The MECP Cultural Stories Initiative is an exciting new project that draws upon the Middle Eastern tradition of storytelling to highlight the diverse personal experiences present in our community. The initiative invites any and all individuals at UConn or in the greater Connecticut community who identify as Middle Eastern to share stories about their culture. These stories will then be showcased on a rolling basis on our website.

Examples of appropriate submissions could include, but are not limited to: pieces focused on an individual’s experience as a first or second generation Middle Eastern immigrant; pieces that highlight a certain aspect of the individual’s culture, such as a holiday they celebrate and its importance to their culture and heritage; and pieces about ways in which an individual’s identity as a Middle Eastern person has shaped their lived experiences. Submissions should be at least one paragraph but no more than four pages in length, double-spaced. We encourage those interested in submitting a piece to do so regardless of the extent of their writing skills or experience—all submissions will be reviewed by MECP coordinators to ensure that they comply with university guidelines before they are placed on the MECP website. Submissions may also be edited to ensure compatibility with the organization’s requirements, including proper grammar, formatting, relevant content, etc.

The submission form will provide individuals with the option to indicate whether they would like to be contacted by an MECP coordinator to discuss their story and any concerns they may have. There is no deadline to submit a story; the form will accept submissions on a rolling basis.

Click the link provided here to submit your story to the MECP Cultural Stories Initiative. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at mecp@uconn.edu.