Photographs | Latinos in Rural America

Mario Álvarez León, aspiring soccer player

Mario Álvarez León, a fifteen year old high school student in Mount Vernon and aspiring soccer player, at Fiesta Mexicana, the restaurant that employs his parents. Mario Álvarez-León, un joven de quince años, estudiante de escuela...

María Esmeralda Villa

María Esmeralda Villa grew up in an agricultural family in Mount Vernon. She respects their hard work and takes motivation from it to pursue a career in nursing. María Esmeralda Villa creció con una familia agrícola. Ella respeta el...

La Virgin de Guadalupe, the Virgin Mary

La Virgin de Guadalupe, the Virgin Mary, displayed in the bedroom of the Rivera family. The Latino community in Mount Vernon often has pilgrimages for the Virgin that also function as meeting times. La Virgen de Guadalupe, la Virgen María...

The research team and participants

The research team and participants celebrating the conclusion of the project at Fiesta Mexicana. El equipo de investigación y algunos participantes celebran el final del proyecto en Fiesta Mexicana.

Balinda Craig Quijada, professor of dance at Kenyon College,

Balinda Craig Quijada, professor of dance at Kenyon College, shares memories of Venezuela and the impact that being Latina has had on her life. Balinda Craig Quijada, profesora de baile en Kenyon College, comparte memorias sobre...

Artwork in the living room of Kiana Reyes Parson

Artwork in the living room of Kiana Reyes Parson, a young African American woman who also identifies as Latina. This handmade art piece of yarn and burlap hints at the presence of Mexican heritage in her everyday life. Arte en la sala de...

Esmeralda and Maureen

María Esmeralda Villa, agricultural worker and full-time student, with Maureen Buchwald (right), owner of Glen Hill Orchards, whom Esmeralda has known all her life. The women talk about Esmeralda's plans for the future. María Esmeralda...

Amneris' Daughter

The daughter of Amnéris Pérez-Román, a native of Puerto Rico. Concern for the daughter’s life prospects was a key motivator in the family’s decision to relocate to the United States. La hija de Amnéris Pérez-Román, nativa de Puerto Rico. ...

A Young Ivonne García

Ivonne García, Associate Professor of English at Kenyon College, as a young girl in Puerto Rico. The newspaper caption reads, "Young Commonwealth fan holds Puerto Rico flag.” Ivonne García, profesora asociada de ingles de Kenyon College...

The Ávalos Family in Mexico

The Ávalos family of Mount Vernon maintains strong ties with family members still in Mexico(shown here). La familia Ávalos de Mount Vernon mantiene fuertes lazos con miembros de su familia todavía en México (mostrados aquí).

Vanessa Ávalos’s first communion

Invitation for Vanessa Ávalos’s first communion. Religious life is extremely important to the Latino population of Mount Vernon. Invitación de Vanessa Ávalos a su primera comunión. La vida religiosa es muy importante para la población...

Balinda Craig Quijada’s family

Balinda Craig Quijada’s family husband Philip Brooks, son Felix, and father Julian in Venezuela in 2008. Balinda, a dance professor at Kenyon College, makes the effort to visit Venezuela (the birthplace and home of her father...

Gigi Gonzalez Cottrell with her mother and father

Despite not having grown up in Puerto Rico, Gigi Gonzalez Cottrell (center, shown with her mother and father) enjoyed a rich Latino cultural life while growing up. Her supportive parents emphasized both the role of family and maintaining...

Gigi González Cottrell

Gigi GonzálezCottrell in her office at the Salvation Army in Mount Vernon. A recent arrival to the area, Gigi has had a positive experience thus far. Gigi González-Cottrell en su oficina en el Salvation Army de Mount Vernon. Un recién...

Irene Rivera and her two young children

Irene Rivera and her two young children celebrating her son’s birthday. Rivera has moved out of town on occasion, but she never stays away too long; she begins to “miss my little town.” Irene Rivera y sus dos hijos celebrando el cumpleaños...

Irene Rivera

Irene Rivera, manager of the Mount Vernon restaurant Fiesta Mexicana, at a family dinner there. Irene Rivera, gerente del restaurant de Mount Vernon, Fiesta Mexicana, en una cena de familia.

Vanessa as Miss Ohio Latina

Vanessa Ávalos, student at the Ohio State University in Columbus, proudly wears her Miss Ohio Latina sash in 2014. Vanessa Ávalos, estudiante de The Ohio State Univeristy, luce orgullosamente la banda de Miss Ohio en el 2014.

Maureen at Glen Hill Orchards

Maureen Buchwald, owner and manager of Glen Hill Orchards in Mount Vernon, discussing her business and her Latina/o employees. Maureen Buchwald, dueña y gerente de Glen Hill Orchards en Mount Vernon, hablando de negocios y de sus empleados...

Balinda and her Father

Balinda CraigQuijada, dance professor at Kenyon College, with her father, Julián. As a child, Balinda traveled to Venezuela every summer to visit her father, and she continues to do so. Balinda Craig-Quijada, profesora de baile de Kenyon...

Ivonne in Her Home

Ivonne García, professor of English at Kenyon College, has traveled back and forth between the United States and her native Puerto Rico throughout her life. The colors and decorations in her Bexley, Ohio, home remind her of her Latino...

José in Fiesta Mexicana

José Ávalos, the owner of Mount Vernon restaurant Fiesta Mexicana, emigrated to the United States in his youth but has returned to Mexico several times since then. He brought his children back for a few years to ensure their connectedness...

Amneris in Her Home

Amneris PérezRomán emigrated from Puerto Rico as an adult, but even as a child she traveled from Puerto Rico to Chicago to visit her aunt. Amnéris Pérez-Román emigró de Puerto Rico como adulta, pero aún de niña viajaba de Puerto Rico a...

José Ávalos at a Quinceañero

José Ávalos at a quinceañero ("fifteen-year-old") in Mexico, prior to moving to the United States. José Ávalos en un quinceañero ("fifteen-year-old") en México, antes de mudarse a los Estados Unidos.

Kiana and Her Mother

Kiana Reyes-Parson, a twelve-year-old African-American and Latina who lives in Mount Vernon, pictured with her mother, Tamara Anderson. Kiana Reyes-Parson, una afroamericana y latina que tiene doce años, con su madre, Tamara Anderson.

Mario Playing Soccer

Mario ÁlvarezLeón, a fifteenyearold high school student in Mount Vernon and aspiring soccer player, on the field in his younger years. Mario Álvarez- León, un estudiante de escuela secundaria de quince años y aspirante a jugador de...

Kiana in Her Home

Kiana Reyes-Parson, twelve years old and an aspiring artist. She identifies as both African-American and Latina. Kiana Reyes-Parson, de doce años, aspira a ser artista. Se identifica como afro-americana y latina

Vanessa's Crowning

Vanessa Ávalos as she was crowned Miss Ohio Latina 2014. Vanessa will go on to compete at the national level while continuing her studies at the Ohio State University in Columbus. Vanessa Ávalos cuando fue coronada Miss Ohio Latina en el...

Balinda CraigQuijada, with her Venezuelan father, Oklahoman mother, and son Felix.

Kenyon College dance professor Balinda Craig Quijada, with her Venezuelan father, Oklahoman mother, and son Felix. La profesora Balinda Craig-Quijada con su padre venezolano, su madre de Oklahoma y su hijo Feliz.

Below is the archive of photographs taken as part of the LiRA project.

This program is made possible in part by Ohio Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Any views, finding conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily reflect those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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