Chavez & Associates

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Interview with funeral director Marion Watkins. Watkins discusses her childhood, visiting family members in Parkville, Missouri, attending Catholic schools, her family's focus on community service, and getting involved in the family's funeral business from an early age. 

Interview with community leader and activist Rosemary Smith Lowe. Lowe discusses her work with others in desegregating Kansas City, working with the local police department, and her hopes for young people.

Interview with community leader and activist Rosemary Smith Lowe. Interviewed by her great-granddaughter, Lowe discusses the work of the Local Investment Commission (LINC), 

Interview with community leader Rosemary Smith Lowe. Lowe discusses her family and early life in Arkansas, attending Wendell Phillips School after moving to Kansas City, her early involvement with Freedom Inc. and their work to pass public accommodations desegregation laws, her work as a cosmetologist and service as the commissioner of the state cosmetology board, serving as president of the Santa Fe Neighborhood Association and commissioner of the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department, and her work as a founder of the Local Investment Commission and Neighborhood Alliance. She also discusses buying a home in a predominantly white area, her thoughts about her church, and memories of family and friends. Lowe's son James E. White, Sr. was present at the interview and shares memories of his mother's life and accomplishments.

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

January 1, 2006

Series of interviews with Kansas City, Kansas residents of Mexican descent about the aftermath of the 1951 Flood. Topics discussed include the impact on the community as many residents moved away permanently from the KCK neighborhoods, the loss of local employers, rebuilding homes and businesses, assistance from governmental and community resources, and how community members stayed in touch afterwards, including the 1951 Flood reunion committee. Irene Gonzalez shares the story of meeting her husband, musician Lupe Gonzalez, at her quinceañera, and John Mendez discusses furthering his education and his involvement in Wyandotte County politics and development.

Video Recording

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.

Video Recording

Interview with Muriel Boyd about her life in Kansas City, her family history, being shielded from the knowledge of segregation by her parents, and her Cherokee ancestor Elizabeth Mantooth Starks. She also discusses her memories of the 18th and Vine area, her memories of the protests following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., her history with the Paseo Baptist Church, and memories of Black political leaders including Bruce R. Watkins.

Video Recording

Interview with former Missouri state representative Paul Rojas about his experience with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City. He recalls the need of Hispanic businesses to be able to access bank loans, insurance, and opportunities for state contracts, and that the local chamber led to the formation of a United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce a few years later. He discusses the chamber's role in increasing Hispanic visibility in local governance, their growing political astuteness and advocacy, and linking the business community and social services.

Video Recording

Interview with Tom Curigan about his life and his experience with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City. He discusses his early life and education, becoming involved with the chamber in the early 2000s, and joining the board around 2005, and notes the chamber's work in entrepreneurship and economic development and the ways that it has benefited him personally and professionally.