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Brief History of WAHMA| Board of Directors | Staff
Background and HistoryWausau Area Hmong Mutual Association, Inc. (WAHMA) was organized as a private non-profit 501 (C) (3), tax-exempt organization in 1983 to assist in community integration as well as economic and social advancement of Southeast Asian refugees and former refugees in the Wausau – Marathon County Metropolitan Statistical Area. At that time, this area was the “whitest” and among the most socially homogeneous areas in the United States. WAHMA has grown from an all-volunteer entity with a few programs to a multifaceted community agency. The agency currently has over 11 full-time and 3 part-time employees serving more 6,000 Southeast Asian residents. The growing Southeast Asian population makes the city of Wausau the second largest and the highest per capita Southeast Asian community in Wisconsin. WAHMA is one of the largest organizations governed by Southeast Asian refugees or former refugees. The agency has a 15 member Board of Directors representing the Southeast Asian residents in the Central Wisconsin area. Board members serve a two-year term, which meets monthly throughout the year. The agency has built strong working partnerships with a variety of other community organizations providing employment training, economic development, education, and human services. In addition, WAHMA has worked closely with community leaders both in the public and private sectors to ensure a smooth transition for Southeast Asian families and the general community.
2008 - 2010 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Our Board of Directors are proud to serve the Wausau Area Hmong Association and the Southeast Asian population in Central Wisconsin. We work in a cooperative manner with our loyal and hard working staff to effectively and efficiently serve each individual who is in need of assistance.
Wausau Hmong Staff Our talented and dedicated staff represent the numerous programs and the people we serve on a daily basis, under the direction of our diverse group of individuals who make up our Board of Directors. Below is a complete list of our staff, their job titles and a brief job description. For your convenience their individual telephone extensions are also listed. You can contact our office at 715-842-8390. Those names that represent a specific program or service are in a white font and offer a link to that particular program/service. Peter
Yang - Executive Director
Ext. 212 The Executive Director oversees the overall functions and administration of the
organization; including planning, personnel, fiscal budget, grant proposals,
grant reports, and community relations. Peter has been with the Wausau Area
Hmong Mutual Association since 1991. Mai Yia Xiong- Receptionist
Ext. 201 Mai Yia is the first person you
will see or hear in your visit to WAHMA. She has worked as the Receptionist
since April 2004. If
you have any questions regarding the Wausau Area Hmong Mutual Association
feel free to ask Mai Yia – if she doesn’t know the answer, she will help find
someone who does.
Shu Blong Her - Home/School Liaison
Ext. 221 Shu Blong provides services
to and has working relationships with the both public and private schools in
the greater Wausau area, including primary, secondary, and post-secondary
schools. Additional services include: promote cultural awareness and
appreciation, advocate for parents and students of Lao and Hmong ancestry,
bridge language and cultural barriers, work with families of at-risk
students, conduct parenting education and family involvement, and provide
educational resources to parents and students. He has been with the Wausau
Hmong since 1996.
Chaitua Her - Job Development Specialist
Ext. 209 The Refugee
Employment Services program includes job development & placement, skills
training, job upgrading, coaching, interpreting and translation, job
counseling, workshops, case management, and follow-up services.
Xeng Xiong - Elderly & Community Coordinator
Ext. 208 Xeng coordinates
activities and services for the Southeast Asian elders. The program targets
citizen and non-citizen Southeast Asian elders who are 50 years and older.
Activities and information are provided to help the elders better deal with
the challenges that they face in the United States. Xeng also helps the
community with education of the Hmong culture and serves as an
interpreter\translator when needed. Since 1992, Xeng has been with the
Wausau Area Hmong Mutual Association.
Mor L. Yang - New Arrival Program Coordinator
Ext. 220 Mor has offices at
the Marathon County Job Center and the Wausau Area Hmong Mutual
Association. She develops community service job sites for Marathon County
W-2 customers. Specific services of the Community Service Job program
include W-2 client assessment, placement, case management, workshops, and
referrals.
Mor has been with the Wausau Area Hmong Mutual Association since 1992. Wausau Fresh Start was initiated in 1999. The project focuses on
training high-risk youth and young adults 17 – 24 years old in activities
such as HSED\GED preparation, home construction, career exploration and
adult living skills.
The site
supervisor is the key staff position. They meld our diverse members
with all their barriers and skill deficits into a cohesive team to build a
home.
Jill Literski - WFS Instructor
Ext. 222 Jill
incorporates creativity, self-expression, and learning into an enriched
classroom environment allowing the crew members to work together; challenge
each other; and set and accomplish new goals. Jill, a state certified
teacher, has experience teaching a range of students in one-to-one settings
including ED/LD classrooms and homebound “at-risk” students. She shares her
outdoors hobbies, like fly fishing, with the crew and easily forms
relationships with the members. Brett Peterson - WFS Site Supervisor
Ext. 222 Brett Petersen
is the Construction Site Supervisor for Crew One. He combines his
experience working with “at-risk” adolescents at the Eau Claire Academy and
Lutheran Social Services with his construction experience gained while
working his way through college.
Michael Wurl-Koth - WFS Site Supervisor
Ext. 222 Mickey
Wurl-Koth is the Construction Site Supervisor for Crew Two. He built his
own log home from “scratch”. He has been employed as a construction
contractor for much of his career. Just as important, Mickey also worked at
Lincoln Hills School for 6 years as a youth counselor, taught GED classes at
the Oneida County Jail, and was involved in an “at-risk” alternative high
school through the Nicolet College in Rhinelander.
David Zuege - WFS Director
Ext. 222 David is the
Program Director who handles the recruitment, initial assessments, case
management, and aftercare follow-up. He is the program facilitator
responsible for keeping the program moving forward. David has worked with
“At-Risk” youth for over 25 years in a variety of programs and agencies
including Residential Treatment Care (Sunburst Youth Homes), Treatment
Foster Care (Teipner Treatment Homes and CSSW), Adolescent Alcohol and Drug
Abuse Treatment (Lakeland Adolescent Recovery Center), and Independent
Living Skills Training (CSSW). Chang S. Yang - Custodian Chang works part time to help keep
the association looking in top shape. He holds another full time job and
attends to his duties here in the late afternoons and evenings.
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Send mail to
bzehren@wausauhmong.org with
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