UC Irvine Libraries’ community-centered archives practice (CCAP) aims to address historical underrepresentation and empower communities to document their own stories. Rooted in the history of the Southeast Asian Archive, which was founded in the mid-1980s with a community-centered approach, this practice seeks to foster inclusive historical preservation and transform relationships between academic institutions and local communities. CCAP prioritizes community autonomy in preserving historical records, ensuring communities maintain control over their narratives and materials.

The Libraries’ approach is exemplified by CCAP’s four CARE core principles:

• Collaborative: Sharing authority with communities and respecting their expertise and lived experiences
• Attentive: Addressing inequities in archives and promoting inclusive historical documentation
• Responsive: Adapting archival practices to meet community needs and priorities
• Engaged: Empowering communities to document their history on their own terms

Demonstrated through past and ongoing initiatives, this exhibit explores the Libraries’ CCAP initiative by highlighting partnerships with community organizations and the involvement of UC Irvine students in projects like oral histories and archival processing.