marta v. martínez
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  • © 2026 Marta V. Martínez Contact Me 0

marta v. martínez

I live in Warwick, Rhode Island, work in Providence and am of Mexican heritage. I'm bilingual and bicultural — I don’t remember ever having a problem communicating in either language, and find it to be a great asset. I read, write and speak English and Spanish equally. Equally well or equally badly: that’s for others to decide.

I spent nine years surrounded by Deaf individuals while working at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC and am also fluent in Sign Language, which I guess makes me trilingual.

I grew up in El Paso, Texas, with my parents, four sisters, and brother. During my junior year of high school, I felt a strong desire to explore the world. While applying to colleges, I realized that studying in another state would be the perfect way to broaden my horizons and learn more about life beyond my hometown. That decision led me to Providence College—a move that proved to be life-changing. However, despite the opportunities it offered, there were times when I felt lonely and out of place.

My dream was to become a television Journalist, but, since PC did not have a Broadcast Journalism major, I chose to be an English major. While there, I was exposed to many talented scholars and writers on the PC campus, who might have become my mentors had they been able to understand what it was like to be a displaced Latina.

During my junior year at PC, I had the opportunity to intern at WPRI TV-12, the local ABC station. I worked there for two-years, and upon graduating, I was hired to work full-time (woo hoo!). However, during my time there, I was the only person of color and the only Latina at the station, and once again I felt out of place.

After two years, I realized that Broadcast Journalism wasn’t the career path I wanted to pursue. What I did take away from the experience, though, was a deeper understanding of the power of working behind the scenes.

What do I mean by that? I discovered that it allowed me to have a broader perspective—a bird’s-eye view of both the user’s and producer’s experiences. It gave me the ability to shape the process, be part of the decision-making, and collaborate with others to create meaningful solutions. Unlike being in front of the camera, where you're handed a script and limited in expressing your true self, working behind the scenes felt more authentic and impactful. I learned that creating real change requires teamwork—a group of people working together, reflecting, and building something greater than the sum of its parts.

The skills I developed from working behind the scenes have deeply shaped who I am today and continue to influence the work I do.

I am also a Community Oral Historian, a role that evolved naturally for me in 1991. Collecting the stories and voices of Rhode Island Latinos has become a deeply meaningful part of my life. As Latinos, we are rarely given the platform to share our history, and I firmly believe that if we don’t tell our own stories, someone else will—and they may not capture the truth or depth of our experiences. Our stories are invaluable, and it’s essential that we take ownership of them.

My work as an oral historian gives me hope for the future. Through recorded oral histories, younger generations have the opportunity to learn about the incredible successes of Latino/Latina/Latinx individuals in this country. They can hear the full story of our community, understand the strength found in celebrating our diversity, and recognize that you-we-they are an integral part of the present and future of this nation. These stories affirm our significance and inspire pride in our collective identity.
Camera in hand. In 2015, I set out to explore borders through the lens of a camera. Equipped with two cameras, multiple lenses, and an audio recorder, I traveled across the country to document and capture the stories, people, places, and lives in five border cities.

This website serves as a record of those travels—a space where I reflect and write about the profound ways borders have shaped, and continue to shape, who I am today.
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