Sonoma Stories is a simple idea:

Sonoma is a small town with many different communities.

Some people were born here and have family roots going back generations.

Others arrived decades ago and made Sonoma their home.

Some came during COVID to raise their families here.

Some live here full-time.

Others spend only part of the year here.

Many volunteer through organizations such as Rotary, Sonoma Community Center, Vintage House, Pets Lifeline, La Luz, Sonoma Ecology Center, the Boys & Girls Club, and dozens of other community organizations.

Each group experiences Sonoma differently.

Yet most of us know only a small part of the larger story.

Why Sonoma Stories?

Sonoma Stories was created to help people learn from one another through personal stories.

Not history books.

Not newspaper articles.

Just people sharing how they experience Sonoma.

One story at a time.

Together, these stories create a richer picture of our community—its people, its history, its changes, and what makes it special.

The Stories

Stories fall into four types:

• I Visited Sonoma

• I Found Sonoma & Stayed

• I Helped Build Sonoma

• I Was Born in Sonoma

Many stories span more than one level.

A visitor becomes a resident.

A resident becomes a volunteer.

A native becomes a volunteer

A volunteer helps build the community.

How Stories Are Created

No writing is required.

The easiest approach is to meet with Don for a short recorded conversation.

We turn the audio into a story, preserve your voice, and send it to you for review before it is published.

Stories can also be recorded independently and submitted as audio.

A Bilingual Community

Sonoma includes both English- and Spanish-speaking voices.

Stories can be recorded in either language.

All stories can be read in either language.

Our goal is to help the community better understand itself—across generations, backgrounds, and cultures.

Get Started

👉 Go to Contact to begin.