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This interview with Eugenio Russi took place on May 7, 2014 at Hispanics United of Buffalo and was conducted by Stephanie Bucalo. Eugenio Russi was born in Puerto Rico and migrated to the Buffalo with his family. He describes his life back in Puerto…

This interview with Otilia Rodriguez took place on October 12, 2013 at Tim Horton’s in West Seneca, NY and was conducted by Alma Carrillo and Stephanie Bucalo. Otilia was born in Puerto Rico but came to Buffalo with her mother at the age of 14.…

The Unión Puertorriqueña de Ayuda Mutua was an organization formed to help newly arrived Hispanics/Latinos to the region. They provided translation services as well as assistance going to places such as the doctor's office or governmental entities…

The Agustín "Pucho" Center was organized on the East Side of Buffalo. It was constructed by its own members in 1969. The center provided a venue for community events such as dances, weddings, funerals and other gatherings. The center was named after…

The Pentecostal Church is one of many sects of Christianity practiced by Hispanics in Western New York. In 1952, the first Pentecostal Church was established in Buffalo under the Concilio Latinoamericano. The Pentecostal Church provided structure and…

The Hispanic Women's League was formed in 1979 by a group of professional Latinas who wanted to provided financial assistance to younger Latinas to be "more than just housewives". At this time women were becoming more involved in professional careers…

Herman Badillo Community School was the location of the first bilingual education program in Western New York and began in 1971. It was named after the first Puerto Rican to be elected as New York City Borough President of the Bronx and as a United…

In 1985, the Hispanic community decided to dedicate American Legion Post 1928 in the honor of Gabriel A. Rodriguez who served in military during Vietnam but later took his own life due to untreated PTSD. The community has always remembered Gabriel as…

La Alternativa was a collaborative community organization that helped in the prevention of substance abuse with educational programs. It later became one of the three organizations that merged together to form what is today Hispanos Unidos de Búfalo…

The Puerto Rican Parade originated at the Immaculate Conception Church on Virginia Street 1974. The parade continued over the years and became a large scale community event. Participants would work on floats, costumes, and performance routines for…