Oral History Interview, Rufino Arces (1233)

Abstract

Rufino Arces is a Mexican-American husband and father from Waunakee, WI. He describes the jobs he has taken in Wisconsin to send money home to Mexico. Rufino is a devout Catholic, keeps the Mexican heritage present in his home, and teaches his son, a second-grader, to be proud of his ancestry. Rufino became a client of The River Food Pantry in a time when he was experiencing health problems and some other family members were struggling to make ends meet. He accepted their assistance only in exchange for his own volunteer time at the pantry and the Waunakee Neighborhood Connection. In this interview, Rufino talks about his perspective on American life, immigration, healthcare, and insurance.