López was born in Mexico City in 1978, but grew up with her grandparents in a very small town called Huaycali in the state of Guerrero. Recalling her childhood, López reminisces about the responsibilities she had as a peasant girl and describes the customs and celebrations of her land. As a teenager, she crossed the border with her family and, after a difficult and dangerous journey, arrived in Johns Island, South Carolina, where one of her aunts lived. Almost immediately, López started working in the fields to pay for the expenses of her trip. A short time later, a young friend from Mexico came looking for her. They were married soon after, and have been together ever since. They have two children and consider Johns Island their place in the world. In her interview, López explains that education is very important to her and her husband, which is why they have made an effort to learn, better themselves, and train as community leaders. In this learning process, she explains, the sisters of Our Lady of Mercy played a crucial role. López also reflects on her work with various community organizations such as PASOs, Family Corps, and Holy Spirit Parish.López nació en la Ciudad de México en 1978 pero creció junto a sus abuelitos, en un pueblo muy pequeño llamado Huaycali en el estado de Guerrero. Recordando su infancia, López cuenta acerca de las responsabilidades que tenía como niña campesina y describe las costumbres y celebraciones de su tierra. Siendo adolescente, cruzó la frontera con su familia y después de un viaje azaroso y difícil llegó a Johns Island, South Carolina donde residía una de sus tías. Apenas llegada, Alma comenzó a trabajar en la agricultura para poder pagar los gastos de su viaje. Al poco tiempo, un joven amigo de México llegó a buscarla y enseguida se casaron. Desde entonces López y su esposo han estado juntos. Tienen dos hijos y consideran a Johns Island su lugar en el mundo. López explica que la educación es muy importante para ella y su marido y que por esa razón se han esforzado en aprender y formarse como líderes comunitarios. En ese proceso de aprendizaje, su relación con las hermanas de Our Lady of Mercy tuvo un rol fundamental. López, también reflexiona acerca de su trabajo con distintas organizaciones comunitarias como PASOs, Family Corps y la Parroquia Holy Spirit.
Bordallo was born in San Pedro Coahuila, Mexico, where she lived with her parents and six brothers until moving to the United States. Her father was a milliner and businessman. In 1978, she got married and crossed the border with her new husband. They arrived in Florida and stayed to work in agriculture, from there traveling to Virginia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia, and anywhere they were needed. They had three children. In 1986, they decided to settle on Johns Island because they wanted a more stable life and better educational opportunities for their children. They kept working on the fields and lived in a camp located on River Road. There, they met the sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, who visited the families and helped them to access community resources. Aspiring to a better quality of life for her family, Bordallo strove to acquire their own house through Habitats for Humanity. Bordallo and her husband regularized their legal status by accepting the amnesty granted by the Reagan administration and later became US citizens.Bordallo nació en San Pedro Coahuila, México y allí vivió junto a sus padres y seis hermanos hasta que emigró a Estados Unidos. Su padre fabricaba sombreros y se dedicaba a los negocios. En 1978, se casó y con su flamante marido cruzó la frontera. Se instalaron en Florida para trabajar en el campo y desde allí viajaban a Virginia, las Carolinas, Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia, donde quiera que hubiera trabajo en la cosecha. Tuvieron tres hijos. En 1986 pensando en el bien y la educación de los niños decidieron establecerse en Johns Island. Al campo donde vivían, ubicado en River Road, comenzaron a llegar de visita las hermanas de Our Lady of Mercy y ellas los ayudaron a acceder a recursos comunitarios. Aspirando a una mejor calidad de vida para su familia luchó para conseguir su propia vivienda con Habitat for Humanity. Bordallo y su esposo se acogieron a la amnistía otorgada por el gobierno del presidente Reagan y más tarde se convirtieron en ciudadanos americanos.
In the second part of her interview, Bordallo recalls how her life changed after her family settled on Johns Island and explains how the island's Latino community has grown in recent years. Bordallo explains that their family has always valued education very highly, and, for that reason, she and her husband did not hesitate to invest their efforts in sending their children to private Catholic schools, first to Nativity and later to Bishop England. Bordallo is also proud of having paid for her children’s college education costs, and is happy to say they are now independent adults, giving her the opportunity to pursue her own projects, study, and travel. Bordallo works as a young children's teacher at Rural Mission, is a student at Trident Technical College, and remains an active member of Holy Spirit Parish on Johns Island. En esta segunda parte de la entrevista, Bordallo recuerda como cambió su vida después que su familia se estableció en Johns Island y describe cómo la comunidad latina de la isla ha crecido en los últimos años. Bordallo explica que la educación siempre ha sido un valor muy importante para su familia y que, por esa razón, ella y su esposo no dudaron en invertir sus esfuerzos para que sus hijos fueran a escuelas privadas católicas, primero a Nativity y más tarde a Bishop England. Bordallo se enorgullece también de haber pagado por los estudios universitarios de sus hijos y tener la capacidad, ahora que ellos son adultos independientes, de abocarse a sus propios proyectos, estudiar y viajar. Bordallo trabaja como maestra de niños pequeños en Rural Mission, estudia en Trident Tech y es miembro activo de la parroquia Holy Spirit en Johns Island.
Lu Edna Capers (1915) was born and raised in Johns Island, S.C. Capers, like her mother and her siblings, attended Promise Land School, a segregated school for black children on the island. In this interview, Capers recalls her experiences at Promise Land describing the school building and its inadequate equipment. She explains how the classes were organized, what were the students' routines and responsibilities, and the games they played. She also recalls some of her teachers, among them civil right leader Septima Clark.
Willa Mae Freeman was born and lived most of her life on Johns Island. In this interview Freeman recalls growing up in a rural environment and learning to work on farming since early age. She also remembers her days at Promise Land School, a segregated school for black children. She describes the precarious school structure and the students' responsibilities and routines. When she was in fourth grade, Promise Land building was closed and all the students were transferred to Mt. Zion Elementary. Then, for the first time, they rode the school bus and had access to the bookmobile. Freeman reflects about the importance of education and expresses her concerns for the problems that happen at school nowadays.
Fotografía en color de un grupo de estudiantes de Nativity School junto con el obispo Robert E. Guglielmone durante la ceremonia de inauguración de las obras del nuevo templo de la iglesia católica Holy Spirit en Johns Island. / Color photograph of a group of Nativity School students with Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone during the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Holy Spirit Catholic Church building on Johns Island.
Event program entitled, "Esau Jenkins…His Legacy," co-produced by the Caw Caw Interpretive Center and the Jenkins Family, sponsored by the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission.
Fotografía en color de mujeres y niños recogiendo monedas del suelo. La foto fue tomada a la salida del bautismo del hijo de Juana Torres en la puerta de la iglesia Holy Spirit en Johns Island. Es una tradición mexicana que los padrinos del bautismo den "bolo" en este día especial. / Color photograph of women and children picking coins from the floor. The photo was taken after Juana Torre's son's christening at the door of the Holy Spirit Church in Johns Island. It is a Mexican tradition for the godparents to give "bolo" in this special day.
Fotografía en color del hijo menor de Juana Torres y la enfermera de la escuela Mt Zion, Abbi Beckford. / Color photograph of Juana Torre's youngest child with Mt. Zion Elementary School Nurse, Abbi Beckford.
Volante de Charleston Dorchester Community Mental Health Center anunciando servicios terapéuticos bilingües disponibles para familias con niños pequeños en Johns Island, Wadmalaw Island y comunidades aledañas. / Flyer from the Charleston Dorchester Community Mental Health Department announcing bilingual counseling and therapeutic services to families with young children on Johns Island, Wadmalaw Island, and surrounding communities.
Fotografía en color de una joven pareja de pie junto a una imagen de la Virgen de Guadalupe rodeada de rosas. La fotografía fue tomada el 12 de diciembre del 2000 en el antiguo edificio de la iglesia Holy Spirit en Johns Island. / Color photograph of a young couple standing by an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe surrounded by roses. The photograph was taken during the December 12, 2000 celebration at the old Holy Spirit Church building in Johns Island.
Fotografía en color de niños argentinos y colombianos disfrazos en una fiesta de halloween en la iglesia First Baptist en Johns Island. / Color photograph of Argentinian and Colombian children in their Halloween costumes at First Baptist Church on Johns Island.
Fotografía en color de una pareja de immigrantes mexicanos junto a un compañero de trabajo estadounidense cantando durante una fiesta de Navidad organizada por Sunny Side, la compañía que los empleaba. Los dos hombres están tocando la guitarra y la joven carga un niño en sus brazos. / Color photograph of a recently arrived Mexican couple and an American co-worker singing during a Christmas party organized by Sunny Side, the company that employed them. The two men are playing guitars and the young woman holds a child on her arms.
Fotografía en color de Mario Puga a la edad de veinte años. Se lo ve rodeado de plantas y sonriendo. La fotografía fue tomada en su lugar de trabajo, Beckets Nursery en Johns Island. / Color photograph of Mario Puga at age twenty. He is surrounded by plants and he is smiling. The photograph was taken at Beckets Nursery in Johns Island where he was employed.
Fotografía en color de Mario Puga asomándose a través del techo de su automóvil recientemente adquirido. La fotografía fue tomada en el vecindario construido por Habitat for Humanity, Esau Jenkins en Johns Island. / Color photograph of Mario Puga standing through the sunroof of his recently purchased car. The photo was taken in the Esau Jenkins Habitat for Humanity neighborhood in Johns Island.
Fotografía en color de Alma López a la edad de dieciséis años trabajando en Beckets Nursery en Johns Island. / Color photograph of Alma Lopez at age sixteen working in Beckets Nursery in Johns Island.
Correspondence from Rev. P. J. Hammitt and Mary B. Johnson, Pastor and Chairperson for St. Stephen A.M.E. Church, regarding the upcoming St. Stephen A.M.E. Church centennial.
Fotografía en color de trabajadores agrícolas en un campo de cultivo. Jesús Bordallo conduce un tractor que lleva un remolque en el que va su esposa María y otra mujer plantando tomates. Hacia atrás se ve otro tractor y varios trabajadores más. Los tractores hacen pequeños agujeros en el suelo y los humedecen y los trabajadores que se sientan en la plataforma colocan las plantas de tomate en ellos. Este campo estaba ubicado en Dairy Farm Rd, Johns Island, SC. / Color photograph of agricultural workers in a field. Jesus Bordallo is driving a tractor that pulls a trailer carrying his wife Maria and another female worker planting tomatoes. In the back there is another tractor and several more workers. The tractor makes little holes in the soil and drips water inside them and the workers sitting on the platform place the tomato plants in the holes. The farm was located at Dairy Farm Rd, Johns Island, South Carolina.
Announcement and program for the "Ceremony Officially Naming The S.C. 700 Bridge Over Church Creek Between Wadmalaw And Johns Island As The Esau Jenkins Memorial Bridge."
Correspondence from Abraham B. Jenkins tp Reverend McKinley Washington, Jr. thanking the recipient for "the initiative, effort and time" with regard to the Esau Jenkins Memorial Bridge on behalf of the Jenkins family.
Color photograph of Septima P. Clark with William "Bill" Jenkins, son of Esau Jenkins, Bernice Robinson, and a young woman at Comprehensive Health Center on Johns Island, South Carolina.
Correspondence from Ann Vick, Foxfire Program of the Institutional Development and Economic Affairs Service, to Thomas C. Carlo, Principal of the St. John's High School, regarding Foxfire programs.
Correspondence from James G. Blake to Esau Jenkins' widow, Janie Jenkins regarding Esau Jenkins' posthumous reciept of the Outstanding Freedom Fighter Citation, awarded by the "S.C. Conference of Branches of the NAACP."
Correspondence from Reverend Willis Goodwin, Chairman of the Board of Rural Mission, Inc., to friends of Rural Mission, Inc. informing the recipients of Esau Jenkins' death.
Color photograph of Septima P. Clark standing by a fence. Inscribed on back: "Septima Clark. Author of "Echo in My Soul" friend who showed me John's Island, S.C. Dec 7, 1971. Standing in fringe of home where land where she boarded is–now abandoned but owned–"
Typescript copy of J. Herman Blake's report to the Emil Schwarzhaupt Foundation entitled, "Citizen Participation. Democracy and Social Change," regarding community development in Johns Island, South Carolina and the Woodlawn Area on the south side of Chicago.
Correspondence from Gordon H. Garrett, Superintendent of the Charleston County School District, to Esau Jenkins congratulating the recipient for his appointment as a member of the Board of Trustees of Constituent School District Number 9.
State of South Carolina County of Charleston Department of Education member of the Board of Trustees for St. John's Constituent School District seal for Esau Jenkins.
Correspondence from Esau Jenkins to James B. Coaxum, Principal of Haut Gap High School, regarding Officers and Members of Citizens Committee and C. O. Federal Credit Union Annual Program.
