Susana talks about growing up in East Austin, residential segregation in E. Austin, environmental justice/racism, black-brown relations, etc.

Mr. Jackson was raised in segregated Hearne, Texas, but spent part of his youth in Los Angeles and Houston, where he was exposed to integration (at least compared to his hometown) and civil rights activism. In Houston, he became involved in SNCC; later, he moved to Austin with the goal of starting a chapter there. Mr. Jackson talks about the breakfast and day care programs he ran as the founder of SNCC in Austin. He also talks about his collaboration with Anglo and Mexican American activists and politicians. Mr. Jackson also discussed the role of children education aid programs in civil rights activism.

Sylvia Herrera talks about growing up in East Austin; black-brown relations, the differences in education; environmental justice, PODER; Teatro Chicano; and Vietnam protests;

Gilbert Rivera is a retired energy professional, author, and activist. He and his wife have lived in the historically black Rosewood neighborhood of Austin for over 30 years. Gilbert was a member of the Brown Berets in Austin and other Chicano civil rights groups. In his interview, he talks about his early years; and resistance against rules against Spanish in schools.

Mr. Romo was born in Kyle, but grew up in Austin, near the UT campus. He later attended UT as a journalism major; when looking for an internship, he found work with Marcelo Tafoya at The Echo, a Chicano newspaper based in East Austin. Mr. Romo talks about his work and his views on Chicano-oriented journalism, as well as his involvement in initiatives for revitalization in East Austin. He was also involved in the creation of the Mexican American Cultural Center and worked in SER-Jobs for Progress.

Ms. Perez-Wiseley was raised in the west side of Corpus Christi. She witnessed some acts of racial and class discrimination, but was not directly subjected to it during her youth. While she was very involved in community and student affairs, she did not become involved in the Chicano movement until she attended UT in the early 70s. After being excluded from leadership position in the Young Democrats, she joined the Raza Unida Party and was a member of MAYO at UT. After college, she worked for the city of Austin and became heavily involved in American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (ASCFME), eventually becoming a full-time organizer. During the interview, Ms. Perez-Wiseley discusses race relations in Corpus Christi, her career in labor organizing (including her own struggles against inequities in pay within ASCFME) and her current involvement in politics.

Tommie Wyatt talks about segregation and the newspaper business.

Mr. Tafoya grew up in Georgetown, Texas, but spent part of his youth working in several Catholic initiatives, including running an orphanage in Cuervanaca, Mexico. Upon returning to his hometown, he started working in the local radio station, eventually launching the first Spanish-language programming. Later, his radio shows took a political role, encouraging the Mexican American community to become involved. In later years, Mr. Tafoya launched Spanish radio programming in several Texas communities including Austin, where he settled permanently. He also worked in television and created a Chicano newspaper called The Echo. In the interview, Mr. Tafoya talks about his role as a community leader in East Austin and his role in the dissemination of Tejano music.

Ms. Cortez was born and raised in El Paso, Texas in the Bel Air area. She was responsible for her siblings and her home from a very early age. Shortly after finishing her studies, she worked as a parole officer; after she became privy to several adverse working conditions, she increased her involvement in the local union. Ms. Cortez moved to Austin in the 1990s, and has worked for Travis County ever since.

Gonzalo Barrientos discusses his life growing up in Bastrop, Texas and later serving as a Democratic State Senator representing the 14th District from 1985-2007. He was also a member of the Texas House of Representatives from Austin from 1975-1985.

Sylvia Herrera talks about growing up in East Austin; black-brown relations, the differences in education; environmental justice, PODER; Teatro Chicano; and Vietnam protests.

Mr. Harrington talks about his early years doing work in migrant labor camps; going to law school; working as a lawyer in the valley; and his later work with the Texas civil rights project