University of Wisconsin - Extension

Hmong adults in Wisconsin have a new opportunity to learn about running their own businesses, selling produce at farmers' markets and participating in community gardening, thanks to a Web resource that uses information technology and the Hmong language.

The project, sponsored by a $20,000 University of Wisconsin-Extension cross- divisional grant, is designed as a training tool for the Hmong, many of whom have settled in Wisconsin. Don Hinman, UW-Extension community development specialist and director of UW-Superior's Center for Economic Development, leads the project.

Voice-narrated multimedia used for training

"Oral communication is often the best means to reach Hmong communities, so voice-narrated multimedia was chosen as the best technical approach," says Hinman. "Flexibility is one of the greatest advantages of this approach. It is fairly easy to rerecord a voice file, update a slide and to repost them to the Web site."

The project's goal was to make basic training available through slide shows that are easily accessible on the Internet. One challenge was finding software that could accommodate voice and photographs, and yet load quickly enough to be usable on a wide variety of modem and computer speeds. Currently a number of slide shows are available online and more are being developed.

Collaborators' hope: greater economic opportunity

Hinman collaborated with Dennis Lukaszewski, Milwaukee County Urban Gardens director, and Paul Van Ryzin, Brown County Urban Gardens coordinator. Wisconsin Community Action Program (WisCAP) and Small Business Development Center business counselors also assisted. Program assistant Cindy Pacheco was awarded the Meritorious Extension Support Staff Award by Epsilon Sigma Phi for her role in the project.

Hinman and his collaborators hope that this resource will help create greater economic opportunity for Hmong adults with limited English-speaking ability and benefit consumers of fresh produce and other products in communities throughout the state.

For more information: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/hmong/ .