One Troop's Mission to Educate

ThreeSixty reachout Third Edition June 17-29, 2007 University of St. Thomas St. Paul, Minnesota One troop’s mission to educate By Mysee Chang families are excited as they are. Buffalo High School Chao Lee, mother of Mai Yang Lee, said her daughter will be a It’s a Monday evening and Kia model of something big in their Lor is on her way to the Girl Scout family. She also said the trip will Council of the St. Croix Valley. help Mai Yang walk farther in life. “Every time, before I go to the Traditionally in the Hmong cul- meetings, I feel like I have nothing ture, Hmong girls’ duties include to do, and then right after, I feel staying home to clean, cook and like I have so much to do,” said care for children. For these girls, Lor, 16. the experience of preparing for Lor and the other six members this opportunity has taught them of her Girl Scout troop are leaving that the traditional role of Hmong on a trip to French Guiana July 11. women is now a thing of the past. Last year, the seven girls guided “The way people look at the girls ten Hmong girls from French Gui- in our culture, we can’t really do ana around the Twin Cities. The anything. I’ve always pushed my- Minnesotans took their visitors to self to work harder than my broth- Hmong stores along St. Paul’s Uni- ers just to prove to my parents that versity Avenue, the State Capitol, I can do it. Now that we’re going University of Minnesota, Mall of to French Guiana, it’s the first time America and their high schools. I’m finally finishing the challenge While spending time together, I’ve been working so hard for,” the Minnesotans learned a lot of said 18-year-old Nina Lee. new things about the Hmong in The girls worked hard to raise French Guiana, a country north of $2,050 to fund each girl trip. Fund- Brazil. raising began last summer when the “Even though they were born in girls sold water balloon yo-yo’s at French Guiana and French is their Photographs by Mysee Chang the Lumberjack Days in Stillwater, Above, Kia Lor and Nina Lee went through a list of egg roll orders in mid-June. On July 11, they will be joined by second language and English is presented Anti-Tobacco projects, other members of their girl scout troop on a trip to French Guiana where they will complete an educational project. ours, we’re still the same. We’re worked at the Mall of America, Below, Lee, Lor, Xy Xiong and Mai Yang Lee are members of the troop traveling this summer. all Hmong people,” said Mai Lee sold Girl Scouts cookies, egg rolls Yang, 18. Cacao, one of the first Hmong vil- learn and care about and Hmong Women Circle bags. As a result, the girls decided to lages created in French Guiana. themselves and help Janet Gracia, Director of Mem- plan a trip to French Guiana. Chaperone Choua Her said in the close cultural gaps bership for the Girl Scout Council In 1977, when many Hmong left second week they will visit other between the Hmong- of the St. Croix Valley, said she’s Laos or Thailand for the U.S., oth- Hmong villages, explore the Salva- American and the very proud of the girls for being ers emigrated to French Guiana. tion Islands, and the space station Hmong-French peo- great leaders and role models. She The Hmong are only one percent in Kourou. ple. also is happy that Girl Scouts has of the population in French Guiana The Minnesotans are producing For most of the been able to extend the group’s op- but grow half of the country’s veg- four service projects, which they girls, their families portunities by helping them raise etables and fruits. plan to use to educate the Hmong are their motivation money. “One of the things I will gain is community in Cacao. for the trip. For some, After getting their passports, re- respect for the Hmong people liv- The girls will share their anti- it’s a different story. ceiving their shots, malaria pills, ing there because we both live in tobacco project to educate those in “My mom wants to see me go on this. He has this thing where raising money and preparing their our own worlds. They farm and we French Guiana about the dangers but she’s kind of doubtful ‘cause you’re a girl and you can’t do any- projects, everyone is looking for- don’t,” said Xy Xiong, 18. of smoking and to help prevent fu- no one has done this before,’ ” thing, but that just motivates me to ward to the experience. The group will spend one week ture smokers. said Pa Houa Moua, 19. “Also, my achieve more.” “It’s all about fulfilling our with Hmong families living in They will also teach people to oldest brother doesn’t back me up For the majority of the girls, their dreams,” Lor said. This publication was pro- duced during ThreeSixty’s Teens: no talking while driving summer 2007 journalism By Kris Mitchell Birai talks to his friend for a couple of With cell phones, though, the differences workshop held June 17-29 at De La Salle High School minutes then finally hangs up and pulls up are slight. the University of St. Thomas safely at his friend’s house. In 2005, cell phones caused three of ev- in St. Paul, Minn. Sixteen-year-old Thomas Birai walks out “I do it all the time. I drive safely and I see ery 1,000 crashes among teens, ages 15-19, Articles were written by of his house chomping on some toast. The no problem with it,” he said. “Adults do that compared with two of every 1,000 crashes students selected for the chain around his neck jingles with each step. all the time.” among adults, ages 35 to 64, according to workshop and were also He gets into his car, buckles his seat belt and So far, there’s no law banning Minnesota Department of Public Safety statistics. Cell printed in the July 5 edi- takes off down the street adults from driving and talking. Those under phones are blamed in two of every 1,000 tions of the Minneapolis Star toward the corner. His cell the age of 18, however, can be pulled over multi-vehicle crashes for both age groups. Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer phone rings. It’s a friend. for talking while behind the wheel, accord- The University of Central Oklahoma did Press. He slows down, picks up ing to the law, which took effect in 2006. The a study based on reaction time to a comput- Students were mentored the phone and answers. penalty for the misdemeanor offense is a fine er program that simulated quick stops and by staff and students from Birai, a Plymouth resi- and fees that vary by county. road hazards. The teens and adults without dent, just broke the law. The law’s sponsor, state Rep. Steve Smith, cell phones had the quickest reaction times. the University, Star Tribune, While cell phones have R-Mound, could not be reached for com- Teens with cell phones reacted faster than Pioneer Press, Minnesota become a common acces- ment. adults with cell phones mainly due to age. Public Radio and other jour- sory, a way to stay in touch Why does the law only cover teens? This indicates teens are more likely to stop nalists. with others and to get in- “Teens are inexperienced compared to faster than an adult. ThreeSixty is a non-profit formation on the go, the adults who have been on the road longer,” Gordy Pehrson of the Minnesota Depart- organization that provides devices are increasingly said Gail Weinholzer, spokeswoman for ment of Public Safety said he believes all interested students with being labeled as driving AAA Minnesota in drivers – regardless of age – should be pro- real-world experience in distractions. Eleven Burnsville. “Teens are 7.5 percent of all hibited from using cell phones while driving. journalism. states, including Min- drivers but are involved in “They need to minimize all distractions,” he For more student work and nesota, and the Dis- 15 percent of all crashes.” said. information about ThreeSixty trict of Columbia, According to the Minnesota Department Teens remain unfazed. programs, visit: restrict cell phone of Public Safety, Minnesota drivers ages “I will continue to drive and use my cell,” www.ThreeSixtyJournalism.org. use among young 16-18 are involved in one out of four injury Birai said. “I use a headset. That way my drivers. crashes and one of six fatal crashes. eyes are on the road and my hands are free.” 2 ThreeSixty| Journalism Workshop What’s so cool about Caribou? By Belle Lin one, gushes about his favorite Doyle says during the school Mounds View High School flavors (caramel or chocolate) and year, her store is filled with mix-ins (Oreo or Snickers candy teenagers doing homework or “just Jake Holden is the face of bits). hanging out.” Caribou Coffee’s teen market. Cindy Doyle, store manager “The number of teens that He plays baseball and tennis, at a Maple Grove Caribou, says come depends on the time of day. works at the local carwash, plays Caribou’s new flavors such as In the early morning it’s mostly the guitar, runs errands for his the Acai berry smoothie and the the working class, 20-to -45 year elderly neighbor, and takes classes upcoming Heath-flavored drink olds.

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