Telling the untold Two students and their teacher document Oaklands Mam community

Lorena Mendoza and Miguel Ortiz, students at Skyline High School in Oakland, collaborated with their teacher Javier Armas to document their Mam culture, resulting in a book titled *Mam History: Oakland Notes on the History of the Mayan-Mam Language*. This initiative was sparked by a lack of representation of Mam history in their school curriculum, which focused primarily on U. S. and Mexican history. Mendoza highlighted the significance of being a trilingual Mam speaker, facilitating connections with elders and the Latino community.

The project required extensive interviews and research, exposing the scarcity of written resources on Mam culture. Through their interviews, they uncovered the supportive nature of the Mam community, where members assist each other in times of need. Mendoza shared personal stories from her family, emphasizing the importance of these traditions. The book serves to preserve Mam history while empowering young Mam speakers in Oakland. Ultimately, their efforts create a vital link between the past and present, fostering cultural pride among the Mam community.