Building Bridges: Why Iraqi American Stories Matter
Every community carries stories of journeys, traditions, challenges, and dreams. For Iraqi American, these stories are especially powerful. They speak of resilience, hope, and the deep love of culture that travels across oceans and generations.
Too often, Iraqi culture is seen only through the lens of history or headlines. But behind every Iraqi American is a living story, of family gatherings filled with laughter, of recipes passed down from grandparents, of music that reminds us of home, and of new beginnings in a new country. These stories matter because they preserve identity, strengthen community, and create understanding.
At the Shako Mako, we believe that sharing our stories is one of the most important ways to build bridges between cultures. When an Iraqi grandmother teaches her grandchild to speak Arabic, or when an American friend learns about Iraqi hospitality through a cup of tea, something beautiful happens: barriers dissolve, connections form, and respect grows.
Our mission is to give these stories a voice, through language classes, cultural events, arts, and forums that celebrate who we are. In doing so, we not only honor our heritage but also enrich the American cultural landscape with the beauty of Iraqi traditions. Because when we share our stories, we don’t just look back, we move forward, together.
