multicultiralismexperience533

[multicultiralismexperience533]

Counseling Strategies

With Hmong individuals and those in need, a counselor must uphold a multicultural counseling approach. This means that they acknowledge and value diversity while understanding how cultural factors like race, ethnicity, and gender can influence mental health and individual well-being.

Hmong culture places a lot of value on family and community ties. Involving family members (with the client’s consent) in the counseling process may help the client feel supported and understood. Additionally, family members often play a central role in decision-making and emotional support. Understanding Hmong culture, such as the importance of family, respect for elders, the significance of spirituality and rituals, and gender roles, is essential to be an effective counselor. Many Hmong people have strong spiritual beliefs and may seek out traditional healers (shamans or spiritual leaders), these individuals may be a welcome addition to counseling with the client's consent. Counselors should acknowledge and respect these spiritual beliefs, even if they are unfamiliar.

People who are in need often face judgment from society, so creating a space where they feel accepted without fear of shame or criticism is an important component of the counseling relationship. A focus on resilience in counseling may help the client identify their strengths and coping skills. Also, providing psychoeducational that helps clients understand how poverty affects their mental health and explains how stress, trauma, and financial insecurity can lead to symptoms of depression or anxiety may be routes to promote change in a client's worldview. While counseling individuals in need, helping them develop skills or a mindset that is applicable to their daily life may directly help them to alleviate some stress they feel during their daily experience.

[multicultiralismexperience533]

How might these populations feel in a white, middle-class-dominated society?

Hmong people likely experience a sense of being "othered" daily, especially in predominantly white areas. This can happen in various forms ranging from overt discrimination to more subtle microaggressions. Being surrounded by a dominant white culture means they may have to navigate experiences that don't align with their own traditions or values. In the workplace or at school, there may be little recognition of the importance of their familial structures or community bonds which can leave them feeling invisible or misunderstood. Hmong people in the United States may feel the pressure of maintaining cultural ties while also being expected to assimilate into mainstream American society. This can lead to internal conflict (especially for younger generations), where one might feel torn between honoring traditional Hmong values and fitting into a predominantly white culture.

For in-need individuals in a middle-class-dominated society, the stigma attached to poverty is something that can be very challenging. People living in poverty are often subjected to judgment; they may be labeled as “lazy,” “unmotivated,” or “undeserving,” despite the complex realities of their lives. They are often denied access to the same opportunities that those with middle-class SES take for granted. This includes access to education, healthcare, stable housing, and food. Access to these services is crucial for overall well-being because chronic stress, inadequate nutrition, and lack of access to healthcare can lead to lowered mental health outcomes.

[multicultiralismexperience533]

Resource list for those in need:

Winona Community Warming Center:

Provides emergency shelter to adults (18+) in need; A place to sleep, access to a shower, laundry facilities, snacks and beverages, and referrals for additional help and assistance; https://www.ccsomn.org/programs/warming-centers/winona-community-warming-center/

Winona Food Shelf:

Offers eligible residents a way to receive free food once/month; https://www.winonavs.org/food-shelf/

The Clothes Shop:

Access to free clothing that has been donated by community members https://www.winonavs.org/clothes-shop/

Advocacy Center of Winona:

provides assistance to survivors who are seeking protection orders and other legal assistance, social services, health care or housing https://www.advocacywinona.org/

Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services:

Free legal assistance for qualifying clients in many Southern Minnesota counties https://www.smrls.org/

Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center:

Works to deliver effective behavioral health support and services for youth and adults https://www.hvmhc.org/

La Crosse Hmong Cultural and Community Agency:

holistic services, education programming, outreach, and community connections https://explorelacrosse.com/project/la-crosse-hmoob-cultural-community-agency/

Vang Council of La Crosse:

Various programs and services including: Translation and Interpreter Services; Youth Programs; Community Assistance Programs https://vangcounciloflacrosse.com/program%2Fservices

[multicultiralismexperience533]

How did I feel? What new perspectives did I gain?

My experiences for this project- attending a free meal at Bethany House in Winona and shopping at the Hmong Grocery Store in Holmen, WI- taught me much about myself and my experiences.

Having a meal at Bethany House was a humbling experience that brought a deep sense of empathy. I initially felt a bit uneasy and uncomfortable, not knowing what to expect or how I would be received in a setting so different from my usual experiences. Bethany House is a Catholic Worker House- meaning that Catholicism is woven throughout the meal/overall experience. While I ate, I observed the people and environment around me and felt a mix of different emotions. Sadness about the struggles of the individuals who rely on these meals or services, and grateful for the opportunity to have this experience as the volunteers and other attendees were friendly and kind.

As I ate the meal, I thought about how many of the challenges people face daily, such as food insecurity, lack of support, or economic hardship, were things I had never truly experienced. I became more aware of my privilege as I considered how I sometimes take things for granted like having reliable access to meals, shelter, and financial security. This experience helped me better understand the barriers many people face in accessing basic needs. As someone from a privileged background, I hadn’t fully recognized how society’s systems often work against marginalized groups, including people of color and the impoverished. I saw how minority communities often have to navigate not only poverty but also systemic inequality in many areas of life. My own awareness of how white privilege plays a role in opportunities, access to resources, and social status became clearer.

At first during my visit to the Hmong Grocery Store in Holmen, WI, I felt out of place because I wasn’t familiar with the layout of the store or the products. It was a completely new environment to me. I walked around the store a few times, looking at each shelf to see what they had to offer. There was a vast array of foods and products that I have not encountered in an American grocery store before. I felt a mix of curiosity, respect, and appreciation for a culture so distinct from my own.

This experience helped me realize how easy it is for someone from a dominant culture to take everyday convenience and access for granted. It made me reflect on how often people from minority cultures, like the Hmong community, have to navigate mainstream society while holding on to their cultural identity. I was aware of the challenges that come with maintaining cultural practices while also integrating into a society where those practices might not always be understood or respected but I had not considered how difficult it may be for people to access foods or items that are used in their cultures- especially in a more rural area such as Holmen. For many minority communities, finding stores and products that reflect their cultural values or needs can be difficult, leading them to create their own spaces, like this grocery store, to feel a sense of belonging.

Both experiences made me confront my own privilege and how mainstream society is designed with people like me in mind. At the free meal, I learned more deeply about economic hardship and how marginalized groups struggle to access basic needs. At the Hmong Grocery Store, I was confronted with the reality of how minority communities have to create spaces that reflect their cultural identities in a society that often doesn’t understand or cater to their needs.

The concept of a free meal focuses more on socioeconomic disparities, while the Hmong grocery store experience was focused on cultural preservation and navigating spaces where one’s identity might be overlooked. The free meal emphasized issues of poverty and systemic inequality, while the Hmong grocery store experience highlighted the challenges of maintaining cultural practices and connections in a predominantly white society.

[multicultiralismexperience533]

I walked around Hmong Grocery Store a few times, trying to decide what I should buy. There was a wide selection of vegetables, fish/meat, spices, and snacks, among other grocery items (toiletries, decorations, etc.) that are not commonly sold in American grocery stores. It was hard to figure out what I wanted to purchase because I was unsure how to use these ingredients in cooking. I had looked at their Facebook page (linked) a handful of times to see what they had posted. They also serve hot food out of a deli in the store. They frequently post on their Facebook about what they are serving that day, as it varies. The day I went, they held an eggroll fundraiser for Onalaska High School so the only hot food was vegetable eggrolls.

The first photo is of one of their freezers. I have not seen most of this food in American grocery stores before such as dried shrimp, octopus, or frogs and frog legs (which I have eaten before, just never seen in a store). The second photo is of items that I bought: coconut rolls with sesame seeds, bread sticks with a strawberry filling, Pho broth mix, and pork ginger sausage. I found myself buying foods that were less intimidating to me while still looking for foods that I had not seen before.

I plan on being more prepared for what dishes I could make with the produce and other ingredients they offer next time I visit so that I will feel more confident buying foods that I have not tried before.

[multicultiralismexperience533]

Photos of Bethany House- I felt it was inappropriate of me to take photos during my experience as others would be visible. These are photos from various sources.

Here Comes The Sun was a song that came to mind during this part of my experience- specifically about the resiliency and positive mindset that I noticed among volunteers/attendees.

The hours and services of Bethany House are:

Monday 8 am - 11 am  (breakfast served, laundry and showers available)

Tuesday  8 am - 11 am  (breakfast served, laundry and showers available)

Wednesday  8 am - 11 am  (breakfast served, laundry and showers available)

Thursday 4 pm - 7 pm  (dinner served at 5 pm, laundry and showers available)

Saturday 12 pm - 3 pm  (lunch served, laundry and showers available)

Their contact information:

832 W Broadway St, Winona, MN, 55987 (507) 454-8094 winonacatholicworker@gmail.com

[multicultiralismexperience533]

Hmong New Year

[multicultiralismexperience533]

Hmong Man From Huashiban, Panxian district, China

[multicultiralismexperience533]

Hmong/Miao!

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (1, 2)

The Silk Road Collection

[multicultiralismexperience533]

here is a list of my top charities (plus background checks), so even if you're not in a place that you're able to donate right now, maybe you can share this and it can get to someone who is. if you have any more ideas of what to add please reblog or let me know too. Maybe we can get something going here? Without collective action what do we have?

Palestinian Children's Relief Fund–Provides medical and humanitarian aid and resources to children in Palestine. They are volunteer based and have opportunities to donate as well as volunteer. (4/4 rating by Charity Navigator)

Women for Women International–Provides aid and education to women all over, especially because women's needs including menstrual and maternity aid can often be overlooked. They have a lot of information on their website about where and how they help which is a lot to summarize here, but their goal is to get women to a place of self sufficiency in order to thrive rather than just survive. (4/4 rating by Charity Navigator)

Period.org–Works to end period poverty and shame through advocacy, education, and distribution. Stressing the importance of community involvement, Period. relies on youth-led chapters to serve communities on a local level. (4/4)

Veterans for Peace–Established in 1985, Veterans for Peace is an organization of US veterans who speak out against US imperialism and militarism. As people who have witnessed the horrors of war they have the courage to speak against it with their press releases, chapters, and organized projects on both national and international projects. (3/4)

Honor Liberty Veterans and Justice for Liberty–June 8, 1967 the naval ship USS Liberty was attacked by israeli planes and torpedos. The Liberty was borderline unarmed and had limited defenses against the attack. 34 sailors were killed and 172 injured, but none received justice or the proper investigation they deserve. Both organizations hope for an end to the cover-up and the beginning of the dignity they deserve (not rated but please sign their petition if you feel so compelled)

Farmer John Coalition–An organization of family farmers seeking to increase security for themselves as well as the communities they serve through stronger legislation. As smaller farms are pushed out by large corporate farms, it creates an unsustainable cycle both economically and ecologically. Farmer John aims to support both farms and communities (Not rated, but petitions don't hurt)

People not Mascots–I get not everybody agrees, but if I was a kid and my culture and ancestors were being used as a mascot by people who don't even know how to pronounce the name correctly I'd be upset too. People not Mascots raises awareness for Indigenous cultures, communities, and histories while advocating against the use of their names and images as mascots in secondary schools. (PETITIONS! ANOTHER PETITION)