Interview, Melissa Rich

Melissa Rich was born in Rochester, New York, in 1982 to a Puerto Rican mother and a father of German descent. Though Rich’s grandfather was a founding member of the Ibero-American Action League in Rochester, her family’s connection to the Latino and Puerto Rican community became weaker with each generation. After earning a bachelor’s degree in history from SUNY Geneseo in 2004 and a Master’s in Education from Nova Southeastern University in 2009, Rich began working as an educator with the Rochester City School District.

Much of this interview deals with growing up in a multicultural household, learning multiple languages, and Puerto Rican identity. Rich also details her career as an educator. She discusses the Puerto Rican population in the Rochester City School District and highlights the differences among students of different Hispanic backgrounds. She explains how she has been able to use her Puerto Rican identity to establish a common ground with her students. Other topics of conversation include the local Puerto Rican community, Puerto Rican pride, and Puerto Rican statehood.