Every family carries a story worth preserving. Together, those stories reveal how Filipino-American life has taken root, changed, and endured on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Our Local Beginning
The Filipino-American Association of the Gulf Coast was established in 1979 by approximately twenty Filipino-American families. Its charter was approved on December 11, 1980, creating a charitable, cultural, social, civic, and nonprofit organization intended to serve the community in perpetuity.
The organization now carries the public and legal name The Filipino-American Council of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, with the trade name Fil-Am.
What began with a small group of families has continued through decades of volunteer leadership, fellowship, cultural celebration, and support from members and the wider community.
Read the Council’s history and milestones.
Stories We Hope to Preserve
- Founding families and early community life
- Migration and settlement experiences
- Military service and life on the Gulf Coast
- Reflections from past presidents and community leaders
- Family traditions, recipes, and celebrations
- Youth achievements and intergenerational learning
- Volunteer and partner spotlights
- Artists, educators, cultural practitioners, and entrepreneurs
Why Stories Matter
Dates and names establish a record. Personal stories give that record a heartbeat.
They help younger generations understand where they come from, allow elders to pass forward what they have learned, and help neighbors see the Filipino-American community in its full depth.
Share or Nominate a Story
The Council welcomes story ideas, photographs, recorded memories, and nominations. Materials will be reviewed for permission, accuracy, privacy, and appropriate cultural context before publication.
Contact the Council with the subject “Community Story.”