PEOPLE AND EVERYDAY LIFE

Maya Soetoro and the Making of Indonesian America

Maya stands on steps leading to an intricately gold-painted door. She gestures to one of the surrounding statues.

Can Maya Soetoro’s life as an Indonesian American inform us about how we build community on a global scale?

Chapter objectives
  • Learn about the life and work of Maya Soetoro.
  • Understand the history of Indonesia as it relates to the lives of Indonesian Americans.
  • Explore lessons that the younger generation might learn from Maya Soetoro’s life as a global peace leader and teacher.

This chapter introduces the life of global peace leader, educator, activist, and author Maya Soetoro. It provides a biographical profile of Soetoro’s life and explains her political outlook as a leader of peace. Through examining Soetoro’s life in Indonesia, Hawaiʻi, and other parts of the United States, the chapter shows how her upbringing shaped her commitment as a global peace leader and teacher. Overall, the chapter explores Soetoro’s experiences and how they have contributed to her Indonesian American identity, and the lessons she wants to share and communicate to younger generations.

Modules in this chapter


Maya Soetoro: A Biographical Overview

Indonesian American History

Being Indonesian American in Indonesia

Being Indonesian American in the United States

Lessons to Carry Forward

Maya Soetoro: A Biographical Overview

Indonesian American History

Being Indonesian American in Indonesia

Being Indonesian American in the United States

Lessons to Carry Forward

Chapter Sources


Cunningham, Clark E. “Unity and Diversity among Indonesian Migrants to the United States.” In Emerging Voices: Experiences of Underrepresented Asian Americans, edited by Huping Ling. Rutgers University Press, 2008.

Danico, Mary Yu, ed. “Indonesian Americans.” In Asian American Society: An Encyclopedia. SAGE, 2014.

“Educational Attainment of Indonesian Population in the U.S., 2019.” Pew Research Center, April 29, 2021. https://www.pewresearch.org/chart/educational-attainment-of-indonesian-population-in-the-u-s-2019/.

“English Proficiency of Indonesians in the U.S., 2019.” Pew Research Center, April 29, 2021. https://www.pewresearch.org/chart/english-proficiency-of-indonesian-population-in-the-u-s-2019/.

Fujita-Rony, Dorothy. The Memorykeepers: Gendered Knowledges, Empires, and Indonesian American History. Brill Publishers, 2021.

Im, Carolyne. “Facts about Indonesians in the U.S.” Pew Research Center, May 1, 2025. 
https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/fact-sheet/asian-americans-indonesians-in-the-u-s/.

“Indonesian Population in the U.S., 2000-2015.” Pew Research Center, September 8, 2017. https://www.pewresearch.org/chart/indonesian-population-in-the-u-s/.

“Indonesian Population in the U.S., 2000-2019.” Pew Research Center, April 29, 2021. https://www.pewresearch.org/chart/indonesian-population-in-the-u-s-2000-2019/.

Ingersoll, Earl G., ed. Breaking the Alabaster Jar: Conversations with Li-Young Lee. BOA Editions Ltd., 2006.

Kwik, Greta. The Indos in Southern California. AMS Press, Inc., 1989.

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