After the Vietnam War, many Hmong people found themselves as refugees. The resettlement of some to the United States began in 1975, with multiple waves continuing until 2006. Today Minneapolis-St. Paul is home to the largest urban Hmong population in the world. The Hmong people in Minnesota have developed a strong and vibrant community in their chapter of the immigrant story in America.
May 18, 2012 - As part of the Minnesota Mix series, MPR’s Nikki Tundel reports on the Qhia Dab Neeg Film Festival in St. Paul. Qhia Dab Neeg means "storytelling" in Hmong. Tundel talks with the festival director and a filmmaker about the message of normalizing the perspective of a Hmong American here in the U.S.
July 30, 2012 - MPR’s Sasha Aslanian reports on the differing viewpoints of various Hmong community groups over the proposed constitutional amendment on marriage.
September 26, 2012 - MPR’s Nikki Tundel profiles Pao Her, a Hmong photographer beginning a new visual arts tradition. The photography showcases the Hmong American experience through the eyes of someone who, as a child, often felt smothered by her Hmong culture.
April 3, 2013 - MPR’s Julie Siple reports that a group of Hmong leaders in the Twin Cities say more needs to be done to prevent violence within their community. A meeting at the Hmong Village in St. Paul came after several recent deadly cases, including a domestic dispute that left three people dead.
May 6, 2013 - Funerals are considered the most elaborate and important of all Hmong ceremonies. MPR’s Nikki Tundel looks at how St. Paul’s Hmong Cultural Center wants to integrate the ancient heritage into modern Hmong society.
June 28, 2013 - On this episode of Minnesota Sounds and Voices, MPR’s Dan Olson profiles several women's Hmong American flag football teams as they prepare to compete at this year's Hmong Freedom Celebration. Playing the game was a formidable cultural hurdle the young Hmong American women had to overcome, as families place a high value on women as wives rather than competitors.
November 12, 2013 - MPR’s Curtis Gilbert reports on St. Paul electing its first Hmong American city council member. Dai Thao is an information technology specialist who’s never run for office before. He won a special election against six other candidates after the ranked-choice vote count took place.
July 15, 2014 - On this Appetites segment, Tom Crann interviews Minnesota author Beth Dooley about the various food offerings of Hmong growers at farmers markets in the Twin Cities.
July 31, 2014 - On this episode of Minnesota Sounds and Voices, MPR’s Dan Olson talks with Chue Vang about his family’s experience fleeing Laos and coming to the U.S. as refugees. Today, he aims to honor the opportunities found in his adopted home and a late brother with a new scholarship for Hmong students.
August 14, 2014 - As part of the MPR News Young Reporter series, Mai Tong Yang reports on how vendors at Hmongtown Marketplace have been participating in Emergency and Community Health Outreach, a program to help them understand and follow state law. The nonprofit organization, also known as ECHO, works with refugee and immigrant communities in Minnesota to create a safe community environment.