Local Story WQOW re: connecting the community and schools

Picnic Helps Shorten Cultural Gap
It can be difficult for minority groups, especially immigrants, to
become part of a new community. This is why the Eau Claire school
district along with members of the Hmong community are working to help
bring the two communities closer. The picnic held in Eau Claire Sunday
afternoon is designed to help shorten the cultural gap.

"We are looking for ways to connect families with the community."
Blia Schwahn says many Hmong parents still have a hard time getting
involved with the Eau Claire community. She says the cultural
differences make it difficult to adjust.

"If you are a larger group of minorities, often times it's harder to
go out to the larger community." Blia said.

"Pretty much everything is unique; everything is a lot different...
that we haven't seen before. So pretty much everything's new."
Xai Xiong grew up in Eau Claire. He says it wasn't easy for his family
to adjust, but they now know some of the benefits to reaching out to a
new culture.

"I am the first generation of my family to graduate from college, so
it's very exciting, it's like a milestone." Xai added.

"I think our community has grown immensely both in terms of social
capital, in terms of diversity, and in terms of the richness of the
Chippewa Valley." says Julie Bomar, an Eau Claire Resident and
co-organizer of the picnic.

Xai says holding on to tradition is important for the Hmong community,
but growing new roots in this community is important for future
generations.
"Since we were here already, we helped... like the new refugees
arrived, we helped them better and they understand better because we
can explain it to them."