Hmong American Partnership Let Go Its Ex Dir...

I read this in the paper this morning and found several points
disturbing--will elaborate in a follow-up posting.

But...what are your thoughts on this?

What additional information, if any, can you shed about this?

Thanks.

~Frank Lis

(Here is the full article without respect to copyrights.)

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St. Paul Pioneer Press, March 20, 2007
===========================================
St. Paul / Interim hire causes stir in Hmong community
Agency official reports complaints, death threat after director
replaced with black woman
BY LAURA YUEN
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 03/29/2007 11:41:35 PM CDT


When board members of the Hmong American Partnership temporarily
replaced their longstanding director with a black woman, they had no
idea it would spark outrage, harassing phone calls and even a death
threat from community members.

But last week's departure of William Yang - and the hiring of Sarita
Turner as the organization's interim director - has fueled a
controversy some say is about culture and gender.

Hundreds of angry people poured into the partnership's Hmong American
Center in St. Paul for a community meeting earlier this week to
address the issue.

Michael Yang, a vocal critic of the decision, said the community is
seeking clarity but isn't getting any answers.

"Mr. Yang has been executive director for 12-plus years, and the board
terminated him and immediately replaced him with a non-Hmong person,"
Michael Yang said. "People are just outraged, and nobody knows what's
going on."

William Yang was the longest-serving director in the organization's 17-
year history. On March 20, the board notified him the two parties
should part ways, said board chairwoman Keo Chang. Board members found
a temporary replacement in Turner, a consultant with St. Paul-based
Meyer Consulting, which assists organizations in transition.

Keo Chang declined to say whether Yang resigned or was fired. But
board members unanimously agreed Yang could not take the social
service organization in a new direction, she said. She said she could
not say more for legal reasons, but her silence has further upset the
community.

"We really can't disparage William in any way," she said.
"Unfortunately, we weren't able to give them a specific reason."

Board members decided not to hire a person of Hmong descent for the
interim position because they wanted to give such candidates a fair
shot at the permanent job, Keo Chang added. She said the next
executive director will be Hmong.

But now, some opponents are challenging the 10-member board - split
equally between Hmong and non-Hmong - to "prove how Hmong we are," Keo
Chang said. The board's critics, especially elders, also have singled
her out because she's a woman.

"They say things like, 'Hmong women can't lead. How can they go
against God's order? This is a prime example of bad leadership by
Hmong women,' " Keo Chang said.

Privately, she said she has received harassing phone calls and a death
threat. When she returned to her apartment complex two nights this
week, her security door was destroyed, she said.

Keo Chang said most of the board's critics are related to William Yang
and do not reflect the opinions of the broader community.

Yang did not immediately return calls to his cell phone Thursday
evening.

Hmong American Partnership is one of the largest Hmong refugee
agencies in the country, offering English classes, job placement and
other services to low-income families. There has been a recent push to
expand the organization - and take on such roles as advocacy work and
training for political office - to better meet the needs of the
younger generation.

The board is conducting a national search and hopes to have a new
director in place by August.

.

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