Interview Transcript

Rose Ann Capriotti

A: I came here as a social worker; I'd worked as a juvenile probation officer in Phoenix, so I was transferred here. About 12 years ago, I saw a great need that I was unable to succeed with my position, so I decided to open up a shop. I've been able to help more people this way than I was being employed.

Q: You came here as a social worker, what problems did you see? Did you work mostly with Hispanic people or everybody?

A: Well, as you know that Phoenix is very close to the border and yes, I worked with a lot of Hispanics here as well. At the time when I came, the Hispanic population wasn't as large as it is now, and I find that the need is even greater now than it was then. And the crisis is getting bigger and bigger. Especially being on Wells, I can see a lot of it.

Q: Tell me a little bit about some of the people you are able to help here--you just don't help people with their business problems, you seem to help them with everything?

A: The thing is that sometimes I feel there is not enough, not a lot of assistance for the Hispanic population, and the word passes very fast. I've got a couple of boys that are in from Mexico and they landed in California. Even in California, they said that they heard about my name. They're two artists, and in fact I've got some of their pictures and their paintings in here. And they feel that being close to UNR, they can progress more with their artistic abilities than they can if they are someplace else. They come in about two, three times a day. I've helped them with their driver's license and with permits and so on.

Q: You help kids with homework?

A: I do. The mothers do not read or write in English, or do not speak the language, and like any child in any nationality, they will tell their parents that they are doing just great. So I've had parents come in and they say "please read the report cards." And they will read the report cards and they are failing, where they tell their parents that they are doing great. And the other thing that I have also found out, that I translate for a lot of the schools. I have asked them "you've got Hispanic people working in your schools" but they are afraid that they are going to get sued if they do any translating, if they translate the wrong thing. So in my case, I don't really care. I feel that I am helping, and what can they sue? So this is what I do. I do a lot of it and I help them a lot with their homework.

Q: Do you also help pregnant moms . . . you seem to do a little bit of everything?

A: Yes, I do, also like I think I said, too, there was a lady that had bought a car and it broke down right after she got it, and she needed an attorney. She didn't know where to go, so I am helping her with that.

Q: It seems like you have created a family out of all the people on Wells Avenue. Tell me about that?

A: Yes, I have. A lot of the families here, or a lot of the businesses, have come to me--especially one particular business that had not done some of their taxes in three years, they didn't know that they had to do it. So I've helped them with that, tried to hook them up with an accountant. A lot of the people do not know not to go into Los Angeles to buy your merchandise, you can have catalogs and so on. And so what I do is when I go to the wholesaler's shows, I bring catalogs that pertain to the other businesses, and then I will distribute them and help them and show them how to order things. So that is one of the things that I have helped with the businesses on Wells.

Q: How did you make this family? Are you all here to help each other out?

A: We do help each other out. They help me, as well as I help them. We're just very close. I know I've had the opportunity to move to other areas, Meadow Wood Mall, Parkley Mall, Shopper's Square, but I am where I belong and this is Wells.

Q: Tell me about the family aspect of these people? You have such a big heart and you have extended it to all these people, and it almost seems as if this is your family?

A: It is my family. I try to take care of them as much as I can. Sometimes when I get out, like the Hispanic businesses, especially now that it's getting a little warmer, the tradition is that they do not close until 8 or 9 o'clock in the evening. Our American tradition is we close at 5:30 or 6:00. So sometimes after I get out of work I'll go to different businesses and see if they need any help; are they doing okay? I've helped them display their windows to attract more attention to the public. I've helped them with their signs and also I've helped them with their homework while I'm still there.

Q: How did you meet the Gomez's? Are they the people you helped with the taxes?

A: Yes, I've helped them with their taxes. You will find a lot of people like the Gomez's. They got started with what they call "La pulga," and "la pulga" is a flea in Spanish.

Q: Do you see much change in when you came here a long time ago and when people are now coming over here? Has the system changed?

A: The system has changed a lot. There were signs on fountains, there were signs in the buses that--I went from the back of the bus to the front of the bus and that was a big progress. I was able to drink water in a park, because they wouldn't let us drink water in a fountain. There is a lot that I went through.

Q: Are we more tolerant now, though?

A: You are definitely more tolerant, and I think you are more tolerant because I think people are realizing that we are coming, and we are going to stay. And they are even bringing their elderly and this is a big progress because before, they wouldn't.

Q: Why do people come here, why do you think there is such a huge migration?

A: Why? Better jobs, better opportunities.

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