2009

EL SOL DE CLEVELAND Puerto

Rican
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Irma Flores Rodriguez

On September 2, 1938 my grandmother,
Irma Flores Rodriguez, was born. At a very
early age she would learn the lesson of
hard work and sacrifice which made her
the great woman she is today.

Born in Utuado, Puerto Rico she was the

youngest of four girls. While attending
kindergarten in Barrio Caonillas her father
suddenly passed away. This left one woman
and four very young girls to run the family
farm. At the very young age of six Irma
was taught to work the land and help her
family in any way she could. With the pass-
ing of her father everything became an
extreme struggle and soon after her family
would have to face many difficult times.
Years later the government of Puerto Rico
needed their land and those of their neigh- Migdalia Torres
bors around them to create a lake (Lago
Migdalia Torres was born January 22, 1957 in Juana Diaz, Puerto
Caonillas). They were forced to move leaving all they knew and loved behind. Rico to Ofemio Torres and Santa Diaz. She comes from a family of
Her mother bought a farm in Barrio Salto Abajo and this is where they would 7. As a teenager she looked for guidance from older people and lead-
live until they immigrated to Cleveland. ers in the community.

In 1953 her eldest sister, Lydia, married and moved to Cleveland, where her At the age of 17 she had her first child, a beautiful daughter, Janis
husband had come to reside and work for Ford Motors. Shortly after her sister Vega. A year later, she had her second child, her son, George Vega.
and husband were able to buy a house they sent for her recently married sec-
ond oldest sister, Hilda, to live with them in Cleveland. There were then three Ms. Torres was diagnosed with “lupus” at the age of 32. Over the
women left to maintain the farm. Eventually two years later in 1955, her sis- next 20 years, her condition continued to progress and her kidneys
were affected severely. When her doctor informed her that they had
ters were able to send for her, her sister Ada, and her mother, Basilisa. Again,
found a compatible kidney donor she was overjoyed and saddened at
they had to leave behind what they knew and loved. When my grandmother the same time because her donor, who was 25 years old, had passed
arrived there were seventeen living all together in one house! away.
Irma always loved school and learning. One of her favorite subjects was English Migdalia feels that in order for the future generation of young
which she was taught all throughout her school years. This was the start of her Hispanics to succeed in life they must continue to study hard, make
love of the language and her childhood dream to become an English teacher. school a priority, keep their goals high, and most of all dream big.
She finished elementary and junior high in Puerto Rico with high honors.
When she came to Cleveland she attended the old Lincoln High where she Interviewed by:
graduated with high honors as well. Irma attended Duke, Spencerian College
Luis Toro
and several other intuitions of higher learning. In the April of 1964, she was
Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts Center
hired by Nationalities Services Center, a Social Services agency that provided Project Coqui
immigration consultation, English as a second language classes, refugee assis-
tance, translations and interpreting. While working there she helped hundreds
of Latino families with their immigration needs, she did translations and inter-
preted in the courts. She was also able to obtain her Social Worker’s license.
During her 42 years of working with them she received many awards from the
city, mayors, judges and from the United Way Services.

Church was always a second home to her and her family. Irma began attending
the First Hispanic Methodist Church of Cleveland where she has since been a
very active member. Now retired, she is able to dedicate more time to her
church. She helps lead sermons, assists with the operation of the church, visits
the sick and needy, and when she can she teaches Sunday school. If not at
church you can either find her with family and friends, at home playing the
guitar or accordion (which she plays very frequently at church), or relaxing in
the garden.

I asked my grandmother what makes her Boricua de Alma y Corazon. Her first
thought was of the music which she learned to play as a child and has grown
up to deeply love. She told me, “I love the music of Puerto Rico. When I play
the music or when I listen to it, especially the aguinaldos, plenas, and danzas I
know my roots are in that wonderful and beautiful island of Puerto Rico”.

She is a woman to be remembered as someone who puts her heart and soul
into her family, church and community work. She will always be a role model
to me.

Written By:
Bianca Flores
Projecto Coqui