Joe Vera discusses his family's Tejano background, his time in the Navy, and his work with the Hispanic community in the region.

Grady Prestage is the Democratic Precinct 2 representative on the Fort Bend County Commissioners Court in Texas. He was elected in 1990, and his current term extends through 2022. In his interview, he described his early childhood in Louisiana, moving to Texas to work in the oil industry, and his decision to run for office, as well as the challenges of that office.

Mike Wilson was born in Dayton, Ohio, in the 1960s, where he witnessed white flight and urban decay. He grew up in all-Black spaces and was surrounded by a community of Black progressives. When he was in second grade, his parents divorced, subsequently moving him to Louisiana. Upon his arrival to the South, he faced a culture shock, as he believed African Americans were more “submissive” and “knew their place.” Two years later, his parents got back together and moved to Baytown. Wilson attended Robert E. Lee High School in the 1980s, where he still experienced the remnants of segregation. As a young adult, Wilson witnessed the lack of mentorship for African American men in Baytown, which drove him to get involved in efforts to create programing to prevent gang activity and juvenile delinquency amongst Blacks and Latinos. He became the executive director for a pilot project funded by the Texas General Attorney’s Office called Gang Activity Prevention (GAP). Most recently, Wilson founded and directs Upgrade 2 the Next Level, a self-funded program for the youth in Baytown that serves as an outlet for discipline and self-expression.

Fred Aguilar was born in 1950 in a small barrio located in the affluent Alamo Heights neighborhood of San Antonio. His father's determination along with his his mother's dedication to volunterism provided him the fortitude to not only survive the discrimintation he witnessed in his youth, but to also become an community activist in both Houston and Baytown. After the Jose Campos Torres case sparked Aguilar's participation in the Houston Chicana/o Movement, he would move to Baytown where he became involved in the West Baytown Civic Assocation, the United Concerned Citizens of Baytown, gang prevention, and the co-founding of the Promise Center. He talks about how the Jose Campos Torres case outraged the Houston Chicana/o community, how he tackled gang graffiti and worked with youth on mural projects through the West Baytown Civic Association, how African Americans and Mexican Americans in Baytown came together to address police brutality after the brutal death of Luis Alfonso Torres, and how the Promise Center is committed to serving the community through child, youth, and adult programming. Aguilar also speaks about the importance of gang prevention endeavors, particularly in the area of art and culture.

Discussed his career as president of the local Hi-Alco neighborhood organization

Ms. Jones was born in Trinity, Texas. Her parents were educators, and she moved a lot as a child following them to different schools. When she graduated from high school in Conroe at Booker T. Washington, she briefly attended TSU. After a time in Michigan, she eventually began a career with the postal service in Houston, where she retired from a management position. In her interview, Ms. Jones describes segregation in Cleveland and Conroe, Texas, her educational career, her experiences in the north as compared to Texas, her career with the postal service and discrimination on the job, the current status of race relations in Conroe and efforts to reinvigorate the alumni association for Booker T. Washington school.

Fay Batch was born and raised in Fairfield, New Jersey. Her parents were social justice advocates with various organizations, including the NAACP. As a child and teenager, she participated in various rallies and joined picket lines in chain stores to challenge segregation. Upon graduating from high school, Batch attended the University of Southern California from 1975-1979. After graduating from the USC, she moved to the Midland-Odessa area with her husband, also a USC graduate, who was originally from the area. In Midland, Batch began registering African American voters in the east side of the city. Batch was elected to the Ector County ISD Board of Trustees, where she served from 2000 to 2013. In this position, she had a vital role in helping more fully integrate ECISD schools. As an School District Trustee, from 2000-2013, Batch helped oversee the school system reach unitary status under a federal court.

Jay Gibson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania while his father attending medical school. The family moved to Kermit, Texas, where Gibson’s father began his practice. Gibson later moved to Austin, Texas when his parents divorced, but attended high school in Kermit during his final years of high school. Gibson attending the University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated in 1972, and then attending law school at Southern Methodist University, graduating in 1975. Gibson moved to Odessa, Texas to practice law and was elected into the Texas House of Representatives in 1978 out of Odessa. He served three term ending in 1984 in which he helped secure additional funding for Texas A&M Prairie View and Texas Southern University. As a State Representative, Gibson was also instrumental in having Martin Luther King being made into a state holiday. Governor Ann Richards later appointed Gibson as a District Judge.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Otis Sumner. Sumner was drafted into the Navy in November, 1943 and went to Samson for boot camp. Training completed, he was assigned to the USS Hodges (DE-231). He was aboard working as a water tender during the invasion of Luzon. Sumner was discharged in May 1946.

Patent relating to a system and methods of machining hard tissues, such as bone.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Otis Sumner. Sumner was drafted into the Navy in November, 1943 and went to Samson for boot camp. Training completed, he was assigned to the USS Hodges (DE-231). He was aboard working as a water tender during the invasion of Luzon. Sumner was discharged in May 1946.

Daily newspaper from Altus, Oklahoma that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.

Daily newspaper from Denton, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.

Daily newspaper from Baytown, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.

Discussed her career as a longtime member of the Texas State School Board

Arturo spoke about growing up in Crystal City. Him working the fields during his earlier years. He speaks a lot about local Crystal City politics. The initial push for representation envisaged by Los Cinco. Some about local Crystal City folks who were drafted for Vietnam. During this period--late 1960s, Arturo went to Wisconsin to work and live. He talked about the Crystal City walkouts--hearing about them in Wisconsin then moving back--and the demands that the students made. Finally, he talks a lot about Raza Unida internal politics, especially his side of the split. He was with the Barrio club/anti-Gutierrez faction and running Gutierrez out of Crystal City.

Daily newspaper from Sapulpa, Oklahoma that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.

Daily newspaper from Henderson, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.

Daily newspaper from Gainesville, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.

Semiweekly newspaper from Center, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.

Weekly newspaper from Emory, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.

Triweekly newspaper from Chickasha, Oklahoma that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.