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Izzy S. | Emily
Leaders in Laos were different than leaders
here. Most when they came lost most of their power. They lost
their money, their respect, their jobs and much more. Though
most still aren’t as respected as in Laos, they have
slowly gained back their leadership.
Leadership in the Hmong community requires any number of
things such as knowledge of traditions, an important job in
ceremonies, a respectable job outside of the community, a
willingness to help others and you usually have to be an elder.
In the Hmong community they usually don’t appoint leaders.
It’s not one of those things that people give to you
like a higher position at work. The Hmong community just starts
thinking about you as someone to go talk to when you need
help. Leaders include people with some of these talents: Shamanism,
qeej playing, other instruments like flutes and most often
speak English as well as Hmong.
–Izzy S.
There are many businesses with important
Hmong leaders. For instance, in Lemke Cheese, the head of
human resources (the guy who hires and fires people) is Hmong.
His name in Chang Yang and ever since he got here, there have
been increases in the Hmong workforce. They are lucky. Many
of the Hmong are very ambitious, and want to work. Since Chang
can speak Hmong and English, he is a very good human resource
manager.
And at L. Jay Shoe factory, the manager is Hmong, the accountant
is Hmong, all of the workers but a few are Hmong, and their
little business is the biggest supplier to the Weinbrenner
Shoe Company.
–Emily
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