in New Haven, I’d love to talk about what brought you to New Haven, which neighborhoods you grew up in and whether you’re still in them; what life was like for you growing up here (or moving here, if you came more recently); etc. I'm recording and publishing the oral histories online, so that our communities have access to these collections long after I've finished my research.

Everyone has a story worth telling. If you’re at all interested in being a part of this project, or would like some more information, please reach out to me via email: [e-mail].