COMMUNITY VOICES

In this collection, you’ll hear directly from residents about their connection to East Palo Alto and its vibrant history.

The Oral History Project

This is your opportunity to share your history with us through oral storytelling. Describe your role with or perspective on a particular historical milestone.

Christopher Gordon Ellis Interview

Interview of Christopher Gordon Ellis by Meda Okelo. Topics include: migration to EPA in 1977 via...

Isaiah Phillips Interview

Interview of Isaiah Phillips by Meda Okelo. Topics include: moving to EPA when young; local...

Kathleen Lynne Mercer Interview

Interview of Kathleen Lynne Mercer by Meda Okelo. Topics include: migration with her husband,...

Larry Graves, Jr. Interview

Interview of Larry Graves by Meda Okelo. Topics include: Migration to East Palo Alto around 1972...

Randall Brothers Interview

Interview of the five Randall brothers (Walter T. Randall Jr, Andre M. Randall, Stephen E....

Eugene "Gene" Tate Interview

Interview of Eugene “Gene” Tate by Sharifa Wilson in Las Vegas, Nevada. Topics include: moved to...

Hugo Alar Bravo Interview

Interview of Hugo Alar Bravo by Meda Okelo. Topics include: arriving in EPA from the Philippines...

Vicki Denise Smothers Interview

Interview of Vicki Denise Smothers by Meda Okelo. Topics include: moving to EPA from San...

Zakiya Carr Johnson Interview

Interview of Zakiya Carr Johnson, the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the U.S....

Luis Vizcardo Interview

Bi-lingual interview of Luis Vizcardo by Meda Okelo. Topics include: born in Lima, Peru; moving...

Lerisa Sherina Puckett Interview

Interview of Lerisa Sherina Puckett by Meda Okelo. Topics include: moving in with grandparents on...

Jane Perry Interview

Interview of Jane L. Perry by Meda Okelo. Topics include: migration from Texas to EPA in 1957...

Rufus Puckett, Jr. Interview

Interview of Rufus Puckett, Jr. by Meda Okelo. Topics include: migration from San Francisco to...

Iliana Nicholas Interview

Interview of Iliana Nicholas by Meda Okelo. Topics include: family migrated from Mexico; born in...

Delores Erving Bradford Farrell Interview

Interview of Delores Erving Bradford Farrell by Sharifa Wilson in Las Vegas, Nevada, about...

Angah Miessi Interview

Interview of Angah Miessi by Meda Okelo. Topics include: migrating from the Ivory Coast in Africa...

Dianne Otterby Interview

Interview of Dianne Otterby by Meda Okelo. Topics include: family background; migration from...

Gloria Cormier Interview

Interview of Gloria Cormier by Sharifa Wilson in Las Vegas, Nevada, about Ravenswood High School....

Fran Cooper Frierson Interview

Interview of Fran Cooper Frierson by Sharifa Wilson in Las Vegas, Nevada, about Ravenswood High...

Ella M. Wiggins Beecher Interview

Interview of Ella Wiggins Beecher by Sharifa Wilson in Las Vegas, Nevada, about Ravenswood High...

Deidra Wright Interview

Interview of Deidra Wright by Sharifa Wilson in Las Vegas, Nevada, about Ravenswood High School....

David L. Cheney Interview

Interview of David (Dave) Cheney by Sharifa Wilson in Las Vegas, Nevada, about Ravenswood High...

Janet Thomas Interview

Interview of Janet Thomas by Sharifa Wilson in Las Vegas, Nevada, about Ravenswood High School....

Shirley Mitchell Neal Interview

Interview of Shirley Mitchell Neal by Sharifa Wilson in Las Vegas, Nevada, about Ravenswood High...

Joyce M. Myles Interview

Interview of Joyce Myles by Sharifa Wilson in Las Vegas, Nevada, about Ravenswood High School....

Willie McGee Interview

Interview of Willie McGee by Sharifa Wilson in Las Vegas, Nevada about Ravenswood High School. He...

Dr. Cecil Reeves Interview

Interview of Dr. Cecil Reeves by Sharifa Wilson in Atlanta, Georgia. Topics include: his family...

William Byron Webster Interview

Interview of William Byron Webster by Duane Bay and Meda Okelo. Topics include: going to...

Dr. Mama Nobantu Ankoanda Interview

Interview of Dr. Mama Nobantu Ankoanda by Sharifa Wilson in Atlanta, Georgia. Topics include:...

Emily L. Hamamoto Interview

Interview of Emily Hamamoto by Meda Okelo. Topics include: arrival in Palo Alto at age five;...

Larry Wade & Donald Smothers Interview

Interview of Larry Wade & Donald Smothers by Jesse Norfleet about Ravenswood High School. Topics ...

William "Will Roc" Grifffin

Interview of William "Will Roc" Griffin by Kalamu Chache. Topics include: arriving in EPA in...

Martha Goodwill-Murray Hanks Interview

Interview of Martha Goodwill-Murray Hanks by Jesse Norfleet about the Nairobi schools. Topics...

Bains Family Legacy Interview

Interview of five children of Pastor/Superintendent W.L. Bains and their spouses by Meda Okelo...

Kalamu Chaché Interview

Interview of Kalamu Chaché by Jesse Norfleet about Nairobi College. Topics include: migrating to...

Isaac Stevenson, Jr Interview

Interview of Isaac Stevenson, Jr by Sharifa Wilson. Topics include: moving to EPA when he was...

Renee Glover Chantler Interview

Interview of Renee Glover Chantler by Sydney Jackson and Sharifa Wilson. Topics include: going to...

Mama Dee Uhila Interview

Interview of Mama Dee Uhila by Sisilia Afungia. Topics include: migration to EPA from San Mateo...

Dr. Omowale Satterwhite Interview

Interview of Omowale Satterwhite by Jesse Norfleet about the Nairobi movement. Topics include:...

Tenants Rights in 1983

Interview of Ruben Abrica, Lon Otterby, Carlos Romero and David Skidmore by Dianne Otterby about...

Melvin & Helen Harvey Harris Interview

Interview of Melvin Harris and Helen Harvey Harris about the Nairobi Legacy. Topics include:...

Nozipo & Vulindlela Wobogo Interview

Interview of Nozipo & Vulindlela Wobogo by Jesse Norfleet. Topics include: why they came to EPA...

Rod Norris Interview

Interview of Rod Norris by Sharifa Wilson. Topics include: joining EPA Police Department in 1989;...

Cora Holmes Interview

Interview of Cora Holmes by Meda Okelo. Topics include: moving from San Francisco to Grace Court ...

Stan Otani Interview

Interview of Stan Otani by Dianne Otterby. Topics include family arriving in East Palo Alto after...

Henry "Hank" Organ Interview

Interview of Henry "Hank" Organ by Meda Okelo. Topics include: moving to East Palo Alto, living...

Dorothy Romes Interview

Interview of Dorothy Romes by Meda Okelo. Topics include: migration to EPA in the mid-60s, the...

Bomani Siwatu Interview

Interview of Bomani Siwatu by Meda Okelo. Topics include: Migration to EPA in 1981 after college,...

Donald Smothers Interview

Interview of Donald Smothers by Jesse Norfleet about Nairobi College. Topics include: how Nairobi...

Lakiba Pittman Interview

Interview of Lakiba Pittman by Jesse Norfleet about Nairobi College. Topics include: working at...

Saundra Webster & Chester Prince Interview

Interview of Saundra Webster and Chester Prince by Jesse Norfleet about Ravenswood High School....

Gene Tate Interview

Interview of Gene Tate by Jesse Norfleet about Ravenswood High School. Topics include: being part...

Gwen Smith Interview

Interview of Gwen Smith by Jesse Norfleet about Ravenswood High School. Topics include: migration...

Court Skinner Interview

Interview of Loren "Court" Skinner by Meda Okelo. Topics include: how he came to EPA in 1988;...

Warren Hayman Interview

Interview of Warren Hayman by Sharifa Wilson. Topics include: life before coming to the Peninsula...

Martha Goodwill Murray Hanks Interview

Interview of Martha Hanks by Dianne Otterby. Topics include: the family migration to East Palo...

Delores Farrell Interview

Interview of Delores Farrell by Jesse Norfleet about Ravenswood High School. Topics include:...

Warren Hayman Interview

Interview of Warren Hayman by Jesse Norfleet about Nairobi College and Ravenswood City School...

Juanita Croft Interview

Interview of Juanita Croft by Jesse Norfleet about Nairobi College. Topics include: her schooling...

Rosemary Steele Interview

Interview of Rosemary Steele by Ruben Avelar. Topics include: coming to EPA in 1970; first...

Anthony Johnson Interview

Interview of Anthony Johnson by Sharifa Wilson. Topics include: arrival in EPA in 1991, coaching...

Verna Winston Interview

Interview of Verna Winston by Dianne Otterby. Topics discussed include: coming to EPA in 1954,...

Matias & Maria Varela Interview

Interview of Matias & Maria Elena Varela by Ruben Avelar. Topics include EPA crime reputation in...

Ricki Stevenson Interview

Interview of Ricki Stevenson by Meda Okelo. Topics include: migration to East Palo Alto; Native...

Ida Chan Interview

Interview of Ida Chan by Dianne Otterby. Ida Chan, born Ida Mock in East Palo Alto in 1933,...

Betsy Yanez Interview

Interview of Betsy Yanez by Meda Okelo. Topics discussed include her journey to EPA; her activism...

Donna & Joe Rutherford Interview

Interview of Donna and Joe Rutherford by Jesse Norfleet. Topics discussed in the Donna Rutherford...

Trevor Burrowes Interview

Interview of Trevor Burrowes by Meda Okelo. Topics discussed include the Black Power Movement, Ed...

Martha Hanks Interview

Interview of Martha Hanks by Meda Okelo. Topics include how she arrived in East Palo Alto; her...

LaDoris Cordell Interview

Interview of LaDoris Cordell by Sydney Jackson. Topics discussed include Cordell's journey to...

Luis Guzman Interview

Interview of Luis Guzman by Ruben Avelar. Topics discussed include Guzman coming to EPA as a...

Chris Bischof Interview

Interview of Chris Bischof, the principal of Eastside College Preparatory School, by Ruben...

Michael Uhila Interview

Interview of Michael Uhila by Sisilia Afungia. Topics discussed include growing up in EPA,...

Edrick Haggans Interview

Interview of Edrick Haggans by Ruben Avelar. Topics discussed include joining the Air Force and...

David Rages, Sr. Interview

Interview of David Rages, Sr. by Meda Okelo. Topics discussed include Rages' journey to EPA,...

Sharon Williams Interview

Interview of Sharon Williams by Ruben Avelar. Topics include coming to EPA, her education,...

Thomas Dailey Interview

Interview of Thomas Dailey by Meda Okelo. Topics discussed include Dailey's journey to EPA,...

Estela Guerrero Interview

Interview of Estella Guerrero by Ruben Avelar. Topics discussed include growing up in EPA,...

Nate Branch Interview

Interview of Nate Branch by Sharifa Wilson. Topics discussed include Branch's journey to EPA;...

Bob Hoover Interview

Interview of Robert "Bob" Hoover by Ruben Avelar. Topics discussed include Hoover's journey to...

Ofelia Bello Interview

Interview of Ofelia Bello, the Executive Director of Youth United for Community Action (YUCA)...

Anthony Cortez Interview

Interview of Anthony Cortez by Ruben Avelar. Topics discussed include Cortez growing up in EPA,...

Jennifer Jackson Interview

Interview of Jennifer Jackson by Meda Okelo. Topics discussed include crime in EPA, anti-drug...

Mel Harris Interview

Interview between Mel Harris by Sharifa Wilson. Topics discussed include Harris' involvement with...

Saree Mading Interview

Interview of Saree Mading by Barbara Noparstak. Topics discussed include growing up in EPA,...

David & Nancy Tangitau Interview

Interview of David and Nancy Tangitau by Sisilia Afungia. Topics discussed include the Tongan...

Joyce King Interview

Interview of Joyce King by Sharifa Wilson and Sydney Jackson. Topics discussed include King's...

Kenia Najar Interview

Interview of Kenia Najar by Juan Mendez and Ruben Avelar. Topics discussed include the Latinx...

Ken Jones Interview

Interview of Ken Jones by Meda Okelo. Topics discussed include Ravenswood High School, Nairobi...

Rose Jacobs Gibson Interview

Interview of Rose Jacobs Gibson by Meda Okelo. Topics discussed include Ravenswood High School,...

Diana Bloch Interview

Interview of Diana Bloch by Dianne Otterby. Topics discussed include housing and the creation of...

Faye Bassette Interview

Interview of Faye Bassette by Dianne Otterby. Topics discussed include Ravenswood High School,...

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The People of East Palo Alto

As part of The People of East Palo Alto series, you’ll discover video profiles of current and former residents sharing their experiences and perspectives on the past, present, and future of their hometown (or the town they call home).