Bartolo Marquez Oral History Interview

Bartolo Marquez was born in Portland, Oregon and grew up in Woodburn, Oregon. He obtained his BA in Criminal Justice and Corrections at Western Oregon University in 2002. Over the course of this interview, he explains his career path and how his culture and community influenced that path.

Marquez talks about his family's journey from Michoacan, Mexico to Oregon including the discrimination and obstacles they faced for being indigenous. He reflects on the intersection of his Mexican identity and Purepecha culture. Purepecha is a traditional, indigenous culture in Mexico with its own native language and culture separate from what is traditionally understood as Mexican culture. He also reflects on the relationship between language and culture, and how not learning the native Purepecha language disconnected him from his cultural heritage.

Marquez then talks about his work with Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN), a union focused on helping migrant farmworkers in Oregon. He highlights his various positions and roles at PCUN, including work such as helping farm workers with their immigration cases and educating people about their voting rights. Marquez also talks about his roles at Chemeketa Community College and Oregon State University, helping farm workers and their families obtain their GEDs.

Now the director of the High School Equivalency Program at OSU, Marquez comments on his first impressions of the university and how he believed that OSU still has work to do with regards to diversity and inclusion, particularly when it comes to supporting students of color.