Preserving Latino stories means preserving culture, history, and identity for future generations.
Documenting Latino stories and struggles remains so important, especially today. At a time when many Latino families face uncertainty, preserving their experiences ensures their voices are heard and remembered. Stories are one of the most powerful ways communities pass down culture, values, and history. Many Latino families carry experiences of immigration, sacrifice, and resilience. Yet these achievements and experiences are not always taught in schools or textbooks.
Photography, videography, and research are some of the ways these stories are captured and shared. At Camino, these methods work together to preserve community history and make it accessible to future generations. Two people helping lead this work are Lenin Caro and Jean Jimenez.
As director of the Camino Research Institute, Caro helps deepen our understanding of the experiences, challenges, and contributions of the Latino community in Charlotte through research and data. His research examines themes and trends including Latino voter turnout, Latino engagement with U.S. politics, Latino artists, and community needs. He is also leading the Oral History Project, which captures stories of Latinos who have been part of Charlotte’s community for many years. During our interview, he said, “That first class of prominent, modern, Charlotte leaders from the 1990’s and 2000’s are dying and I still don’t think we’ve completely captured their stories… These are the people who welcomed us, oriented us, gave us a job, and helped us get started.” Reflecting on their legacy, Caro added, “These Latinos didn’t wait for a space to be made for them. They went ahead and carved it themselves.”
For Caro, these personal stories are more than just historical records. “Personal stories stick with people instead of a table with just numbers… they teach us not to be afraid to fail” he said. Many of the stories include experiences of setbacks, anti-immigration policies, and starting over, yet they never gave up. Preserving these stories helps future generations understand both the challenges and the resilience that shaped the community. “It’s important to document these stories because they’re hard to find,” Caro said. By preserving these accounts, the Oral History Project provides future generations with firsthand perspectives on how Charlotte’s Latino community was built.
Pictured here is Caro conducting a focus group interview
While Caro’s research preserves these stories through interviews and historical documentation, visual storytelling offers another way to preserve and share them. Research provides the historical context and factual foundation for these narratives, but facts alone cannot fully capture the emotion, humanity, and lived experiences behind them. Visual storytelling bridges that gap by allowing audiences to see the people, places, and hear the voices that bring history to life. Through photography, videography, and production, Jimenez documents the stories and experiences of Latino families in the Charlotte community. His visual work complements written research by capturing the people, places, and moments behind these experiences, adding context and personal perspective that help audiences engage more deeply with the narratives.
One story that stayed with Jimenez was about a man he interviewed. The man crossed the border, was detained and imprisoned, then later released. After arriving in Charlotte, he found a church and a family that offered him a helping hand. Little by little, he moved forward using the skills he had. Today, he works as a barber and a musician at his church. For Jimenez, the story stood out because even after many obstacles, he still remains here, committed to his future and well-being. It reflected the resilience of many undocumented immigrants who continue to face obstacles while working toward a stable future.
As Jimenez explained, “El video y las fotos tienen un sentimiento, una visión, una historia, y un mensaje.” He also reflected on what he has learned from documenting these stories: “Yo aprendí de eso que somos muy valientes, no nos quedamos en el pasado. Tratamos de revolucionar con lo que podemos y tenemos. Y si es que tenemos que empezar de nuevo, lo hacemos.” His work highlights the bravery, adaptability, and determination many Latino families have.
Watch Jimenez share his own story through visual storytelling
Gia Soto on the left and Jean Jimenez on the right, pictured during their interview
Stories do more than preserve the past; they inspire the future. When people hear stories that reflect their own experiences, they feel seen and understood. Future generations can learn from the struggles, sacrifices, and successes of those who came before them. For others outside the community, these stories build empathy and understanding.
For years, Camino has stood alongside Latino families in Charlotte through many challenges, celebrations, and moments of growth. These stories remind us that today’s struggles are not faced alone and that communities have overcome hardships before. None of that would be possible without research and visual storytelling. As Caro preserves oral histories and Jimenez documents them through photography and videography, their work ensures these experiences are not lost. Through storytelling, Camino helps preserve Latino voices, experiences, and contributions for future generations.
