1. Who are The Newcomers At Milwaukee
Academy of Chinese Language?
Chin
Other Ethnic Burmese Burmese
Karen
“I hear and I forget. I see and I believe. I do and I
understand”
2430 W. Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53233. Phone: 414 934-4340, Fax: 414 934-4345

2. The Newcomers Are Refugees from
Burma
From late 2006 to the present, one of the largest arrival of refugees to America, has been
Burmese minorities. Most of the early arrivals came from two distinct people groups: the
Karen and the Chin. The more recent majority are an ethnic group called the Karenni. Other
arrivals from Burma have come from the hundreds of other ethnic minorities in the country
(Mon, Shan, Pa-O) or, in some cases, are ethnic Burmese (Bamar) also fleeing from
oppression following anti-government demonstrations in 1988 and 2008. All these refugees
from the country of Burma (now officially called Myanmar) have faced persecution at the hands
of a military government because their communities dare to question, challenge, and fight for
basic rights. Most have faced a long history of abuse by the Burmese military as forced labor or
undergone dislocation as the army has taken over village areas for its own use. Despite coming
from the same country, they all have different languages and traditions and have had rather
different refugee experiences in their countries of first asylum. Now they are all arriving to
United Sates to learn and adjust together. Learn more about the individual groups in following
slides.
“We are Very glad to be in America
because everybody has
freedom.”…Karen Refugee

3. The Chin refugees before they arrived in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The Chin refugees near
The Thai border
The Chin refugees in a
Malaysian Camp

4. The Karen refugees before they arrived in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The Karen refugee camp
near The Thai border
Laura Bush Visited The
Karen refugee camp

5. The Other Ethnic Burmese refugees before
they arrived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The Shan refugees camp
near the Thai border
The Shan girls The Shan war refugees living
in jungle

6. From Thailand To Milwaukee
At Tham Hin refugee camp on the Thai-Myanmar border, Karen refugees arrived in Milwaukee at Mitchell
the first Karen refugees to be resettled in the United States International Airport
board a bus for the start of their journey to a new life.
Churches sponsor the Karen families Spending first winter in America

7. In America School (MACL)
They are part of our school. They are eager to learn English and be part of America. They also
bring their cultures to share with us. Their parents also learn English and about the America
school system.

8. Coments
Audience: Teachers, staff and students
Reason: Introduce the new Burmese
refugee students to the teachers
and students in our school.
This presentation can add more slides and
details to it about the Burmese refugees. The
presentation can be shared with agencies,
community and institutes where they have
contact with refugees.