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| 1/16/2008 3:52:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | Mary Yang
Amy Doeun
Mary Yang is a member of the "bridging generation." Her birth in 1981 in Sheboygan, WI linked her family and her life between Laos and the U.S. But that was not the end for Mary. As a young child she moved frequently. She got her undergraduate degree at Mount Holyoke and a Master's degree at the University of Sussex in English literature with a focus on colonial and post-colonial cultures. "It was one of the best years of my life, "Yang recalls.
Currently Yang works in communications and marketing at the St. Paul Area Association of Realtors. But that is not where her real passion lies. "I write. Being a Hmong American writer sets you apart in a lot of ways so really supporting that is important. In our culture it is viewed as something extra, I think it's essential."
"Two years ago Mai Neng Moua (founder of HAIL-Hmong American Institute for Learning) sat down with me and discussed our thoughts on the Hmong arts community in the area." Shortly Moua left her position at HAIL. "When she left I came in as the chair." Yang added that both she and Moua felt there "needed to be more support for the art community ... cultivate our own talents and help it grow."
Almost 14 years ago the Hmong journal Paj Ntaub Voice started. HAIL grew out of this journal to "house Paj Ntaub Voice." In 2003 HAIL got its 501c3 status.
Being the chair of the board is a big responsibility. Yang is half-way through a 2-year term. Much of the work consists of monthly meetings to go over all programming, grants, grant writing, fundraising. "We just started artist residencies, putting them [artists] in elementary schools to help cultivate art in elementary schools." Yer Vang is doing Paj Ntaub in the school district. Two artists are working with the program with hopes of adding a 3rd. "We are hoping the program can be used as a base throughout the city and community as how you can use art to incorporate it into the lesson plan for young children."
Of her work Yang enthusiastically stated, "Art isn't appreciated as much as it should be, that's something I really care about and want to push for." There are big things happening at HAIL including a name change (not chosen yet) and developing ideas for the 2008 issues of Paj Ntaub Voice, in addition to the completion of the strategic plan. Short term goals include "getting more publicity within the community; the just finished strategic plan; wanting to get programming back in order; and getting our name back in the community." Long term goals (5-10 years) are "we really want to take it nationally. We'd like to have a better reach for and better community for art."
For those in the community Yang wants to make sure everyone knows HAIL is here and wants to help.
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St. Paul, MN
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