Boys & Girls Club of Portage County opens site embracing Hmong culture and language

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) -Boys & Girls Club of Portage County has opened a new site at McKinley Elementary School to help Hmong students connect to their culture and language.

The Hmong JumpStart program opened on Oct. 3. Staff say students will also receive literacy and homework support, and build leadership & social skills.

Mai Yang is the Hmong UPLIFT Coordinator for CAP Services. UPLIFT assists Hmong parents in setting goals and gaining the skills and knowledge to advance while modeling the importance of education to their children. She said they have never had a program like this in the Stevens Point area.

“We hired three Hmong bilingual employees with the Boys and Girls Club. They’ll teach about Hmong history. They’ll do songs, music... There’ll be reading and she’ll teach the Hmong language like to write and speak Hmong.

To learn more, call 715-321-3095 or email huab.moua@bgclubpc.org.

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