This past Asian American (AAPIDA) Heritage Month was one of particular importance for us here at UW-Madison. April 2025 marks the 50th year of the end of the Vietnam War that triggered the displacement and plight of Southeast Asian Refugees’ journeys to the United States. Since then, Wisconsin is, proudly, home to the third-largest Hmong refugee diaspora in the country.
In honor of the 50th year commemoration and Hmong American Day (May 14th), AAS Faculty were invited to the Capitol to stand with WI legislators in passing two proclamations that honor the resilience of Lao, Vietnamese, and Hmong refugees in America. In particular, Dr. Mai See Thao was invited by State Representative Francesca Hong and the WI’s new Legislative Asian Caucus to speak at the press conference with Hmong community leaders. Dr. Thao spoke on healing, resilience, and emphasized how her training in anthropology informs how she thinks about this historical moment.
Additionally, Dr. Thao and Dr. Kong Peng Pha also presented at a community-curated exhibit, in partnership with the WI Historical Society. The exhibit, then, was requested by State Representative Billings to display panels at the Capital for state legislators to learn more about Hmong history.
We are incredibly proud and in awe of the work our faculty continues to do to uplift both scholarship and community. Thank you for a fantastic and incredibly meaningful end of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month!