The Newport Beach Public Library Foundation is collaborating with the University of California, Irvine to sponsor a Stories from the Sea project. We are teaming with students, trained by UCI faculty and staff, to conduct oral histories to document our community members’ stories. The research will be conducted virtually.

Our focus area is the Newport Beach bay and coastline. We are looking to uncover stories about living, working, and enjoying the sea and its nearby environs, development and conservancy of the shoreline and coastal ways, untold stories of Indigenous and people of color histories, and other interests the students will be bringing to the table.

Complete this form by October 31 for consideration. We welcome all submissions but only a select number will be chosen for interviews. If selected, you will be contacted between early November and early December.

We plan to showcase stories, which the students will present through various formats (website, podcast, art installation, etc.), at a celebration on May 6, 2021, at 7 p.m.

Training sessions with the students, if you are interested in learning how community leaders are preserving local history. Our first event begins Oct. 6 and will be held on Tuesdays from 5:30-6:30.  Register here  http://bit.ly/StoriesSpeakerSeries

For more questions, please contact Kunga Wangmo-Upshaw, Director of Programs at upshaw@nbplfoundation.org or Prof. Judy Wu, Director of the UCI Humanities Center at j.wu@uci.edu