Inaugural Hmong Economic Advancement, Research, And Equity (HERE) Conference Coming To Eau Claire, WI September 14-16, 2022

By Danielle Leon

On Hmong American Day, HALED announces conference focused on Hmong and ethnic entrepreneurs.

With Hmong American Day and Wisconsin’s Hmong-Lao Veterans Day approaching on May 14, 2022, Hmong American Leadership & Economic Development (HALED) of Eau Claire is proud to announce that a first-in-the-nation conference and summit on Hmong American economic advancement, the Hmong Economic Advancement, Research, and Equity (HERE) Conference will be hosted September 14-16, 2022, at Pablo Center at the Confluence in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

The two-day hybrid conference and one-day summit offers entrepreneurs, business professionals, and policymakers the opportunity to explore strategies to build wealth equity for Hmong and other ethnic entrepreneurs.

“More than 45 years after the first Hmong refugees came to America, second and third generation Hmong Americans still face obstacles to building their social and economic capital,” said Mai Xiong, HERE Conference chair and founder, president, and CEO of HALED. “The 2022 HERE Conference and Summit is an inclusive, imaginative effort to provide ethnic entrepreneurs and policymakers alike with resources, networking opportunities, and research insights to help this community thrive.”

Conference attendees will benefit from impactful programming while networking with industry leaders, connecting with mentors, and receiving free business consultations. A September 14 banquet, “Igniting Your Potential Through Local Support,” and a September 15 “Little Mekong Night Market” in Phoenix Park, emulating the feel of a Southeast Asian outdoor market, will add unique experiential elements to the conference.

Hmong people living in Laos and Vietnam assisted the United States in the Vietnam War but faced retaliation following the war’s conclusion. Beginning in 1975, thousands of Hmong refugees resettled in the United States. According to Pew Research and U.S. Census data, the U.S. is now home to more than 325,000 Hmong Americans, with the greatest populations living in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and California.

Xiong, who also vice-chairs the Wisconsin Governor’s Council on Equity and Inclusion, has engaged statewide organizations and national partners to develop the HERE Conference’s broad and inclusive offerings. Keynote speakers will include members of the State and Federal government with expertise in advancing ethnic and rural populations, with more details being announced in the coming months.

Organizers aim to bring 300-500 conference attendees to Eau Claire in September 2022. Early-bird registration runs now through June 30.