A Road to the Future
Latina, Laotian, Hmong and Mixtec Women:
One Story

By Eduardo Stanley, NCM

FRESNO, CA — Eleven immigrant women shared their life stories in a book they wrote together, a process that brought them pride and solidarity.

In a project sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) in Fresno, the Hmong, Lao, Mexican, Salvadoran and Mixteca women grew close as they met together to discuss their lives and hopes for a better future. The book "Immigrant Women, A Road to the Future" is the end of one process and the beginning of another: the common future that they are committed to build.

The women represent a microcosm of the diversity of the immigrant community in Fresno. In their book, the often overlooked stories of immigrant women receive a close examination.

The long road began in April 1999, when 29 women — all immigrants and refugees — met to discuss the problems faced by their communities. In spite of the apparent differences among them, these women of Southeast Asian, Latino and indigenous origin, discovered that they had many common concerns.

Their effort is part of a civic action project sponsored since 1998 by the Pan Valley Institute of the AFSC. The institute called for the participation of women interested in promoting change in their communities and requested that these women identify community issues and possible solutions. Myrna Martinez, coordinator of the Pan Valley Institute, noted that "the women’s wish to share their life experiences and, in particular, their personal experiences as immigrants became apparent. From this wish grew the need to seek a means to convey those experiences."

The group had already produced a calendar in 2001, an original project that bolstered their confidence to begin another more complex and ambitious project: writing a book.

"I am proud of having participated in this project because more people will know about our history," said Rosa Lopez, 32, a Mixteca immigrant and mother of four children. The Mixtecs are one of the 16 indigenous groups native to Oaxaca, Mexico, and make up 60,000 of the Central Valley’s inhabitants.

For Fidelina Espinosa of Oaxaca, the process was revealing. "I never imagined that I was capable of doing something like this. It was very special for me," said the 23-year-old mother of two young daughters. "Before working on this project, I had no idea of the meaning of [civic] ‘participation.’ I learned so much, and I have changed."

The goal of the book, which was published in time for March 8, International Woman’s Day, was "to have the participants express themselves in their own voice, with their own words," said Martinez. Even though the work was intense, the experience of working together and the outcome of the gatherings was fruitful.

"It was very motivating for us to meet, to learn from one another," said Vee Inthaly, a 34-year-old refugee from Laos and mother of three. She added that she enjoyed working with and getting to know the Latina women. About 10,000 Lao currently live in the Fresno area, having arrived as political refugees after the Vietnam War ended in 1975.

For Sally Yang, the book is a tool to communicate with other groups and individuals. "I wanted to tell others about aspects of my culture as well as the changes that we women have undergone," said Yang, a 37-year-old Hmong woman and mother of four. The Hmong also emigrated from Laos, but they belong to another ethnic group. Approximately 20,000 Hmong live in the Central Valley. According to Yang, Hmong women are traditionally reserved and rarely express their opinions in public — something that is changing with the new generations.

The women explained that the meetings allowed them to learn about each other’s cultures — from traditional foods to dress — and the differences and similarities that existed among them. "We have much in common with the Mixteca women," said Yang.

Lopez said, "It was wonderful to discover that we have so much in common with the Hmong and Lao women, such as our respect for the elders in our communities."

All of these women share the immigrant experience as well as the needs imposed by a new society — the need to learn English, obtain more information about social services, achieve higher levels of education and, of particular importance, ensure that the staffs of social service agencies include people from the Hmong, Lao and Mixtec communities to facilitate communication.

For this reason, all the authors acknowledge that the book is an excellent tool to awaken political and community leaders to the needs of immigrant communities. "It is the beginning of something even more important, a greater sense of collaboration among all of us," said Sally Yang.

For Vee Inthaly, now is the time to work even harder because "we cannot allow our project to disappear." Rosa Lopez and Fidelina Espinosa agree about the importance of community participation. Both women recognize that, as a result of the project, they feel empowered to continue their work. That sense of empowerment was precisely the goal of the book.

The American Friends Service Committee carries out service, development, social justice, and peace programs throughout the world.

The book "Immigrant Women, A Road to the Future" can be ordered from AFSC www.afsc.org.