Enjoy the videos displayed under each historic phase!
POSTER COURTESY OF CARLOS ARRIEN.
“The census of 1970 listed about 17,500 Latinos [and] many said: that census is wrong. They organized a festival [where] many more people came.” – Olivia Cadaval
“Right now, everything they’re building is luxury. Ontario was a theatre and now that’s a luxury condominium.” – Bené Durant
PHOTO COURTESY OF D.C. PUBLIC LIBRARY’S WASHINGTONIANA COLLECTION
AN INTERACTIVE CHRONICLE OF COMMUNITY STORIES
PHOTO COURTESY OF NANCY SHIA.
“An awareness of a transnational community.” – Olivia Cadaval
“In the 80s this was the barrio and now it’s gentrified land.” – Alicia Wilson
“The Latino Festival was a key institution for the Latin American cultural development in the area.” – Carlos Arrien
THE
THE BLOSSOMING OF
A CHANGING
Spanish-speaking diplomats called the area of Adams Morgan home as early as the 1910s. The Hispanic population in Adams Morgan became visible in the 1940s & 1950s when a small network of Latino-run businesses began appearing in the neighborhood. “There were small groups of Dominicans, Cubans [and] Puerto Ricans that were part of this forming community. Many [were also] employees of the embassies. Often times their
Adams Morgan has undergone a myriad of economic and cultural shifts in its time. Its commercial area still retains an identification as a location for Latino-oriented businesses despite the neighborhood’s waning Latino presence.
In the 70s and 80s, Latino immigrants arrived in great numbers, many of them settling in Adams Morgan. Adams Mor- gan was easily identifiable by its large Latino population and the businesses that catered to their needs.
“[Adams Morgan] went from being low-income to middle income and now it’s probably on the high end.” – Nancy Shia
“There isn’t that sense of community that was here in the 80s and 90s.” – Maria Gomez
PHOTO COURTESY OF NANCY SHIA.
“Many people came escaping from the war; indigenous people from Guatemala migrated here as a result of the repression.” – Carlos Rojas “I really liked having the vendors in Unity Park. It made the neighborhood distinct.” – Bené Durant “[Carlos Rosario] was an extraordinary man who helped push the District of Columbia to recognize Latinos.” – Margarita Diloné
PHOTO COURTESY OF NANCY SHIA.
“In the early 80s, there was an influx of immigrant refugees fleeing the conflict in
“The development of Bell, Carlos Rosario and the [Latin American] Youth Center in many ways, is the development of the Latino community in Washington.” – Lori Kaplan
“I run into people who are alumni from the Youth Center. And they’ve got good jobs and are into the fabric of the community.” – Lori Kaplan
El Salvador.” – Alicia Wilson
employees who cook, iron, and starch the shirts don’t go back; they stay here.” – Olivia Cadaval
PHOTO COURTESY OF NANCY SHIA.
“Adams Morgan and Mount Pleasant were the same for the Latino; they were the barrio; from Columbia Road to Mount Pleasant.” – Olivia Cadaval
“The original kids who came to the Youth Center in those days were in search of three things: a job, help in English and a place to have fun [and] celebrate their culture.” – Lori Kaplan
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