Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) joined national leaders and the renowned nonprofit oral history project StoryCorps today for the launch of Historias, a new initiative to record and preserve the experiences of Latinos throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.  Historias, which means ‘story’ in Spanish, will capture and celebrate the diversity of Latinos and their culture.  The interviews are informal conversations between family members or close friends who share their life experiences and stories with one another.

At today’s press conference (9/24/09) on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol Building, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard praised the initiative and shared a personal story of her own.

“It is wonderful to be here to help launch the StoryCorps Historias Initiative.  There are thousands of Hispanic American stories waiting to be told,” Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard said.  “Specifically, I think of my mother who at 92 has a lifetime of stories about her generation and her experiences growing up in the underserved East Los Angeles community of Boyle Heights.  One of her happier and most cherished memories, of course, involves my father, the late Edward R. Roybal, who in 1949, became the first Latino in the 20th Century elected to the Los Angeles City Council.  The 9th Council District he represented included Boyle Heights, the community where my parents grew up, fell in love, married and raised their family.  When my mother dated my father, she lived in a house under the Fourth Street Bridge, which had dirt streets and no sidewalks.  One day, after a heavy rain, while out with my father, she told him she had always dreamed that the house she lived in would one day have paved streets.  Years later, my father surprised my mother by taking her to see one of his first official actions as a member of the City Council.  Remembering her childhood dream, he had the city pave the street under the Fourth Street Bridge.  Although her family had moved to another part of Boyle Heights long before the paving occurred, my mother still lovingly recalls that special day.  My sister, Lillian, and I are looking forward to recording our memories when the Historias project travels to Los Angeles.”

Other participants at the press conference included: U.S. Senator Tom Udall (NM); Congressman Xavier Becerra (CA-31); Congressman Charlie Gonzalez (TX-20); Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3); and Arturo Rodriguez, President of the United Farm Workers of America.

StoryCorps Historias is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). 

“StoryCorps underscores that everyone has a story and each story counts,” said Pat Harrison, President and CEO of CPB.  “It is one of the most innovative and authentic initiatives made possible by public service media and CPB is very proud to fund Historias.”

To ensure that Latino voices are made accessible to future generations, Historias interviews will be archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.  Selected interviews will air on Latino USA, an English-language news program broadcast in 31 states, NPR’s Morning Edition and public radio programs across the country. 

“Since StoryCorps first started its work in 2003, the aim has been to create a growing portrait of who we are as a nation. At 50+ million strong, Hispanics represent 15 percent of the U.S. population and are the fastest-growing segment, which is why it is so important that we record and preserve their stories,” says StoryCorps Founder and President Dave Isay.

Community partners involved in this national initiative include the Latino Public Radio Consortium, Latino USA and the U.S. Latino and Latina World War II Oral History Project.  StoryCorps also wishes to thank Bill Lynch Associates, LLC, for their assistance with StoryCorps Historias.

During the first year of Historias, StoryCorps will visit cities across the nation, partnering with local radio stations, cultural institutions and community-based organizations to collect nearly 1,000 stories throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico (see tour schedule below). 

Reservations for sharing your stories during StoryCorps’ Historias national tour can be made by calling 1-800-850-4406.

Historias Tour Schedule: 2009-2010

City Opening
New York, NY September 1, 2009
San Francisco, CA September 22, 2009
Eastern Puerto Rico September 23, 2009
Taos, NM October 29, 2009
Alamosa, NM November 2, 2009
Austin, TX November, 2009
Houston, TX November 16, 2009
Boston, MA December 14, 2009
Miami, FL January 4, 2010
Yuma, AZ January 4, 2010
Phoenix, AZ January, 2010
San Juan, PR January 20, 2010
Los Angeles, CA February 8, 2010
Fresno, CA March 22, 2010
Washington, DC April 2010
Albuquerque, NM May 17, 2010
Chicago, IL May 17, 2010
Brownsville, TX May 2010.
San Antonio, TX June 2010
San Diego, CA July 2010.
Granger, WA 2010

About the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967 develops educational public radio, television, and online services. The CPB is the industry’s largest single source of funds for national public television and radio program development and production. The CPB, a grant making organization, funds more than 1,000 public radio and television stations. Visit www.cpb.org for more information.

About StoryCorps

StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit project whose mission is to honor and celebrate one another’s lives through listening. Since 2003, tens of thousands of everyday people have interviewed family and friends through StoryCorps. Each conversation is recorded on a free CD to take home and share, and is archived for generations to come at the Library of Congress. Millions listen to the award-winning broadcasts on public radio and the Internet. Visit www.storycorps.org for more information.