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Collage showing family and cultural heritage: vintage family portraits, people in traditional clothing, a smiling woman, two men in an interview, a black cat, and cows in a barn.
PBS Wisconsin Voices

New short video series explores Wisconsin Latinx history and stories

April 28, 2025 Andrew Carlson Leave a Comment

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When it comes to Latino* history, many people immediately think of the United States’ coastal and southern states. But what about here in Wisconsin? Our state is home to vibrant and growing Latinx communities that have been here for generations, and every family has a unique story to tell.

Enter the Wisconsin Latinx History Collective! The WLHC is working to center Latinx history and identity where it’s often been minimized or erased, retrofitting Latinx stories back into the broader understanding of Wisconsin history. Together with the WLHC and support from Latino Public Broadcasting, PBS Wisconsin produced an all-new series of social media videos highlighting some of the Collective’s work and Latinx experiences in Wisconsin.

“Ever since I learned about the WLHC and their incredible work, we’ve been looking for a way to collaborate,” said Dulce Vlisides, Associate Director of Community Engagement & Impact at PBS Wisconsin. “With this opportunity through Latino Public Broadcasting, we’re so excited to amplify some of the stories the Collective is documenting, preserving and making accessible to all.”

“Our history is of no value unless our children know it and live it,” said WLHC founder and core member Andrea-Teresa “Tess” Arenas. “The WLHC is expanding the vision of who is in this state. Not only are we, the Latino community, the backbone of Wisconsin’s working class, we’re also nuclear scientists and everything in between.”

Meet the Wisconsin Latinx History Collective

 

The Wisconsin Latinx History Collective is a network of university faculty, students, academic staff and community members leading multiple initiatives that document, share and amplify the Latinx history of our state. To learn more and get involved, check out the WHLC’s website.

From Mexico to Wisconsin: A family’s story of resilience & compassion

The Sánchez family’s patriarch Don Javier was a celebrity charro who carried a quiet charisma, while his wife Natividad led with generosity. After their journey from Mexico to Wisconsin in the 1960s, the family opened their doors to help support other immigrants to the state. Now, the next generation carries on their legacy of compassion and continues to work with the WLHC to share their story.

Kichwa Saraguro in Wisconsin: A family’s story of community & identity

A close-knit community of Kichwa Saraguro people — an Indigenous people of Ecuador — lives and thrives in Wisconsin. Segundo Gonzalez was among the first to come to the Midwest, and he now runs a family-owned dairy farm in the Weyauwega area that generates local jobs. His son, Luis Gonzalez-Quizhpe, has focused his own work around the importance of embracing cultural identity.

Experience more Latinx stories with VOCES

Check out Latino Public Broadcasting’s documentary series VOCES for more stories of Latinx communities across the nation.

Special thanks to the Wisconsin Historical Society for their partnership and archival support.

*Latino/a, Latinx and Latine are all widely used terms, and we recognize the importance of identifying members of the community according to their preferences. We are consciously using Latinx and Latine as inclusive terms for all people of Latin American heritage.