María Félix
Oral History Transcript
Oral History Audio
Name of Interviewer: Enrique Alvear
Date of Interview: July 23, 2016
Location: Chicago, IL
Interview Language: Spanish
María Félix is originally from Xichú, Guanajuato, Mexico. She studied a Bachelor’s Degree in Querétaro and coursed a Master in Finances at the University of Guanajuato. After some failed investments, María Félix decided to come to Chicago and explore her professional opportunities. Arriving in Chicago with a tourist visa in 1992, Maria and her family regularized their immigration status many years after. In the city, she started to work as an accountant for restaurants, cinemas, and clubs. Between 1993 and 1997, she opened her own restaurant in downtown Chicago. María Félix was a co-founder and president of “Casa Guanajuato”, a federation of clubs from ‘guanajuatenses’ in Chicago. This federation of hometown associations was focused on developing social programs in Guanajuato and promoting its culture and traditions in Chicago. “Casa Guanajuato” was created with the mission of bringing an organization for ‘guanajuatenses’ who currently live in Chicago. Previously, María had founded the “Club Maxichú” which was essentially dedicated to promoting the local arts, cultures, and traditions related to her hometown of Xichú in Chicago.
