Hispanic Voices

Come and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at Brooks Memorial Library with Hispanic Voices, a multimedia exhibit featuring 29 portraits and audio interviews with Hispanic Vermonters. They come from a variety of countries and regions, including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, and Venezuela. Created as a service-learning project at the University of Vermont (UVM) by Adriana Sanchez-Gutierrez, Ph.D., lecturer of Spanish in the Department of Romance Languages and Cultures, Hispanic Voices aims to build awareness of cultural differences in Vermont and celebrate the resilience and contributions of the state’s Hispanic community.

Hispanic Vermonters shared their life stories with UVM students, who, through these conversations, recognized the significance and impact of Vermont’s Hispanic Community. Students then created five-minute interviews that honor and reflect on these life stories, cultural heritage, and lived experiences. According to UVM student Olivia Ciocca, where the interviewee was from influenced the content of the interview: “We made sure to ask questions about what it was like to be a Spanish speaker in Vermont and to learn about how they hold on to their culture.”

The portraits are now on display through October 16th in the Main Reading Room during the library’s open hours.