and this is the first one.

It never occurred to the county or the city on their own that Arab American Heritage Month should be recognized.

And what I notice, just from knowing people in the county and the city government, is that they are under the impression that they don't know or interact with Arab Americans, when in fact their co-workers are Arab Americans and the people that serve the food in the restaurants they go to and the dry cleaner and the librarian and they're not aware as They may be of other ethnic groups around them so that's our job as a community to uplift that and to make sure that we aren't afraid to be proud of ourselves and This is an outgrowth of years and years of stereotyping, discrimination, and acts of hate.

What that does to a community is exactly what you see in San Luis Obispo County right now.

And that is people who whisper to each other, do you think I should wear my keffiyeh? Do you think it's dangerous for me to give my real name? And when people think like that, they're exhibiting signs of oppression.

People aren't born thinking that way.

They learn to think that way by having negative experiences.

And I think that's what the leaders in the community are trying to do, get different groups and participate in as many events as possible and talking to as many people as possible.