Twenty years have passed since Hurricane Katrina unleashed its fury upon New Orleans, yet the echoes of that devastating storm still resonate. But so too does the resounding testament to human resilience and the extraordinary efforts of those who poured their hearts into rebuilding.
Among these unsung heroes are Angélica Rivera and Román López, whose journey from a call for help to founding Colmex Construction embodies the unwavering commitment of the Latino workforce and their deep-rooted pride in the city they helped restore.
From Devastation to Entrepreneurship: Answering the Call to NOLA
Before Katrina, Angélica ran a real estate company in sunny Orlando, Florida, while Román worked as a handyman. Their lives were stable, predictable. But the news from New Orleans was stark, a city laid bare by the storm. It was a call from a friend, a Mexican immigrant who had worked with Román in Florida, that altered their course. “He called me asking for help because there was a lot of work and we needed people here,” Román recalled, his voice reflecting the urgency of that time. The year was 2008, and the recession was biting, adding another layer of uncertainty to their lives. The decision to move wasn’t just about opportunity; it was about answering a desperate need. “I decided to come here to help this company,” Román stated, acknowledging the vast void of skilled labor in a city yearning for reconstruction.
Their arrival plunged them into a world of hardship and relentless toil. The reality of New Orleans was even grimmer than the news had conveyed. “At first it was very difficult because what they said on the news was true,” Angélica remembered. Even after a couple of years, “There was no drinking water; no electricity, no housing; it was complicated to find those around.” Román initially came alone, and even finding a place to sleep was a challenge, with eight people sometimes crammed into a single hotel room. Yet, the physical demands of rebuilding roofs in the scorching August and September heat didn’t deter them. Román, recalling the “fantastic” work ethic of their peers, spoke of days stretching “from very early in the morning” to “kind of late in the evening.” Many lived in makeshift accommodations, “sleeping all over the floor” in warehouses, far from comfortable. The sacrifice was immense, made even more bitter by the unfortunate reality of exploitation. “Some people took advantage of many of them,” Román lamented, “not paying their full fees, or not paying them at all.” But with their unwavering spirit, they persevered, driven by a deeper purpose than just a paycheck.
Colmex Construction: A Legacy of Integrity in the Rebuilding of New Orleans
Despite these immense challenges, their commitment only deepened. The husband and wife duo started their own company, because many were not reliable or even took the money and left without paying the workers. But the couple was not just rebuilding homes; they were weaving themselves into the fabric of a community, transforming a place of devastation into a beacon of hope. Their work was an act of profound contribution, a tangible expression of their pride in bringing a broken city back to life.
From those initial, arduous days, Angélica and Román have built Colmex Construction, a thriving company that stands as a testament to their resilience and vision. Two decades after they answered the call to help, they have not only rebuilt parts of New Orleans but have firmly rooted their family within the community they helped reconstruct, becoming an integral part of its enduring narrative.
Two decades after they answered the call to help, their story is a powerful echo of the “true team effort” that brought New Orleans back. They found success through hard and reliable work, and have never stopped highlighting the “huge, huge contribution” of every hand that helped, especially the hands of the Latinos in construction, clean-up, and rebuilding efforts.
- Related Story: Monumento a Trabajadores Latinos: Dr. Gershanik y NOLA
