[PHOTOS] 'Sharing a Hmong American Experience'
2026 Chippewa Valley Book Festival continues through Oct. 24, Pao Lor discusses latest book 'Bamboo Son'
photos by Andrea Paulseth |
"Some of the most transformative changes that we make are not not necessarily in public arenas, but in the private homes of people," Wisconsin author and educator Pao Lor shared with Volume One.
Lor, the author of Modern Jungles (2021) and Bamboo Son (2026) spoke with an audience of all ages on Oct. 22 at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library (400 Eau Claire St., Eau Claire).
This discussion, "Sharing a Hmong American Experience," was presented by the Chippewa Valley Book Festival (CVBF); the 2026 literary sessions aim to draw attention to diverse narratives and now, cultural heritage of the local Hmong community.
"My goal for each of these events is to hopefully share something new that each audience audience member will pick up ... some sort of information or a new perspective to share with their loved ones and their families," Lor said.
Pa Thao, a board member of the Eau Claire Area School District, local entrepreneur and founder of Power Up Eau Claire introduced Lor's session and reflected on the experience with her online following.
"Books like Bamboo Son by Dr. Pao Lor do more than document one person's journey," Thao shared via Facebook. "They help preserve a piece of our collective history while inviting readers from all backgrounds to better understand the complexities of displacement, identity, resilience, and belonging."
Visit the Chippewa Valley Book Festival webpage online to learn more about its 2026 featured authors. Festival programming will continue through Oct. 24 at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library (400 Eau Claire St., Eau Claire).
