On my final day in Sheboygan I was treated to a Hmong Festival, hosted by the Kohler Arts Center. The Festival featured the traditional storytelling, crafts, costume, food, music and dance of the Hmong culture. Through an epic pageant performed by local children (see video clip above), I learned about the exploitation and eventual persecution of the Hmong, and their tragic migration from China to Laos, and eventually to Thailand where they were refugees after the Vietnam War. Several Hmong families found their way to Sheboygan over thirty years ago, and the population has steadily increased as the Hmong settle in and participate as vibrant members of the community. We look forward to working with the Hmong people of Sheboygan as our Connecting Communities project takes shape as artists-in-residence this spring and summer.