Mawtini:

Arab American

Narratives of Home

and Belonging

Hear Our Stories

Change the Narrative

Build Community

Act for Peace

“A Cultural Archive of Home, Identity, and Arab American Experience"

Mawtini, which means homeland in Arabic, is an oral history and community building project funded by the City of San Luis Obispo DEI High Impact Grant, administered by the Peace Academy of the Sciences and Arts and Our Roots/Our Routes.

The Mawtini project is rooted in stories of home and belonging, this community oral history project weaves together Arab American voices in SLO. Through shared memories, recorded interviews, a living archive, and interactive events, we invite the community to listen deeply, connect across cultures and grow together.

More Than a Project:

A Movement for Dignity and Representation

Mawtini aims to amplify the rich history, culture, diversity, and contributions of our Arab American community in SLO. Through oral histories and community events, we aim to reshape the dominant narratives that misrepresent Arab identities in media and mainstream culture.

Too often, these narratives ignore the lived realities of millions who identify as Arab—overlooking their voices, journeys, and vital contributions to our society, culture, and economies. Mawtini seeks to humanize, connect, and amplify these stories—reimagining a more inclusive narrative that honors the experiences of Arab Americans on the Central Coast.

By sharing personal stories, memories, and reflections, this project helps listeners better understand:

The cultural richness and diversity of Arab Americans in SLO
Migration stories that challenge mainstream U.S. immigration narratives
The complex emotions tied to movement—what’s lost, gained, and held in between
The evolving meaning of “home”
What belonging looks and feels like in SLO and across the U.S.

Community Stories

Explore Our Stories, Meet Your Neighbors

Our digital archive will feature recorded interviews, transcriptions and photos with Arab American community members, offering powerful stories of identity, migration, home, and belonging. While the archive is currently under construction, we’re actively gathering narratives, identifying themes, and building an accessible and engaging platform for all. Stay tuned as this living collection takes shape and community events are organized.

Oral History Story Coming Soon

Oral History Story Coming Soon

About Us

Who’s leading the efforts?

Sandra Sarrouf, Nora Asayesh, Noha Kolkailah, Farah al-Nakib, Iyad Jamaly, Vicki Tamoush

Mawtini is led by longtime community members and educators Noha Kolkailah (Peace Academy of Sciences and Arts), Sandra Sarrouf (Our Roots Our Routes), Dr. Farah Al-Nakib (Associate Professor of History) and Vicki Tamoush (Community Organizer).

Together, we are committed to building bridges across differences, leading with humility, and creating spaces rooted in justice, education, and radical belonging.

Community volunteers and student research assistants play an essential role in this work, helping conduct interviews and foster the trust that makes this project possible.

If you are interested in supporting our work as a volunteer, narrator, or know someone who would like to share their story, please email us at info@mawtinislo.org.

Get Updates:

If you would like to be informed about our January 2026 Community Launch Event and interactive installations showcasing our stories please:

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Explore

Community Stories (Coming in January 2026)

Events

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