The East Side Freedom Library invites you to join Dr. Brian V. Xiong (Ed.D., Minnesota State University, Mankato) for a discussion of his dissertation research.

Through our “Neighbors Meet Neighbors” series, ESFL has been exploring diversity within the many communities in our neighborhood, as well as the diversity between them. Brian’s work provides a great opportunity to appreciate the range of experiences within the East Side’s largest Asian American community.

Through interviews, he examined how gay Hmong men navigate the challenges of traditional cultures and values as they managed two different worlds (i.e., traditional Hmong culture and the assimilation process to American culture).

Born in the Ban Vinai refugee camp, Brian came to Minnesota as a child and attended local public schools. He earned his BA at Southwest Minnesota State University, and his MA and Ed.D. at Minnesota State University, Mankato. He is a member of the Board of Directors of both the Hmong Archives and the East Side Freedom Library. He has taught Ethnic Studies at Minnesota State University, Mankato, served as Chief Diversity Officer for collegewide at Minnesota State Community and Technical College, and has been an organizer of the Facility Race Equity Collaborative annual conference at Metro State University.

Free and open to all. EAST SIDE FREEDOM LIBRARY, 1105 Greenbrier St, St Paul, 55106, [email protected] and 651-230-3294