Hmong Cultural and Language Program at Concordia University

 

Imagine an opportunity to explore language, crafts, music, dance, sports, cultural activities, gardening, nutrition, and science—all while experiencing life on a university campus.  This happens each summer for over 400 children and youth from 20 language groups who work and play together learning vocabulary from each other’s cultures during Hmong Culture and Language Program(HCLP), hosted at Concordia University in Saint Paul.

“The mission of HCLP is to preserve the Hmong culture through storytelling, gardening and the arts” explains Sally Baas, director of HCLP and the Southeast Asian Teacher (SEAT) Program at Concordia. “This program grew out of needs in the Hmong community and has grown to meet needs for our university students for pre-service teaching and cross-cultural experiences.”

Key Yang is a current Concordia University student in the SEAT Program who is very active with the camp, both running student registration and other administrative tasks and working as an instructor in Hmong literacy.  Key says:

Working for the HCLP definitely taught me a lot of things about the role of a teacher and what they have to do in order to prepare for the arrival of students whether writing lesson plan, organizing material or keeping track of students’ record. The best thing about the program is that I can put what I have learned throughout the school year into practice. For instance, I have learned about different teaching strategies and ways of assessing student from various backgrounds but didn’t really have the chance to put it into practice and have always wanted to try it out since most of my experiences within the classroom are mainly from observation. During the program, I have the opportunity to take charge and put what I have learned into practice with guidance from experienced colleagues who have taught for many years and understand the role of teacher better.

Chao Vang, a teacher and parent who has been involved with the HCLP since it started in 2004, comments:

As a teacher, my experience at this program has been to develop activities and to bridge the old (Hmong traditions and culture) as well as the new (modern American culture) cultures together for the students who are trying to figure out their identities. The identity of a person is like the root of a tree, without the root, a tree cannot grow. As a parent, I know that my children needed the opportunity to find that root with other children like them. I have two children who have gone through the program as clan leaders and two younger ones who are current students.   Concordia University has provided the place and resources for my children to have that experience and for me to be a part of something big. The program started out small, but it grew very quickly, serving students ranging from 30 students to nearly 1000 students in a span of three years.  This program offered a place of belonging and increased the knowledge of self-identity as well as obtaining the competence of a very complex society. Therefore, I am happy that my children and I are a part of this program.

For more information, contact Sally Baas, baas@csp.edu.

Student Profile: Sarah Gibson, William Mitchell College of Law

I am working with World Without Genocide, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about current situations of mass violence and human rights offenses, and how to take action against them. I have been in a unique position to see change occur – inspired by thought-provoking programming and “hands-on” events.

Early this spring, World Without Genocide implemented the first Red Hand Day event at William Mitchell College of Law.  Currently, there are more than 300,000 child soldiers involved in at least 30 conflicts around the world.  Red Hand Day commemorates the UN’s ban on the use of child soldiers and encourages people to help protect children from this horrific practice.  The program is simple but striking.  People are asked to coat their hands in red paint and then apply them to paper.  The red hand dramatically signifies ‘stop’ while it demonstrates support for banning the use of child soldiers.  The handprints are collected and sent to members of the UN to as a reminder that people who employ children as soldiers must be held accountable.

At Mitchell, we set up tables in the middle of campus and over a hundred students and staff stopped by to make handprints – but more importantly, to learn about this human rights abuse.  In conjunction, World Without Genocide hosted a lecture on child soldiers in global conflicts.  Movingly, all of the attendees at the lecture came forward to create handprints, including a little boy who was there with his parents.  Since 2002, 350,000 red handprints have been collected worldwide as part of this initiative.

Awareness is an important first step.  But, the perpetrators of child soldiery must be brought to justice to bring the practice to an end.  As part of my work, I am focusing on the International Criminal Court and its response to crimes like this around the world.  Currently, the ICC is prosecuting Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, the leader of a rebel group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for enlisting and conscripting children to be used as armed soldiers in an uprising against the government of that country.
By raising awareness of the problems of child soldiers, and how the ICC can help end the impunity, World is helping people in Minnesota find a voice to demand change.   Every hand (print) can make a difference!

World Without Genocide promotes the Red Hand Program widely.  For more information on how to set up a program at your location, visit www.redhandday.org.  For more information on World Without Genocide, as well as ways to get involved, please go to www.worldwithoutgenocide.org.

 Sarah Gibson is currently a rising 2L at William Mitchell College of Law (Class of 2013).  She is from Rochester, Minnesota and attended Macalester College (Class of 2007) in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she double-majored in History and International Studies.  Between college and law school, she was working in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Simpson Housing Services: Normandale Community College’s Presidents’ Community Partner Award Recipient

Normandale Community College would like to recognize Simpson Housing Services for the Presidents’ Community Partner Award based on the long time, successful and positive partnership between our organizations.  The mission of Simpson Housing Services is “to house, support and advocate for people experiencing homelessness.” Simpson provides a multitude of services to adults and families experiencing homelessness from hunger and financial planning to assisting people with the process of obtaining permanent housing.  In 2000, Normandale Community College students began serving as overnight volunteers in the men’s shelter. The men’s shelter provides 48 men a bed for 28 days. Staff from Simpson provide their expertise to Normandale through educational programs, presentations and by serving on committees. This organization has helped students by providing opportunities and education that will prepare them for success in the workforce. Since 2005, 286 students have served 11,732 hours of service with Simpson. That averages one Normandale student volunteer in every other night for the last five years. We would like to thank Simpson Housing Services for such an amazing and impactful partnership!

Stacey York: Rochester Community and Technical College’s Presidents’ Civic Engagement Steward Award Recipient

Stacey York

Stacey York, Instructor and Program Leader for Child Development, exemplifies the strong community partnerships and civic engagement that Rochester Community and Technical College promotes, and is a logical nomination for the Presidents’ Civic Engagement Steward Award.  Stacey is passionate about child development and the education of child care providers.  She looks for opportunities to connect her students with community partners to experience learning application, and enhance child development.

 

Stacey works with a number of local agencies to provide her students avenues to improve their skills.  In addition, Stacey took the leadership role last year for the Focus on the Children Conference when funding cuts impacted the previous sponsor.  Nearly 400 child care providers, students, vendors, and presenters attended breakout sessions which included skill building, curriculum design and professional development.  Stacey is also involved in numerous state-wide child development agencies including the Minnesota Licensed Family Child Care and The Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children.  Her program also supports the Judith Lindman Memorial Book Drive which promotes literacy and donates the books collected to many local agencies.  Her students also took the leadership role in the Beyond The Yellow Ribbon Halloween event for Military Families the past two years.  Stacey’s commitment to children and families has positively impacted the college and community.

Jahan Powell: Metropolitan State University’s Presidents’ Student Leadership Award Recipient

Jahan Powell well deserves to be recognized for his role as the student coordinator for Metro State Votes 2010.  This initiative included a comprehensive set of activities and programs that informed, engaged, and involved students and the community in civic action.  Program events and activities included: a mock polling place with Secretary of State, Mark Ritchie, roundtable conversations with state executive office candidates including State Auditor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General and in collaboration with the League of Women Voters, a gubernatorial debate.

 

Under Jahan’s leadership, an ongoing voter registration initiative actively and successfully registered students, staff, faculty, and community members in classes and at events. All eligible voters signed a pledge to vote on a large banner displayed in the skyway which was documented in the Pioneer Press and picked up across the country.  Mr. Powell worked effortlessly making sure that Metropolitan State’s commitment to civic engagement strengthened our ties to the communities we live in by encouraging our right to vote!

 

Civic Engagement is a cornerstone of Metropolitan State University, and Metro State Votes 2010 increased awareness about local and regional issues providing opportunities for students and community members to become involved in civic activities.

SMU Student-Athletes: Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s Presidents’ Student Leadership Award Recipient

Community service has become a hallmark of Saint Mary’s University (SMU) athletics, garnering national recognition in recent years.  Amy Kujak, a member of the Women’s Volleyball team and the Cardinal Athletic Council, represents all of the Saint Mary’s University Student-Athletes for the purpose of this award.

In 2007, the Cardinal Athletic Council (CAC) organized efforts to assist the flood ravaged communities around Winona.  The CAC coordinated efforts of 200 student-athletes and 100 other students to assist flood victims with clean-up.  These efforts led to the nation’s top community service award for NCAA Division III athletic departments – The Josten’s Community Service Award.  In 2008-09, student-athletes culminated a year of volunteering with a spring event – the CAC Play for Shay Day, inviting children from local communities to the SMU campus for an afternoon of sporting activities, and hosting a silent auction.  All proceeds were donated to a family with a child battling cancer.

Student-athletes again received the Josten’s Community Service Award – Honorable Mention, for a variety of activities during 2009-10, including raising money for cancer research, volunteering with elementary children, and collecting and donating food and Christmas gifts.  Approximately 300 student-athletes volunteered over 2000 hours, raising $5000 for charitable and community service causes.  Efforts in 2010-11 have included several events related to cancer awareness, painting classrooms at area schools, and food drives.

Mellon Curricular Pathways Leadership: Macalester College’s Presidents’ Civic Engagement Steward Award Recipient

Macalester’s Mellon Curricular Pathways initiative integrates civic engagement across the curriculum and engages the College’s mission of internationalism, multiculturalism, and service. Four concentrations—Human Rights and Humanitarianism (HRH), Community and Global Health (CGH), Urban Studies (US), and Global Citizenship (GC)—require student community engagement in research and/or core courses. Directed by community-engaged faculty, Curricular Pathways supports the creation of new courses, student/faculty research collaborations, faculty development seminars and campus-wide events that encourage inquiry across disciplines.

Student experiences best illustrate the profound effects of these concentrations, which are popular on campus. One example: In 2010, Central Chile experienced an earthquake while a Macalester student who was concentrating in Community and Global Health was studied traditional medicine and community empowerment in the northern half of the country. She shadowed doctors and nurses throughout Chile and Peru to learn about the traditional medicine of the Aymara and Mapuche people, participating in service projects wherever she went and completed an independent study project about hospital accessibility. This is one example of how the faculty and staff leadership in the Mellon Curricular Pathways initiative has supported civic engagement locally, nationally, and internationally.

John Burns: South Central College’s Presidents’ Civic Engagement Steward Award Recipient

John Burns

PCs for People

Since 1999, John Burns, faculty at South Central College (SCC) in the Computer Careers Program and his students in SCC’s Computer Technician program along with students from other educational institutions have been involved in a service-learning project, PCs for People. It is an on-going partnership between SCC, other area educational institutions and Blue Earth County Social Services.

Students participating in the project, utilizing their technical skills, have refurbished over 2,500 computers. Each donated computer from local businesses and individuals is wiped clean of all data and updated with current software. These computers are then offered for sale to low or limited income families for a $45.00 donation. Each computer system that is sold includes: A Computer that is loaded with standard software, a monitor, keyboard and a mouse. The equipment is under warranty for 90 days and will be replaced if it is not functional. After the 90 days, PCs for People will make repairs but will charge a small fee of $25.00. Over 3,000 computers have been donated, refurbished and provided to families and individuals over the last 7 years. PC’s for People has now evolved into its own non-profit corporation. See their website for more inf

DARTS: Inver Hills Community College’s Presidents’ Community Partner Award Recipient

DARTS

DARTS has been a long-standing community partner of Inver Hills.  DARTS provides service-learning opportunities for Nursing, Human Services and Psychology students.  Their commitment to our first semester Nursing students is remarkable.  Every semester, we count on DARTS to provide 5 semester 1 nursing students with an enriching service learning opportunity.  Students connect with DARTS seniors for one on one senior visits.  DARTS always attends our semester 1 orientations and is a reliable contact for students through out their experience.  DARTS often attends our civic engagement fairs and is a long time member of our Advisory Board.  We are honored to assist DARTS in fulfilling their mission of supporting seniors and we know they will continue to help us fulfill our goals of community engagement.

Project for Pride in Living: Saint Catherine University’s Presidents’ Community Partner Award Recipient

Peter Elwell and Joan Bennett, Project for Pride in Living

Project for Pride in Living’s mission is to “work with lower-income individuals and families to achieve greater self-sufficiency through housing, employment training, support services, and education.”  Joan Bennett, Youth Partnerships and Volunteer Coordinator, and Peter Elwell, Service Coordinator, are both deeply committed to the mission of PPL.  They both are natural relationship builders and have been strategic about partnering with higher education institutions to realize and mission and broaden their work with St. Paul PPL residents.

 

For the last few years, PPL has been a reliable and valuable community partner for St. Kate’s. Community Work and Learning has utilized PPL as a site for countless number of classes with a community work and learning component. Joan and Peter have encouraged college student participation and have worked with students/groups in one time experiences as well as ongoing participation. Along the way they have offered strong support and mentorship. In 2009, PPL was added as an America Reads tutoring site. America Reads tutors focus on literacy and homework while mentoring youth; these experiences are invaluable not only for PPL and its families, but also for St. Kate’s students to engage in a meaningful way in the community.

 

Joan and Peter’s creativity, energy, and wisdom enable our social justice work together to impact all participants-staff, youth, parents, college students, faculty-in ways we couldn’t have imagined possible.