More than 1,000 Hmong Americans from across the country will be in Fresno, CA this weekend for the 6th Hmong National Development Conference, reports the Fresno Bee.
“We’re marking the closing of the refugee period,” said Seng Vang, the conference co-chairman. “We’ve been here almost 40 years. It’s time to move on and focus” on what the community needs now.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Journey Forward: The Next Chapter of Hmong Americans.” Among the featured speaker will be Mee Moua, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center. (pictured here)
Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/04/01/3239663/hmong-national-conference-back.html#storylink=cpy
According to the Fresno Bee., 44 percent of Hmong Americans are under 18. One of the goals of the conference this year is to support Hmong youth. Another is to reduce the poverty rate which at 25 percent is more than twice the national average.
More details on the conference which gets underway Friday can be found in the Fresno Bee.