Hmong students celebrate their heritage at California State University, Chico. Photo Courtesy of Hmong Cultural Center of Butte County

CHICO, CA (MPG) - An inspiring event celebrating the Hmong journey will take place at Chico State bringing together Hmong students, faculty, staff and professionals from across Butte County in a powerful collaboration to honor their history and uplift the next generation. 

The event, 50 Years of Resilience: Honoring the Hmong Journey and Advancing Mental Health for Future Generations, will be held on Saturday, March 29, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Bell Memorial Union (BMU 100). The event is free and open to the public. While the event is geared toward Hmong youth, Hmong elders, and behavioral health professionals, anyone interested in learning more about the past 50 years of Hmong history and their resettlement in the United States, including Butte County, is invited. 

Keynote speaker Dr. Calvin Yang, a renowned Hmong mental health and cultural resilience expert, will lead a workshop for young Hmong men. Other interactive workshops will focus on strategies to address mental health, immigration and cultural preservation. 

Judy Vang, lead organizer of the event and program coordinator for the Bilingual Bridges Behavioral Health Program at Chico State’s School of Social Work, said, “Hmong people have been in Butte County for several decades. Although we have faced various problems, including mental health issues, the Hmong community remains resilient and is still here. That is what we want to highlight.”  

A group of Hmong elders enjoy an outing with the Hmong Cultural Center of Butte County to foster relationships and avoid isolation. Photo Courtesy of Hmong Cultural Center of Butte County

Tracy Vue, a Chico State student helping plan the event, said they were motivated to be a part of an event that would help a new generation of Hmong people better understand their mental health and prevent ongoing trauma from being passed through generations.

 “Our older generation went through the trauma of war and displacement and have mental health issues, but it doesn't need to be passed down where it can also hurt this or the next generation,” Vue said. 

The Hmong, an American ally during the Vietnam War in the lesser-known Secret War, fled Laos following the withdrawal of American troops from Southeast Asia. Since 1975, Hmong have resettled as refugees in various parts of the world and the United States. Their experiences with the war, forced migration and life in the United States have shaped their mental health. Most recently, one study found that 72% of Hmong elders reported depressive symptoms. Even with mental health challenges, the Hmong’s survival tells a story of familial and cultural strengths that keep the community together. Through perseverance, Butte County is home to a longstanding and vibrant Hmong community today. 

Registration for the event is required as seats are limited. Registration information for the event can be found at csuchico.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a4TBuPUrwxZ6Wvc.

The event was made possible with funding from the California Department of Health Care Access and Information, the Center for Wellness and Nutrition (a program of the Public Health Institute), with funding from the California Department of Public Health, the Hmong Cultural Center of Butte County, the Bilingual Bridges Behavioral Health Program at California State University, Chico School of Social Work, the Asian Pacific Islander and Desi American Resource Center at California State University, Chico, and United Way of Northern California.