Interview with Ada Romano (2025-04-12)

Ada Romano shared her family's journey from El Salvador to the U.S., highlighting her father's migration during the civil war and their struggles in New York. Ada discussed her education, including her switch from nursing to journalism at VCU, and her subsequent work in news and mental health advocacy. She recounted the impact of COVID-19 on her family, including her grandfather's death due to the virus. Ada also addressed the challenges faced by the Latino community, particularly regarding immigration policies and the negative portrayal in media. She emphasized the resilience and hard work of her community, advocating for better understanding and support. Ada shared her personal experience with domestic abuse, highlighting the higher rate of abuse among Latino women. They discussed the generational acceptance of abuse in their community and their efforts to break this cycle by testifying against their abuser, who is in jail on a felony charge. Ada emphasized the importance of speaking out against abuse and how the cycle ends with younger generations now.