New Latino Virginia archive spotlights civil rights roots and grassroots leadership
VCU-Backed Digital Archive Records Latino Migration and Community Histories Across Virginia
A new bilingual digital archive will make oral histories, photographs, transcripts and classroom materials documenting Latino life across Virginia publicly available following a Sept. 16 event in Richmond.
The Latino Virginia Project, led by Virginia Commonwealth University with the Sacred Heart Center and Latino Virginia, includes accounts from 156 community members. The collection is intended to document migration experiences and contributions by Latino residents throughout the commonwealth, with participants representing every country in Latin America, the project said.
Among those featured is Eduardo Zelaya, Virginia organizing director for We Are CASA. Researchers selected Zelaya’s account to represent grassroots organizing related to policy issues affecting immigrant families, according to We Are CASA.
Zelaya recently joined the Virginia Office of New Americans Advisory Board. He previously served as secretary of the Virginia Latino Advisory Board and is pursuing a master’s degree in public administration at VCU’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.
VCU sociology associate professor Gabriela León-Pérez said the archive is designed to let audiences encounter Latino experiences through participants’ own accounts, including those of educators, political leaders, parents and organizers. Daniel Morales, an associate professor at VCU, said Zelaya was included because of his leadership and community contributions.
The public launch, titled Celebración de la Herencia Hispana en Virginia & Latino Virginia Project Archive Launch, is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Sacred Heart Center, 1400 Perry St. in Richmond. Doors open at 5 p.m., and admission is free.