History Speaks: Between Two Cultures

History Speaks at the Woodson History Center: Between Two Cultures: The Story of a First Generation Hmong American Who Becomes a Professional The road to a professional career can be daunting for anyone. For Maysee Yang Herr, that road was had its own unique barriers. She will tell her story when the Marathon County Historical Society presents “Between Two Cultures: The Story of a First Generation Hmong American Who Becomes a Professional,” another topic in our History Speaks series, at 2 pm Saturday, February 17, 2018, at the Woodson History Center, 410 McIndoe St., Wausau. For a Hmong woman, finding balance between career, community, culture, and family can be tricky. Maysee will share personal stories and reflections on how she has been challenged by social and cultural expectations, and how she has overcome them. In this presentation, she will open up about conflicts she has encountered both within and outside the Hmong community, and she will explain how she navigated through these situations while retaining her own dignity and that of the Hmong community. Maysee came to the United States with her family in 1976. She identifies as Hmong American and was the first in her family to pursue a higher education degree. She taught elementary school, and now is an associate professor in the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She has studied Hmong families, and has worked to bring cultural sensitivity to schools and communities. There is no admission fee; however, donations are appreciated. Registration is not required. The Historical Society is grateful to Janke Book Store and to Compass Properties for their sponsorship of the History Speaks series. This event is part of the Wisconsin Humanities Council’s Working Lives Project https://www.wisconsinhumanities.org/programs/current-programs/working-lives whose goal is to deepen and broaden the conversation about what it means to make a living and a life here. Whatever work one takes on – whether it’s a paying job, as a stay-at-home parent or an unpaid vocation – work is a defining aspect of life for all of us. Work provides both sustenance and meaning in our lives. It can also be a great source of anxiety. We don’t know what the future of work looks like – and that is where ShopTalk events like this one come in. ShopTalk events are available to any organization in the state of Wisconsin at no cost. Organizations can contact a speaker directly via the ShopTalk website https://www.wisconsinhumanities.org/programs/current-programs/working-lives/ShopTalk and apply online to host an event. Visitors to the Marathon County Historical Society might also enjoy a guided tour of the Yawkey House Museum, or visiting our free exhibit spaces. Rural Electrification: Outlet for Change depicts life before and after electricity made its slow way into rural areas of Marathon County in the 1930s and ‘40s. Our Stories: The History of Marathon County features reminiscences of how people arrived in this area, and how they worked and played in days gone by. For more information, please call the Marathon County Historical Society at 715-842-5750.