Refugee Oral Histories - Inspiration Report: This report pairs refugee oral histories with trauma-informed practice within storytelling archives. What does it mean to witness another person’s story? How does the archivist/ethnographer/interviewer listen and record in ways that care for the storytellers? How can these stories promote empathy for refugees? This report will look at the practice of giving testimony and situate these first-person narratives within the history of libraries and archives that have prioritized voices of power over the marginalized. A close look at organizations caring for the story and the storyteller shows how trauma-informed care within the library and archive setting can begin decolonizing these spaces and creating deep awareness. View the presentation on Canva

Maya Kini studied sculpture and literature at Reed College before going on to receive a graduate degree in Metalsmithing in 2007 from Cranbrook Academy of Art. Her sculptural work and jewelry have been exhibited both nationally and internationally. She lives in the foggy hills of San Francisco, where she is a goldsmith, poet, mother of two, and educator. Her poems have appeared in Bellevue Literary Review, River Heron Review, Metalsmith, and Current Obsession. Maya just completed her 2nd semester in the MLIS program at SJSU and hopes to merge her background in art and community practice with work in archives and special collections.