Contact: Rosemarie Romero 277-0084 Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales 277-5920

October 29, 2002 TOME'S ROMERO AND COUSINS FORM "YA-YA PRIMAHOOD" Rosemarie Romero, program coordinator at the Southwest Hispanic Research Institute (SHRI), has deep roots in New Mexico soil. Whether on the UNM campus or at home in Tomé, she is connected to all around her. Rosemarie's heart beats to the rhythm of the Hispanic community on and off campus. The Romero family has been a part of the Tomé landscape for generations. Her father, Clemente Romero, died when Rosemarie was very young. Her grandfather Juan Vicente Romero was born to Jacobo and Refujio Otero in 1908. Three years later, after his mother died, he was adopted by Clemente and Margarita Romero. "When my grandfather died, my cousins and I made a promise to remain close," says Rosemarie. "We established an account together and pay prima [cousin] dues. The six of us get together for every birthday and holiday and we go on a trip at least once a year." Rosemarie's family was featured in the Raices del Río Abajo photo history project recently exhibited at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. Rosemarie is on the exhibit planning committee. "One of the goals of the Raices project is to encourage families to trace their genealogy," says Rosemarie. "Another is to involve our youth and get them to appreciate and learn about our history and culture. The process of collecting the photos together resurrects feelings and emotions and makes us want to find out more about our history." Rosemarie wants to uncover her family's history for herself, but also for her daughter, Chantel Trujillo, a 14-year-old freshman at Los Lunas High School. In 1988, Rosemarie purchased land and built a house next door to her mother, Joan Romero. "Chantel's growing up where I did," she said. Mother and daughter do many things together, including getting involved in activities at the Immaculate Conception Church in Tomé. Chantel is very close to one of her cousins and may establish her own prima group. Losing a brother, Alfred Romero, last year makes Rosemarie aware of the value of time. "He was only 44 years old when he died. I try not to put things off until tomorrow because we don't know if we will see it," she says. She, her mother, the rest of the Romeros, and other land grant families in Tomé recently took the time to successfully fight off development that would have brought a road through their property onto land east being developed by the Valley Improvement Association. Rosemarie began her UNM career as a work-study student in Chicana/o Studies in 1985. "I promised them a year because I was earning a business degree and believed that I was going to go off to make lots of money with a large corporation," she says. What she discovered, however, was that the work is fulfilling and she no longer had the desire to become part of Corporate America. Hired as a clerical specialist, one year later she got an upgrade. Rosemarie stayed at Chicana/o Studies for six years, and continues to participate in their events and projects. "I've been at SHRI 10 years now," she says. Rosemarie coordinates and oversees department programs, workshops, special projects and events. She assists in research and preparing proposals for institute funding. She also participates in recruitment and retention projects with other campus units and with the public schools. She produces the SHRI newsletter, flyers and brochures. She also manages SHRI accounts and an account used for a Latin American Project with José Rivera, Special Assistant to the Provost, she says. Rosemarie's good works at SHRI help promote Hispanic research, culture and heritage. Her strong ties to family, friends and faith in Tomé feed her deep roots, allowing her to blossom. # # #

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