Honoring 50 Years: A Learning from Place Tour of Hmong St. Paul

Image

Join the Minnesota Council on Foundations for an immersive learning experience commemorating the 50th anniversary recognizing the end of the Vietnam War/Southeast Asian Conflict. The day will include a guided tour hosted by the Minnesota Humanities Center, followed by a discussion with Hmong leaders. This event is made possible with support from the Bush Foundation.

The Minnesota Humanities Center’s Learning from Place: Hmong St. Paul 

Join us for a powerful, immersive experience of St. Paul — home to the largest urban Hmong population in the U.S. This year marks 50 years since the U.S. withdrew from the Southeast Asia conflict, a turning point that forced the Hmong — recruited by the CIA as special ground forces — to flee genocide and begin new lives as refugees in the U.S.  Guided by educator Chong Yang, we’ll begin with a short bus tour of Hmong landmarks, including the Minnesota Memorial to the United States and Alliance Special Forces in Laos, commemorating those who served in the “Secret War” from 1961-1975. We’ll then visit Hmong Cultural Center Museum and explore Hmong history and traditions passed down through oral storytelling, music, and textiles.  From there we will visit Minnesota’s iconic HmongTown Marketplace, an intergenerational space of family, culture and commerce with over 200 vendors (many having limited English). We'll meet founder Toua Xiong and hear his extraordinary story of survival and perseverance. Today, Toua is leading the development to transform vacant department stores in Maplewood Mall into HmongTown 2.0 — a bold vision to support the next generation. There will be time to shop so bring cash (and a shopping bag) and support local vendors.

Watch a short video of MHC’s 2021 inaugural Learning from Place: Hmong St. Paul event.

MCF Facilitated Conversation with Hmong Leaders 

We will wrap up the day in conversation with Hmong leaders who will help us tie our learnings back to our work in the philanthropic and nonprofit landscape. 

• Mala Thao, Vice President, Individual Giving & Donor Diversification, Greater Twin Cities United Way
• May yer Thao, President & CEO, Hmong American Partnership
• Bo Thao-Urabe, Founder and President, Seed. Grow. Bloom LLC
• MayKao Fredericks, Chief Humanities Officer, Minnesota Humanities Center
• Pakou Hang, Vice President, Program, Northwest Area Foundation

Why It Matters 

For philanthropy, this is an opportunity to expand how community impact is seen and supported — to recognize that transformation may live in places and practices that fall outside conventional funding paths and programs yet hold deep power in changing the trajectory of a community and generation.

Schedule

8:15 am | Parking and check in at Minnesota Humanities Center, 987 Ivy Ave. E., St Paul

8:30 am | Welcome and Introductions

9:00 am | Bus departs

9:00 am - 1:30 pm | Tour
•    Bus tour of Hmong businesses and landmarks with community facilitator
•    Hmong Cultural Center Museum
•    HmongTown Marketplace

1:30 pm | Bus returns to MHC

1:45 – 3:00 pm | Closing conversation with Hmong philanthropic and nonprofit leaders

Attendees will have time to pick up lunch on their own at HmongTown Marketplace. Please consider bringing cash, as not all vendors take cards. While we will spend most of our time indoors, we plan to be outside for a short period so dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes; much of the day will be spent standing and walking. Participants will be equipped with audio units at check in – devices are compatible with a personal headphone jack. Please bring your own headphones if you have them.

MCF takes seriously the health of staff, members and other stakeholders. Please see the public health measures that we've instituted for in-person programming. In order to create the best in-person experience, this event will not be simulcast. Learn more here.

For additional information, please reach out to Khin Oo at [email protected]. 

Pick Your Discount Offer

Choose between two ways to save.

Group Rate: Bring your team. Buy 2 registrations and get the 3rd for ½ price. Available only for registrants from the same organization.

Two Tour Rate: Join MCF on two tours this year. Pay full price for the higher-cost tour and get the second event for ½ price. Cannot be split between two people. Choose two of these three tours:

• Wednesday, July 16 - Honoring 50 Years: A Learning from Place Tour of Hmong St. Paul
• Thursday, September 4 - Northland Tour of Ojibwe Places
• Monday, October 6 and Tuesday, October 7 - Dakota Places: Southwestern Minnesota History and Culture Tour

Each registrant may only take advantage of one discount option. Email Khin Oo at [email protected] if you'd like to participate.