WOAA-Madison Spring Potluck Panel
“Being Asian American in Wisconsin”
“Being Asian American in Wisconsin”
hear their priorities, and both figure out how they can move forward together. She added that
sometimes if you’re too combative or too angry, you can’t make it better. “You’re intellectually
stimulated, mature and ready, but not emotionally ready.”
Community service
Speaker I commented that in the Hmong community, it’s not necessary to keep pushing
people or encouraging them to keep moving up. “What the Hmong look for is that despite the title
that you have, you’re still back in the community, you still provide that assistance,” she stressed.
“So if you’re a president of an organization and you don’t go back to your community, you in a
sense get disowned, ignored and avoided because you’re not serving your community anymore. I’
ve noticed that the people who have moved up have lost ties with the Hmong community.” She
said that maybe it’s because the Hmong community is a low-income, poor community in
Madison, that what they’re really looking for are social services and human services that can
really help them move up on a daily basis. Speaker I said she respects the Hmong community
and would always work to help them.
Political/Civic involvement
Speaker J said that Asian Americans must be involved in the larger political picture, and
named some who are now members of commissions and committees in Madison. “We need to be
visible,” Speaker J urged everyone. “As one of them, I worked in polling stations every time there
sometimes if you’re too combative or too angry, you can’t make it better. “You’re intellectually
stimulated, mature and ready, but not emotionally ready.”
Community service
Speaker I commented that in the Hmong community, it’s not necessary to keep pushing
people or encouraging them to keep moving up. “What the Hmong look for is that despite the title
that you have, you’re still back in the community, you still provide that assistance,” she stressed.
“So if you’re a president of an organization and you don’t go back to your community, you in a
sense get disowned, ignored and avoided because you’re not serving your community anymore. I’
ve noticed that the people who have moved up have lost ties with the Hmong community.” She
said that maybe it’s because the Hmong community is a low-income, poor community in
Madison, that what they’re really looking for are social services and human services that can
really help them move up on a daily basis. Speaker I said she respects the Hmong community
and would always work to help them.
Political/Civic involvement
Speaker J said that Asian Americans must be involved in the larger political picture, and
named some who are now members of commissions and committees in Madison. “We need to be
visible,” Speaker J urged everyone. “As one of them, I worked in polling stations every time there
| (Above) Pahoua Thao |
(From top) (l-r) Melba Jesudason, Debby
Tewes; (l-r) Renee Moe, Blia Xiong; (l-r)
Ashok Bhargava, Sharyl Kato; Anu
Parthasarathy and her family with Lilian Tong
Tewes; (l-r) Renee Moe, Blia Xiong; (l-r)
Ashok Bhargava, Sharyl Kato; Anu
Parthasarathy and her family with Lilian Tong
By Heidi M. Pascual
Part 2 of 2
It was another issue-focused social gathering of Asian
Americans and friends at Regina and Robert Cowell’s home on May
31, courtesy of the Wisconsin Organization for Asian Americans
(WOAA). After a relaxing outdoor Qigong session led by Gina,
introductions, networking, and a sumptuous dinner consisting of
many Asian dishes, we settled down to listen to four panelists who
tackled the topic “Being an Asian American in Wisconsin.” The
panelists were Saraswathy “Anu” Parthasarathy, Ashok Bhargava,
Blia Xiong, and Renee Moe. Each described his/her xperiences —
as a working mother in a corporate setting; a retired educator in a
“political activist” role; a university student; and an executive in a
nonprofit doing human services work. Lynet Uttal, director of Asian
American Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, facilitated
the discussion. WOAA co-chairs Lakshmi Sridharan and Sharyl Kato
welcomed the members and guests in attendance, each expressing
their pleasure and excitement at the opportunity to learn from each
other’s unique experiences. This last installment is a summary of the
rest of WOAA’s discussion.
Part 2 of 2
It was another issue-focused social gathering of Asian
Americans and friends at Regina and Robert Cowell’s home on May
31, courtesy of the Wisconsin Organization for Asian Americans
(WOAA). After a relaxing outdoor Qigong session led by Gina,
introductions, networking, and a sumptuous dinner consisting of
many Asian dishes, we settled down to listen to four panelists who
tackled the topic “Being an Asian American in Wisconsin.” The
panelists were Saraswathy “Anu” Parthasarathy, Ashok Bhargava,
Blia Xiong, and Renee Moe. Each described his/her xperiences —
as a working mother in a corporate setting; a retired educator in a
“political activist” role; a university student; and an executive in a
nonprofit doing human services work. Lynet Uttal, director of Asian
American Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, facilitated
the discussion. WOAA co-chairs Lakshmi Sridharan and Sharyl Kato
welcomed the members and guests in attendance, each expressing
their pleasure and excitement at the opportunity to learn from each
other’s unique experiences. This last installment is a summary of the
rest of WOAA’s discussion.
| (l-r) Lynet Uttal and Lakshmi Sridharan |
Asking questions/controlling anger
Speaker H brought up gender differences at work and how that
determines people’s approach to different circumstances. “I really
believe it’s important to have stirring and to bring up questions
about problems. A lot of times, when we’re asking the question, we
can bring up issues and concerns that people don’t even
recognize were there because they never thought about them,
even if they have referenced to think about these issues.” Speaker
H posited that when one asks questions without being angry,
people actually step back and listen, hear your interests; you then
Speaker H brought up gender differences at work and how that
determines people’s approach to different circumstances. “I really
believe it’s important to have stirring and to bring up questions
about problems. A lot of times, when we’re asking the question, we
can bring up issues and concerns that people don’t even
recognize were there because they never thought about them,
even if they have referenced to think about these issues.” Speaker
H posited that when one asks questions without being angry,
people actually step back and listen, hear your interests; you then
is voting. So we need to be out there in the larger community, to show that we are also Americans and we are willing to serve the greater
population.”
Speaker G concurred and said he is also involved in the Committee on Aging, just like Paul Kusuda. “Paul, you know, has done a huge
amount of work in the political process,” Speaker G said. “There are a lot of services available for the elderly and each one of us (in this
committee) informs elderly people who might need help for transportation, for meals, or for being taken to doctors’ appointment.” He said their
present goal is to connect caregivers and elderly people together and have people from the Dept. of Human Services, Dane County and the
City to come and talk about available services. “If anybody knows anyone who needs help, feel free to contact me and I will be happy to put
them in touch with appropriate persons,” Speaker G said.
Responding to this comment, Speaker D pointed out some barriers to getting services. “A lot of folks are unwilling to come forward. They
may know about the available services but either: 1) language gets in the way, or 2) there are so many scam artists out there that are just sharks
anxious to take advantage of these folks. So promoting the organizations and services is one thing, but we have to supplement that with
education and we have to get people that the community trusts, to be spokespeople or shepherds for these organizations.”
Losing vs. keeping one’s culture
Speaker A observed that on the UW campus, a surprising number of Hmong students don’t know or speak Hmong and asked how much of the
Hmong culture is preserved since the youth become Americanized. Speaker E responded, “It’s hard, especially when we’re younger. If we speak
a certain language, automatically they put you in the EL or in English as a Second Language … and it’s really hard because you want to speak
English and (there was) no speaking Hmong at school, so from elementary school all the way up, we can only speak English. And that’s what
makes the lack of room for Hmong culture. Also, (while in Thailand with the Hmong elders) we lived in a certain way where kids learn by
watching our traditions. In America, the parents are more concerned about working rather than teaching these things. So children try to learn as
much as they can; but it’s really hard. “
Speaker A said that she took the Hmong class now being offered at UW-Madison to learn more about Hmong culture. Speaker G followed
through by saying, “We have the best system in the world of making sure that all second languages are killed. That’s the reason why.”
Speaker I commented that she was surprised to hear that many Hmong girls entering college didn’t even know how to cook. “I just felt like,
‘Are you kidding me?’ But then again, you got to factor in the family and how (chidren) grew up. My parents taught us, I guess, the good ways,
which is the harder way to cook rice versus putting it in the rice cooker. But I think there’s a lot of students who fought so hard to be American,
that when they got to college — including myself — they finally realize, ‘Oh, I’m the other, as well!’ And maybe even more so the other. And so
I think, at least, when I was on campus, we came together more because we realized that 8 of 10 are White students, and so if there’s just two of
us, maybe it’s better that we stick together. I think that’s slowly happening, that Hmong youth are starting to realize it. So even though a lot of
people came in having lost a lot (of the Hmong culture), they are starting to relearn it, and they realize from their parents that there’s certain
things that they should keep; and see how beautiful the language is.”
Speaker B said they stopped speaking their native language at home and used English only just to prove to the school that their child’s first
language is English. “The irony of it was, a year later, they came around and said, ‘We want to teach her Spanish, because it’s good to have a
second language; the more languages they know, the better.” (laughter)
Speaker C shared a similar experience with her daughter. “Just like yours, she said ‘I don’t want anything to do with the Indian community. I
want to be like all my other friends!’ It was not easy for me to accept that. But now that she is an adult, she wants to make sure that her children
— who are only part-Indian — learn everything Indian.” (laughter)
The attendees also discussed the differences between being Asian American in Wisconsin and being Asian American in other states like
Hawaii and California where there are huge Asian American populations. One speaker said that the feeling of “isolation” is common for Asian
Americans here in Wisconsin, regardless of whether one has a supportive family because of the environment outside the home. However, as you
get older and more comfortable, you realize, “I have the opportunity to help people understand that I really have a lot of leverage, because I’m
unique, and I’m different,” she said, because an Asian American has the best of both Asian and American cultural values.
This WOAA gathering ended with all those present either becoming a new member or renewing their membership, a sure sign of how excited
they were about being part of this organization.
population.”
Speaker G concurred and said he is also involved in the Committee on Aging, just like Paul Kusuda. “Paul, you know, has done a huge
amount of work in the political process,” Speaker G said. “There are a lot of services available for the elderly and each one of us (in this
committee) informs elderly people who might need help for transportation, for meals, or for being taken to doctors’ appointment.” He said their
present goal is to connect caregivers and elderly people together and have people from the Dept. of Human Services, Dane County and the
City to come and talk about available services. “If anybody knows anyone who needs help, feel free to contact me and I will be happy to put
them in touch with appropriate persons,” Speaker G said.
Responding to this comment, Speaker D pointed out some barriers to getting services. “A lot of folks are unwilling to come forward. They
may know about the available services but either: 1) language gets in the way, or 2) there are so many scam artists out there that are just sharks
anxious to take advantage of these folks. So promoting the organizations and services is one thing, but we have to supplement that with
education and we have to get people that the community trusts, to be spokespeople or shepherds for these organizations.”
Losing vs. keeping one’s culture
Speaker A observed that on the UW campus, a surprising number of Hmong students don’t know or speak Hmong and asked how much of the
Hmong culture is preserved since the youth become Americanized. Speaker E responded, “It’s hard, especially when we’re younger. If we speak
a certain language, automatically they put you in the EL or in English as a Second Language … and it’s really hard because you want to speak
English and (there was) no speaking Hmong at school, so from elementary school all the way up, we can only speak English. And that’s what
makes the lack of room for Hmong culture. Also, (while in Thailand with the Hmong elders) we lived in a certain way where kids learn by
watching our traditions. In America, the parents are more concerned about working rather than teaching these things. So children try to learn as
much as they can; but it’s really hard. “
Speaker A said that she took the Hmong class now being offered at UW-Madison to learn more about Hmong culture. Speaker G followed
through by saying, “We have the best system in the world of making sure that all second languages are killed. That’s the reason why.”
Speaker I commented that she was surprised to hear that many Hmong girls entering college didn’t even know how to cook. “I just felt like,
‘Are you kidding me?’ But then again, you got to factor in the family and how (chidren) grew up. My parents taught us, I guess, the good ways,
which is the harder way to cook rice versus putting it in the rice cooker. But I think there’s a lot of students who fought so hard to be American,
that when they got to college — including myself — they finally realize, ‘Oh, I’m the other, as well!’ And maybe even more so the other. And so
I think, at least, when I was on campus, we came together more because we realized that 8 of 10 are White students, and so if there’s just two of
us, maybe it’s better that we stick together. I think that’s slowly happening, that Hmong youth are starting to realize it. So even though a lot of
people came in having lost a lot (of the Hmong culture), they are starting to relearn it, and they realize from their parents that there’s certain
things that they should keep; and see how beautiful the language is.”
Speaker B said they stopped speaking their native language at home and used English only just to prove to the school that their child’s first
language is English. “The irony of it was, a year later, they came around and said, ‘We want to teach her Spanish, because it’s good to have a
second language; the more languages they know, the better.” (laughter)
Speaker C shared a similar experience with her daughter. “Just like yours, she said ‘I don’t want anything to do with the Indian community. I
want to be like all my other friends!’ It was not easy for me to accept that. But now that she is an adult, she wants to make sure that her children
— who are only part-Indian — learn everything Indian.” (laughter)
The attendees also discussed the differences between being Asian American in Wisconsin and being Asian American in other states like
Hawaii and California where there are huge Asian American populations. One speaker said that the feeling of “isolation” is common for Asian
Americans here in Wisconsin, regardless of whether one has a supportive family because of the environment outside the home. However, as you
get older and more comfortable, you realize, “I have the opportunity to help people understand that I really have a lot of leverage, because I’m
unique, and I’m different,” she said, because an Asian American has the best of both Asian and American cultural values.
This WOAA gathering ended with all those present either becoming a new member or renewing their membership, a sure sign of how excited
they were about being part of this organization.