The war was secret. The journey was forced. The arrival was quiet. Fifty years later, the Hmong story in California’s Central Valley is loud with life. It echoes through farm fields, school gyms, courtrooms, and city council chambers. This month, the Hmong community will gather at the Merced County Fairgrounds to celebrate the New Year … Continue reading ‘We’ve come such a long way.’ The Valley’s Hmong community at 50: From ashes of war to seeds of hope