ARTEMIO MONTOYA

Our story begins on a late Wednesday night towards the end of April in a quiet neighborhood up in Anthem. I was finally able to arrange a time to meet with the Montoya Family to interview the father Artemio Montoya about his migration story. I have known the Montoya family for almost 5 years through a very dear friend of mine, Darian. She is married to Artemio’s son Adril Montoya. I have encountered the Montoya Family through many events with my friends Darian and Adril such as an extravagant baby shower and a traditional Mexican wedding. I knew that the Montoya’s were migrants from Mexico, but I had never known their full story. When I was assigned to interview a migrant for my class, I knew just the people to ask. As Artemio runs his own handyman business alongside with Adril and Darian running two of their own businesses as well, it was difficult to find time to meet up with one another. We were able to meet at Artemio’s home with his wife Myrna in Anthem, Arizona. Adril was there to help interpret any answers that his father and mother gave in Spanish. As we gathered around the dining table outside passing around pizza slices, Artemio began to tell me his story.