Origin Stories
The Arab American community of San Luis Obispo is extremely diverse, as shown in this first collection of Mawtini interviews.
Explore
Mawtini
Arab American Narratives
of Home and Belonging
Mawtini is a community-centered oral history and archiving project documenting the lives, contributions, and enduring legacy of Arab Americans in California's Central Coast. Through recorded interviews, collected artifacts, and digital storytelling, we aim to ensure that these stories are preserved for future generations.
"Nobody tells you once you leave home, you're a foreigner everywhere…even in the place you came from."
— Hossni, Mawtini narrator
CHAPTER I: A HISTORY OF ARAB AMERICANS IN CALIFORNIA
Pathways to California
CHAPTER II: COMMUNITY VOICES
Community Voices
Listen to the stories that shape our collective memory.
CHAPTER III: CURATED THEMES
Curated Themes
Explore the collection through connecting threads.
Share Your Story
Your story is part of our history. Contribute your family's journey to the Mawtini archive.
Who We Are
A collaborative effort by community members and historians.
Mawtini is a collaborative effort by community members and historians. Our team is comprised of local historians, community leaders, and students dedicated to authentic storytelling and community-centered archiving.