Central California Consortium

Since 2000, the Central California Consortium (CCC) has been outreaching to the Hmong community in the San Joaquin Valley. The city of Fresno has about 32,000 Hmong people; the second largest Hmong population in the country. The community frequently visits public lands to recreate, hunt, fish, and gather mushrooms, berries, and spices. The CCC actively engages the Hmong community to provide environmental education, outreach and recruitment to help diversify the Forest Service workforce.

A key member of the CCC staff is the Hmong Community Liaison, who performs outreach to the Hmong community through an array of events and partnerships. The CCC Liaison is from the Hmong community and speaks the language, giving the Forest Service access this very high touch community.

Overall, the CCC helps build a building strong relationship with the Hmong community and the Forest Service through open communication and mutual understanding.

Local Level Hmong Community Events

On a local level, the CCC provides Forest Service information via Hmong radio interviews, making presentations, and by staffing informational booths at job fairs and local conferences. The CCC staffs an informational booth at the annual Fresno Water Festival, where they provide environmental education and fire permits. During hunting and fishing season, the CCC staff personally distributes Forest Service rules and regulations (translated to Hmong) and fire permits at designated local Hmong stores. The CCC also supports the California State University, Fresno Hmong Student Association’s annual Education Conference.

National Hmong Community Events

Nationally, the CCC participates in the annual Hmong National Development Conference (HND). In fact, the CCC staff previously conducted a workshop on professionalism, leadership building, and how to face adversity in the workplace. The CCC staff collaborates with Forest Service Fire Prevention staff to host an informational booth at the annual Hmong International New Year in Fresno, CA. The staff hands out fire permits, while educating the community on fire prevention, fishing/hunting rules and regulations, and agency career opportunities.