Tacoma Community House Spring 2022 English Language student from Russia. Interviewed by dindria barrow on April 27, 2022.

Tacoma Community House Spring 2022 English Language student from China. Interviewed by dindria barrow on April 27, 2022.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Wayne Williams conducted by dindria barrow on November 22, 2022. In this interview, Wayne shares his family’s history and his personal journey starting in his family home, especially with his grandmother, carried through in his education, and then extended throughout his career. Wayne points out that you must have a purpose in life and that you must attend to it every day.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Isadore Wallace conducted by dindria barrow on February 17, 2022. In this interview, Wallace discusses his personal life lessons, his resistance to being oppressed or defined by trauma, and how he relates to his family located across many different states. Isadore asks us to think about becoming a better person and moving through life's changes, "Why would you go back to the dark when you have been to the light? Even if it has all of the things you need, you can't see them!"

Tacoma Community House Spring 2022 English Language student from Mexico. Interviewed by dindria barrow on April 27, 2022.

Tacoma Community House Spring 2022 English Language student from Colombia. Interviewed by dindria barrow on May 11, 2022.

Tacoma Community House Spring 2022 English Language student from Mexico. Interviewed by dindria barrow on May 11, 2022.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Wanda Thompson conducted by dindria barrow on June 3, 2023. In this interview, Wanda shares her life’s journey from being born in a small rural town in Florida to being crowned Miss Hilltop, from starting her own modeling agency to working for the Department of Corrections, from being an arts commissioner to being a recognized local leader in multiple fields. Education was the key to her many successes, and she credits her family in helping her discover the love of stories, listening to them, reading them, writing them, and teaching them to others. As her mom used to say, “Everybody has a story to tell.”

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Tom Stenger conducted by dindria barrow on October 20, 2022. In this interview, Tom Stenger shares his family history going back four generations in Tacoma. Tom is a third generation Stadium High School alumnus and received his law degree from the University of Washington. Tom discusses his early years, working as a janitor in college at the University of Puget Sound, and his time serving on the Tacoma City Council. Tom has lived in Tacoma all of his life and, specifically, in the Hilltop neighborhood since buying a house in 1985. Tom has been interested in history ever since he was 14 years old and is the living co-founder of the Tacoma Historical Society.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Candria Slamin conducted by dindria barrow on January 7, 2023. In this interview, Candria shares their story about coming to know themself over time. Even though Candria admits they have a long way to go in realizing where they will be in the future, they explain how identifying who they are is crucial to moving forward. “You can only be who you are, because of where you’re from.” In other words, you must know where you come from to figure out where you are going and who you truly are. Candria shares their work with the Rainbow Center and their work life thus far during the global pandemic. Candria also discusses how the past and the future can have dark parts along with bright parts—that life has an ebb and flow. “Not everyone’s race is at the same pace. I’m not running their race, I’m running mine.”

Tacoma Community House Spring 2022 English Language student from Ukraine. Interviewed by dindria barrow on May 4, 2022.

Tacoma Community House Spring 2022 English Language student from Colombia. Interviewed by dindria barrow on April 27, 2022.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Jamika Scott conducted by dindria barrow on August 10, 2022. In this interview, Jamika shares the purpose of the Tacoma Action Collective, what it was like to run for Mayor, and life as an artist. Jamika shows vulnerability and strength in recounting her experience with an assault and the city's response to her case. Jamika inspires us to live in the now, embrace creativity and work on healing our wounds.

Tacoma Community House Spring 2022 English Language student from Iraq. Interviewed by dindria barrow on May 11, 2022.

Oral history interview with Tacoma residents Judith Rosas and Brisa Ramos Rosas conducted by dindria barrow on March 18, 2023. In this interview, Judith and Brisa, members of the Lantinx Unidos of the South Sound (LUSS) Promotoras, share their lives, purposes, and dreams in Spanish and English. They explain how they came to the United States, how they became LUSS Promotoras in the work that they do, and what they hope for their family’s and community’s futures.

Oral history interview with Tacoma resident Isabella Rodriguez conducted by dindria barrow on June 6, 2023. In this interview, Isabella shares who she is, where she comes from, and the communities she calls home.

Note included with interview:
Tiffani and Pete Reyes attended the Hilltop Story Fest and came in on a later date to record their oral history.

Oral history interview with Tacoma residents Alicia Rodriguez and Maria Presiado conducted by dindria barrow on March 11, 2023. In this interview, Alicia and Maria, members of the Lantinx Unidos of the South Sound (LUSS) Promotoras, share their lives, purposes, and dreams in Spanish. They explain how they came to the United States, how they became LUSS Promotoras in the work that they do, and what they hope for their family’s and community’s futures.