Celebrate Hmong New Year: Noj Peb Caug
Hmong New Year: Noj Peb Caug is a cherished tradition that honors community, gratitude, and new beginnings.
Join us to celebrate this special event that brings together students, faculty, and community members to experience the richness of Hmong culture through live performances, meaningful conversations, and hands-on learning on Wednesday, November 19, 1–4 p.m. in T.1400
Panel Discussion:
Engage with Hmong educators as they share perspectives on Hmong heritage, resilience, and the importance of cultural preservation. This discussion will also commemorate 50 years of the Hmong experience in the United States, reflecting on the community’s history, achievements, and continued contributions to American society.
Panelists:
- Josh Kue - HR Business Partner, Minneapolis College
- Zia Lao - Enrollment Advisor, Minneapolis College
- Mandy Thor - Career Coordinator, Minneapolis College
- Bao Yang-Moua - Financial Aid Director, Saint Paul College
Workshop By Sabrina Nkauj Nag Yang: Noj Peb Caug: A Soul Call Home Through
This facilitation is framed around the Hmong New Year — Noj Tshiab Peb Caug — a celebration marking the end of a long harvest and the beginning of rest and renewal. It is a time to honor the past, express gratitude for the present, and bless the future with intention and hope.
In this workshop, we’ll take time to reflect on the year now coming to a close — acknowledging the ways we’ve moved through survival to meet expectations and carried tradition forward. Through guided reflection and creative activities, we’ll explore how patterns of survival and generational trauma have shaped us, and how we can create space for healing as we step into the new year with greater ease, self-compassion, and authenticity.
Sabrina Nkauj Nag Yang Bio:
Sabrina Nkauj Nag Yang is a second-generation Hmong American and a proud daughter of refugees, whose mission is powerfully rooted in the historical and ancestral resilience of the Hmoob peoples. Her work centers on holistic support and navigating systemic barriers, striving to foster identity and belonging for underrepresented student populations.
As a OneStop Navigator at Hennepin Technical College, Sabrina contributes significantly to Enrollment Services by ensuring prospective, incoming, and returning students are successfully onboarded and persist toward their academic goals. Outside of her campus role, she channels her passion for community healing, co-creating reflective spaces through creative mediums. As a writer and poet, her personal work explores compelling themes of cultural identity, generational trauma, and imaginative reimagination.
This event is presented by APIDA Community Empowerment (ACE) Program.