The Lao Group: Building, Promoting and Supporting the Lao-American Community through Action

By TheHardCore@TLG

To build, promote and support the Lao-American Community is the central mission of The Lao Group (TLG), a DC-Metropolitan-based organization founded on the belief of community empowerment. The Lao Group evolved from the idea that the invaluable skills and resources within the Lao American Community, especially from its growing number of experienced and well-educated professionals, should contribute to its development and progress. Unfortunately, for many Lao-Americans, there aren’t many opportunities to connect with the community and more importantly, to each other. The Lao Group provides the avenue for the Lao connection (not to be mistaken with the Love Connection). Despite the lengthy explanation of the group, if you ask current supporters of TLG what the group’s philosophy is, they’ll tell you that TLG lives by a much simpler mantra: "talk is cheap." Since its founding just 5 months ago in July 2002, The Lao Group has constantly moved ideas (sometimes at mach speed), into action. Among its numerous activities, The Lao Group hosted the First Lao-American Professional Career panel in the DC-Metro area in October, attracting close to 100 participants, including students, parents and professionals. The half-day session provided a forum for people to learn about educational and career opportunities. It was also a tremendous networking opportunity for professionals – who otherwise, would not have connected with each other. An extension of the Career Panel will be "Shadow –A- Professional Day," scheduled for early 2003. The Lao Group also organizes other networking opportunities for Lao-American professionals, students and parents, including picnics, bowling nights, and happy hours, among other social activities.

Developing a space to share ideas, activities and best practices models is the goal of The Lao Group’s website (www.thelaogroup.org). The response to the website from people throughout the United States has been tremendous and TLG has considered the feedback vital to the group’s future development and direction. Corresponding with Lao-Americans throughout the country creates a strong electronic network for sharing and learning. It is hopeful that these internet-based communications will lead to a more formal and in-person venue for connecting with each other.

The Lao Group is currently an informal voluntary organization fueled by a small, but "hardcore" – as they’re often referred – group of committed professionals, students and individuals from all cross-section of the Lao-American community. TLG is currently in the process of securing its nonprofit status. We’d " hak" to hear from you. Please visit our website at www.thelaogroup.org or write us at info@thelaogroup.org.