Iu-Mien Community Services (UIMC, Inc.)

Mission Statement

The mission of our organization is to support and develop healthy Iu-Mien families and communities through culturally responsive programs and services.

History Prologue by Tony S. Lee, MS/MFTI

During the Vietnam War, the CIA recruited the Iu-Mien people and other mountain tribesmen from Laos to support their effort to prevent the spread of communism. The Mien sacrificed a great deal due to the lost of many friends and family members. Great Mien war heroes and soldiers fought bravely on behalf of their homeland and the United States. After the Fall of Saigon, Communist took power of the mountain regions of Laos and US forces were forced to withdraw from Southeast Asia. Multitudes of Mien and Hmong fled the mountains of Laos to refugee camps in Thailand and Vietnam to escape communist rule and persecution.

From 1976-1979, the first wave of Mien families arrived in the United States. The second wave of resettlement began when the Federal Refugee Resettlement Program was instituted with the Refugee Act of 1980. The Mien resettled throughout the U.S. and other countries throughout the world.

In the late 80s and early 90s the Iu-Mien community of Sacramento recognized that there was a need to bridge the communication gap throughout all communities because of language barriers, cultural differences, and social problems. Therefore, an agency was needed.

In 1994 the United Iu-Mien Community, Inc. Board of Directors was formed. In 2001, UIMC achieved non-profit status; Shortly thereafter in 2002, the California Endowment funded a grant to launch the UIMC private non-profit agency in the Greater Sacramento Area. As a result, on February 21, 2003, the United Iu-Mien Community, Inc., office opened its doors to serve the Iu-Mien population. On May 10, 2003, a Grand Opening Celebration was held to officially announce the opening of the new agency.

Today, UIMC, Inc., provides educational, health, and social services to more than 15,000 Iu-Mien people in the greater Sacramento area. We welcome and appreciate private and public donations to further develop and implement programs and services for the betterment of the Iu-Mien people.