Matilde Arias

Matilde Arias

Matilde Arias and her mother always been close. When she was 12, her mom was diagnosed with cancer. Chemotherapy saved her life, but after entering remission, she had a stroke. As her mother worked to regain her mobility, Matilde took on the role as the second adult in her home. Between translating at doctors appointments, appealing insurance denials, and working to supplement her father’s income, Matilde had to miss a lot of school to prioritize supporting her family. However, as soon her mother’s health improved, she went full force to finishing high school with an honors diploma and got admitted into George Fox University where she will study Political Science.

DE LA RAIZ is a project dedicated to gathering and sharing stories of the rich and diverse Latinx communities of Southern Oregon. Through personal interviews, research, and visual art, De La Raiz hopes to center and uplift our voices while challenging stereotypes and national narratives of who we are.

We were close before but now she is my best friend. I love her with all my heart.

More Stories

Stories

The Things That Do Not Burn

The Things That Do Not Burn

Last December The Hearth and De La Raíz worked together to offer an evening of stories and songs in the wake of the Almeda fires. Focused on tales of resiliency, The Things That Do Not Burn/Las Cosas Que No Se Queman presented six stories by local Spanish and English speaking residents.

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Raul Tovar – Co-founder of Noche de Cuentos Project

Raul Tovar – Co-founder of Noche de Cuentos Project

Raul Tovar During my six month trip in Mexico, a special moment took place in a magical mountain village along the Sierra Madre mountain range in Oaxaca. My younger brother was visiting me during my stay in Mexico and after some eventful days in Puerto Vallarta,...

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