Resettlement re-cap: a periodic report from the Cuban Refugee Center, April 1968

              SPONSOR CUBAN REFUGEES
Fulfill Their Faith in Freedom
APRIL   1968
RESETTLEMENT RE-CAP
FOR  ADMINISTRATIVE   USE
A PERIODIC REPORT FROM CUBAN REFUGEE CENTER — FREEDOM TOWER, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33101
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
SOCIAL AND REHABILITATION SERVICE
U.S. CUBAN REFUGEE PROGRAM JOHN FREDERICK THOMAS, Director, Washington, D. C.
ERROL T. BALLANFONTE, Director of Center HARRY  B.  LYFORD, Editor
PARTNERS   IN SUCCESS
Jose M. Quintana discusses the day's
menu with his partner, Luis Roca.
Cubans staff the Vizcaya.  Here Alfredo Martinez, Eusebio Herrera and
Javier Galindo prepare Spanish
dishes.   Fresh seafood comes daily
from Florida.
NO MONEY, NO ENGLISH, BUT WITH CUBAN REFUGEE
DETERMINATION HE NOW HAS A NASHVILLE RESTAURANT
In today's popular expression the Nashville BANNER seems
to be "telling the story like it is" when a headline reports:
HE HAD NO MONEY, COULDN'T SPEAK ENGLISH, BUT CUBAN REFUGEE
SUCCEEDS HERE THROUGH HARD WORK, FREEDOM AND FREE ENTERPRISE
Jose M. Quintana, who registered at the Cuban Refugee
Center, Miami, in November 1961  is the hero of the news
story, which reads like one of the "sink or swim" Horatio
Alger success tales popular early in this century.
From penniless newcomer to the U.S., Mr. Quintana became
a door-to-door potato chip salesman and now is a partner
with his cousin, another Cuban refugee, in operating a newly-
opened Nashville Spanish restaurant, the Vizcaya.
Frances Meeker, who wrote the BANNER story, quotes Mr.
Quintana:  "This is really the land of opportunity.  I wonder
if you here in this country realize the freedom you have and
how important it is to use it properly...In the U.S. a man
can use his imagination and initiative.  The opportunity is
here, and if a man is willing to work -- and take a chance --
there is no limit to what he can do...We are trying to prove
ourselves here." In quoting this, the writer notes that Mr. Quintana was speaking not only for himself but also for the thousands
of other Cuban refugees.  And she adds his further words:  "We want
to prove what we can accomplish if we are given the opportunity in
a free country."
The BANNER story starts:  "Fidel Castro wouldn't let him do it in
in Cuba.  So Jose Quintana came to Nashville to use what we in this
country like to call ingenuity, hard work and free enterprise.  A
salesman for a soap firm in Cuba, Quintana came to the U.S. six
years ago and went to work cleaning floors in a restaurant in Kentucky. When he came to Nashville three years ago he sold potato
chips door to door."
He still sells potato chips, and he also "sold" bankers on his
ideas for a restaurant.  Says the story:  "With bank loans and money he and his cousin had saved, their dream came true.  The cousin
is Luis Roca, a captain in the Cuban Merchant Marine for 30 years,
and formerly manager of Spanish restaurants in Miami."
The Quintanas have three children, ages 13, 12 and 8. Mrs.
Quintana, a registered pharmacist, had reservations about the restaurant venture.  But she feels better now that the "little corner
of Spain" has attracted patronage.  Cuban college students helped
convert an old residence into an eating place with beautiful Spanish decor.  Cousins and friends were contacted and a restaurant
staff was developed,some going to Nashville from Miami.  For entertainment there is Yolanda Castillo, former Cuban TV actress and
recording artist, with 25 records to her credit, some her own com-
*— positions.
This scene is Besides raising capital for his restaurant Mr. Quintana has to
improved when his crecjit another important accomplishment.  He has mastered the
ungry iners English language.  Together with his native sense of humor, he has
the canopy, become a popular personality in Nashville.
Photos _
Courtesy Nash- HOW ABOUT CUBAN REFUGEE ADJUSTMENT  IN YOUR COMMUNITY?
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