About UIMC, Inc.
Mission Statement
The mission of United Iu-Mien Community, Inc. is to “help preserve and teach the Iu-Mien culture, assist Iu-Mien to adjust to living in America and to promote a healthy community through education, advocacy, mentoring, outreach and other support services and referrals that are culturally appropriate and in the spirit of collaboration to bridge cultural and language barriers in mainstream society.
History Prologue by Tony Lee
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.
| "Iu-Mien History: From China to the US" by Fahm Finh SaetuernIu Mien History The early history of the Iu-Mien (Yao) is obscure and unclear. Much of it has been passed down through oral myths and legends, for few written historical records exist. The available records were written by the Han Chinese, and while they offer important glimpses into early Yao history, perhaps these records raise more questions than it answers. (click to read more...)
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"A Dream Became Reality" by Chiem-Seng Yaangh IMSC History It was not long after I moved my family to Sacramento in 1996 that I became aware of the needs of the Iu-Mien community. I met two Chinese Community Advocates who kept telling me, "There are a lot of needs in the Mien community. You must do something for your community!" While I was working for the Boys & Girls of Greater Sacramento, I (informally) got to know different leaders and members in the community. The more I became aware of the needs, the more convinced that I must do something for the community. I wanted to do something that all of the Mien people can get excited about regardless of where we came from in Laos or our different faiths. It was then that the concept of the Iu-Mien Student Conference became a dream. (click to read more...) |
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