Interview with Anna Barreto Favrow, joined by her mother Mary Barreto, about her father Hector Barreto Sr., founder of the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City and United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She discusses her father's opinions on the importance of education, political power, and economic power, his relationship with his family, and chamber leadership that came after him.
Interview with Taqueria Mexico owner Arturo Romo about his experience with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City. He recalls moving to Kansas City in 1992, opening his restaurant in 1993 with the assistance of Hector Barreto, Sr., becoming a member of the chamber a few years later, and being invited to join the board of directors. He discusses the social and banking connections he was able to make through the chamber, expanding to new locations, and bringing his family to join him in Kansas City.
Interview with community leader Bruce R. Watkins, Jr. Watkins discusses his early life and education, the history of the Watkins family including his father Bruce R. Watkins and grandfather T. B. Watkins, the founding of Freedom Inc., and his work to share the story of slavery, former slaves, and the Watkins family in Platte County, Missouri. He also shares thoughts on the importance of leaving a legacy and learning personal and family history
Interview with Kansas City educator and community leader Carl Boyd. Boyd discusses his early life in Chicago, segregation and discrimination against Black communities in Chicago and Kansas City, his work as an educator in Kansas City Public Schools during the desegregation era, and his work as a radio broadcaster on station KPRS.
Interview with Carmen Rangel about her life and the history of her family in the Argentine neighborhood of Kansas City, Kansas. She recounts her parents' early life in Leon, Mexico, their immigration to Kansas City by way of Newton, Kansas, and her own early life in Argentine where she attended St. John the Evangelist and St. John the Divine schools. She discusses the social life of the area, including church fiestas, neighbors on 24th and 25th Streets, local businesses along Strong Avenue and facing anti-Mexican discrimination. She also shares memories of her brother's service in World War II and the impact of the1951 flood on her family.
Interview with artist Charles Goslin about his life and work. He recalls growing up outside Columbia, Missouri, graduating from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1954, living in a haunted historic home in Edwardsville, and moving to Shawnee, Kansas. He shares memories of murals and other artwork he created for local churches and municipalities including a sculpture on Shawnee Mission Parkway inspired by the history of the overland trails, and discusses James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok's history in the area. He also discusses pieces of artwork in his home home.
Interview with CiCi Rojas about her experience with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City as well as the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She recalls getting involved with the local chamber while on the board of El Centro and becoming a board member in the 1990s. She discusses the role the chamber played in giving the Hispanic business community a collective voice, her time as vice president of the United States, Dallas, and Kansas City Hispanic chambers, and discusses programs including KC Biz Fest, Hispanic Collaborative, and Fiesta in the Heartland.
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 Estella Morales about her life and her experience with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City. She recounts getting involved with the chamber in the late 1980s as a liaison from City Hall, and was later elected to the board. She describes the chamber at that point as being mostly a social and promotional club that continued to grow in its outreach and business development efforts over the years, and their success in getting the greater business community to recognize what the value of the local Hispanic community. She recalls the work of leaders including CiCi Rojas, Miguel Meneses, and Charles Delgado, shares memories of Hector Barreto and his work with the local and national Hispanic chambers, and describes chamber programs including KC BizFest and Latinos of Tomorrow and the increasing role of women in the organization.
Interview with Freda Mendez-Smith about her work and her experience with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City. She recalls her involvement in establishing MANA (Mexican American Women's National Association) around 1980, as well as working with the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Kansas City. She discusses the national organization's work with the Small Business Administration, learning to plant events and conferences with MANA and the local chamber, the importance of having an organization to the Hispanic community, and the increasing involvement of women in the chamber.
