Local Burmese celebrate their culture at event

Burmese residents of Fort Wayne gathered Saturday at IPFW to celebrate their heritage, culture and children.

But along with traditional music, dances and cuisine of Burma Night were reminders of their ongoing struggles to assimilate in America.

Patrick Proctor, a member of the Burmese Advocacy Center board of directors, told the crowd at the Walb Student Union that Burmese-Americans "have experienced more sorrow than the average American has at this point. It is not easy, and it is no small thing to leave your homeland and go to a country where no one speaks your language and you're likely to be treated as a second-class citizen and looked down upon."

Proctor told about two dozen graduating high school students in the audience to draw courage from their elders, who fled a repressive military regime in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.

"Because your parents faced their fear and took that step, you now have opportunities you would not have otherwise," he said.

Mayor Tom Henry urged Burmese residents "to begin to spread out in the community" as they learn English and become more comfortable in the city.

"Fort Wayne has a lot to learn about the Burmese, but they are never going to learn unless you teach them, unless you expose them to beautiful Burmese people," Henry said.

At least 4,000 refugees from Myanmar – support groups believe the number is far higher – have resettled in Fort Wayne in the past two decades, many by Catholic Charities of the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese. The local Burmese community is among the largest in the nation.

Matt Schomburg, state refugee coordinator, said United Nations and U.S. State Department officials have called Fort Wayne's resettlement program "a model for the entire country."

The Burmese Advocacy Center has helped 547 newly arrived Burmese refugees find jobs since 2008, according to the center's executive director.

"Our goal is to make sure each family has sufficient income to support their families," Minn Myint Nan Tin said.

She said about 30 Burmese have become business owners.

One of them, Zin Asian Grocery owner Maung Soe Chain, had taught college in Myanmar before leaving for America in 1995. He emphasized the importance of an American education for refugees' children, but he added, "We don't want them to forget our culture."

Tom Herr, president of Fort Wayne Sister Cities International, announced that he and other officials of the group will travel to Myanmar this fall to explore establishing sister-city programs there.

bfrancisco@jg.net

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/local-burmese-celebrate-their-culture-at-event/