Roots Beyond Borders: Mien Diaspora and Language: History, Identity, and Preservation
Tue, Apr 28
|Zoom
Join us for Mien Diaspora and Language: History, Identity, and Preservation, a virtual panel featuring community leaders including Dr. Kal Phan as they explore Mien history, language, and cultural identity, along with efforts like the first multilingual Mien dictionary app to preserve and revitalize
Time & Location
Apr 28, 2026, 9:00 PM – 10:30 PM
Zoom
About the event
Mien Diaspora and Language: History, Identity, and Preservation
Join us for a comprehensive virtual panel exploring the Mien people’s deep historical roots, migration journeys, oral traditions, and evolving linguistic heritage across China, Southeast Asia, and the global diaspora. This discussion examines the Mien language in its vernacular, ritual, and song forms, and addresses urgent issues of language shift, cultural continuity, and intergenerational knowledge loss—while highlighting ongoing efforts in preservation through education, research, arts, and digital innovation.
The panel brings together a distinguished group of community leaders and professionals:
Dr. Kal Phan (Bienh, Gauv-daqv) is the Board President of the Center for Mien Advancement and a retired educator with over 30 years in California public schools. He was the first Mien American teacher and principal in the United States and holds degrees from UC Berkeley, CSU East Bay, and Mills College. He has dedicated his career to advancing Mien education, preserving language…