Herrera, Richard

Interview with Dos Mundos newspaper founder Clara Reyes about her life and her experience with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City. She recalls immigrating to the Kansas City area from Guadalajara, Mexico, to join family, her work in dentistry and real estate, being the niece of Hector Barreto, founder of the local and national Hispanic chambers of commerce. She discusses Barreto's interest in advocating for the Hispanic business community, early members of the chamber, covering chamber activities in Dos Mundos, and Rockhurst and Penn Valley colleges working with the chamber to offer scholarships to minority students. She also discusses Barreto's role in the founding of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, originally located in Kansas City, and its move to Washington, DC, the local chamber's role in helping small businesses access bank loans and encouraging entrepreneurship, and lists the Kansas City chamber's presidents from its founding to the present.

Interview with Mary Barreto about her life and her husband Hector Barreto, founder of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City and president of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Born in 1935, Barreto recounts her father's immigration from Michoacan, Mexico to the Kansas City area in 1928, and his work for the Missouri Portland Cement Company, where Mary's family met the Barretos. She recalls stories of Hector's work in packing houses and the railroad, opening an import business, and owning and operating Mexico Lindo restaurant in Independence. She also discusses Hector's role in founding the United States and Kansas City Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, noting other Hispanic Kansas Citians who were involved in the local chamber, and Hector's experience advising the Reagan and George H. W. Bush administrations. Hector and Mary's daughter Anna Favrow Barreto also participates in the discussion.