Posts by cjp
The First Chicago Winter
Story by Janel Carbonell McGrath My parents came over in the early 80s from the Philippines during the time when many Filipino nurses migrated to the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. My dad came first so he could secure a place for my mom and brother (who was 2 years…
Read MoreChicago Immigrant Stories III at Wilson Abbey
.. Featured Artists: Mini-Interviews . Geraldo De Oliveira Q: What is your name? Where were you born? What instrument(s) do you play? A: My name is Geraldo De Oliveira and I was born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. I play percussion. . Q: When and why did you decide to become a musician? A: Since I’ve…
Read MoreA 500-Year-Old Favorite
Story by Jordan Mandela I am of mixed ethnicity, 50% of which is Mexican. However, I did not grow up in Mexican/Mexican-American culture. As a result, I have sought out ways in adulthood of making connections to that heritage. Food and music are two of the strongest points of contact that I have, with visual…
Read MoreGrandma’s Kartoffelgratin
Story by Rhapsody Snyder My family story isn’t one that directly relates to Chicago or one that happened even within the last hundred years, but it’s my family’s immigrant story non the less. The paternal branch of my grandmother’s family starts with a woman named Ida Griess who was born in 1835 in Prussia. Sometime…
Read MoreA taste of Ecuador
Story by Steve Yepez My parents arrived in New York City from Ecuador in 1968. They worked very hard in kitchens and factories. 4 years later after my two older siblings were born they made their way to Los Angeles to live the “American Dream”. My father managed fuel trucks and my mother ran the…
Read MoreA Doctor and a Café
Story by PiniPico Brazilian Café Conveniently located in Chicago’s vibrant Gold Coast neighborhood, PiniPico Brazilian Café opened in May 2020. Along with three generations of his family, Dr. Luciano Dias (also a renowned pediatric orthopedic surgeon) is proud to bring mouthwatering Brazilian baked goods and coffee to Chicago. It had been his lifelong dream to…
Read MoreFederacion de Clubes Unidos Zacatecanos en Illinois
Story by Jorge Salinas During WW2, my grandparents would come all the way from Zacatecas, Mexico to work the factories in Chicago. Eventually my father, Ascencion Salinas, would run away from home at 15 years old – 1972 – and come to Chicago to work at a Golden Nugget. Over the years he worked his…
Read MoreFrom Thailand to the “Hog Capital of the World”
story by Birdie Soti I am first generation Thai American. My parents came to the USA in the early 1970’s – a time during which there was a demand for doctors and nurses, as America had been sending their medical personnel abroad to Vietnam. During this time, many doctors and nurses from Asia found opportunity…
Read MoreSavory Bulgarian Pastry Recipe
Story by Maximilian Mihaylov My parents are immigrants from Bulgaria, and my sister and I are first-generation Bulgarian Americans. Banitsa- a traditional Bulgarian pastry dish- is one of my favorite recipes and has always been a regular staple in our house. It’s easy to make (if you’re using pre-made dough!) and always delicious. Recipe Translation…
Read MoreFound Memories – Life on a VHS Panasonic
Story by Vedran Residbegovic My sister and I did some spring cleaning this morning and we found my dad’s old VHS-C Panasonic camera, 1989 or 1990 vintage. Dad bought it during a trip to Amsterdam for a veterinary conference in 1990, our first ever trip abroad. Back home in Sarajevo, dad started filming typical home…
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