Interview with Patricia Sowers

              Caribbean Diaspora Oral History Collection
Interview with Patricia Sowers
Miami, FL, January 18, 2016
Interview asm0344000011 Interviewed by Julio Estorino
Recorded by Javier Carrion
Outline by Reymond Sanchez
Length 00:35:16
Interview with Patricia Sowers, an American of Cuban descent and retired teacher and social worker who worked with Cuban refugees and disability services for the city of Coral Gables. In this interview, she discusses her upbringing in the United States, her visits to Cuba as a child, as well as the founding of her non-profit organization Warmamas while her son was serving in the Middle East. In addition, she reflects on how being a part of two cultures helped shaped her while also sharing her interest in artistry, writing stories and poetry in her spare time.
This interview forms part of the Caribbean Diaspora Oral History Collection of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections.
This oral history expresses the views, memories and opinions of the interviewee. It does not represent the viewpoints of the University of Miami, its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The University of Miami makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interview and expressly disclaims any liability therefor.
Copyright to this interview lies with the University of Miami. It may not be reproduced, retransmitted, published, distributed, or broadcast without the permission of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections. For information about obtaining copies or to request permission to publish any part of this interview, please contact Special Collections at asc@miami.edu.
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INTERVIEW OUTLINE
- 00:00:11: Introduction
- 00:00:17: Who is Patricia Figueroa Sowers?
- 00:00:57: You said you were born here but you have Cuban heritage? How was your family?
- 00:03:30: Did you parents come from Cuba because they were struggling?
- 00:04:25: How did your parents fare here once they came?
- 00:06:19: Many people notice that many Cubans are really attached to their heritage? Do you feel like that or did you family feel like that at all?
- 00:10:02: How was the experience of being a social worker involved with the Cuban refugee process?
- 00:11:19: What were your experiences were for Children and Family as a social worker?
- 00:12:52: Taking into account that you were very attached to Cuba and also your experience with Cuban refugees, how do you feel toward the recent changes in Cuba in regard to U.S policies with it?
- 00:14:41: How did you discover your passion for art and poetry?
- 00:15:48: Did you write poetry as a child?
- 00:16:12: Tell me about W-10?
- 00:20:09: Tell me about War Mamas?
- 00:23:02: War Mamas is mainly video work right?
- 00:26:22: Personally, what did you get from these interviews with these mothers who were in a similar spot to you?
- 00:27:12: You said you were working for Amnesty International, how was that? 3
- 00:29:13: You also worked for the disability services for the city of Coral Gables. What work did you do there?
- 00:31:44: In your artistic endeavors, where you feel that you are most yourself?
- 00:32:17: You wrote a poem where you express your concern for the environment. Are you happy with the recent laws?
- 00:32:50: When you look back at all your work, do you see a change in people’s awareness in a lot of the issues you saw?
- 00:34:22: Is there anything that you would like to add?
- 00:35:16: END OF INTERVIEW