Interview with Aida Pacheco (2025-04-07)

Angela Bullock interviews Aida Pacheco about her upbringing in Trenton, New Jersey, where she faced racial discrimination as one of the first Puerto Ricans in her school. Pacheco recounts her journey to Princeton, where she overcame challenges due to her background and undiagnosed learning disability. She discusses her move to Virginia in 1989, her career in state government, and her efforts to support the Latino community. Pacheco also shares personal stories, including her son's tragic death and the impact of COVID-19 on her family. She emphasizes the importance of community, family, and cultural heritage in her life. Aida Pacheco shared her experiences growing up in a large, close-knit family, including her mother's significant role in supporting her uncle financially and her own family's relocation to Puerto Rico. She discussed her father's influence, her early marriage, and her efforts to raise her children while contributing to the community. Aida emphasized the importance of family, education, and community service, highlighting her involvement in local organizations and her efforts to galvanize the Latino vote through her group, Latinos Amigos. She also stressed the need for understanding and respect within diverse communities and the contributions of Latinos to society.