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Winner, UWEX/UW Colleges Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Collaboration(Wisconsin Public Radio and the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service)

Winner, RTNDA-UNITY Award (Large Market Radio, for excellence in coverage of diverse communities and issues)

Winner, Best Large-Market Radio Documentary Award (Wisconsin Associated Press Awards)

Winner, Asian-American Journalists Association Award for outstanding coverage of Asian-American/Pacific Islander issues (Radio)

Winner, Communicator Award of Distinction (Audio)

Bridging the Shores: The Hmong-American Experience is an hour-long documentary that explores the issues of identity, preservation, adaptability, and perseverance that many Hmong-Americans grapple with in a continually-evolving culture.

As many Americans watched the fall of Saigon in 1975, it was widely believed that a major chapter of history -- the Vietnam War -- was over. But for the Hmong who served as allies to U.S. forces, the end of the conflict signaled a whole new beginning for their people. Forced to flee their native Laos due to Communist persecution, thousands of Hmong began arriving in the U.S. in the late 1970s. The immigrants have since struggled to adapt to American customs, yet retain their traditions. This duality has given the Hmong their share of sacrifices and triumphs, within their communities and even within their families. This documentary explores some of those aspects which make up much of the Hmong-American experience.

Segments include escaping Laos; settling into Wisconsin’s Marathon County; advocating for more Hmong history in schools; a cultural center to help people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder; the growing inclusion of both traditional Hmong culture and Christian faith in weddings; the generation gap between clan elders and today’s youth; how modern spousal roles are creating problems in marriages; and weaving traditional music with hip-hop elements.

Bridging the Shores is a collaboration between Wisconsin Public Radio and the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy & Service (WIIPPS). Funding was provided through a grant from the UW-Colleges & UW-Extension Program Innovation Fund.

The companion website will be available at www.wiipps.org. Click here to visit the site hosted by the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service.

This program premiered on September 12, 2008