Preserving Montagnard heritage, empowering the next generation, and fostering a vibrant future in North Carolina
Our Mission & Vision
The Montagnard Association of North Carolina Inc. (MANC), formerly known as the Montagnard Dega Association Inc. (MDA), was established in 1988 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Community-Based Organization. We are dedicated to uniting and strengthening the Montagnard community through culturally rooted programs.
Our mission is to unite and strengthen our Montagnard community by preserving the Montagnard heritage while providing essential resources for the next generation. We envision a thriving, united, self-sufficient, and culturally vibrant Montagnard community across North Carolina.
The Montagnard Association was established in 1988 to support Montagnard refugees upon their arrival in North Carolina. We provide direct services to our clients and/or individuals to meet their specific needs, such as social/health access, case management, employment placement, counseling, education, wellness classes, language classes, vocational training, civic engagement, youth/elders programs, and more. These services are designed to enhance independence, improve quality of life, and foster community integration, often supporting people with specific needs. In the past three decades, the Montagnard Association expanded its mission, added more programs, and served all refugees regardless of ethnicity under our Refugee Support Services (RSS).
Click here for Refugee Support Services, Employment, and Case Management referral. For all other classes, click here.
Who are the Montagnard people?
We are among the indigenous people of the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The term Montagnard is French for “mountain people” or "highlanders", and is mostly used to refer to us in the United States. There are over 40 different ethic minority tribes in Vietnam, and each has its own unique language, culture, practice, and more. Our parents or grandparents were some of the frontline fighters during the Vietnam War, alongside the U.S. Special Forces. Today, North Carolina holds the largest population of Montagnards outside of Southeast Asia.
Our Programs and Services
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Community Health/Wellness
Delivering direct support, resources, and outreach, including health clinics and vital local services, to those who need it most.
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Youth Program
Fostering the next generation of leaders through mentorship, skill-building, and safe, inclusive after-school activities.
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Research Network
Driving evidence-based change by conducting and publishing community-centered research that informs our programs and policy recommendations.
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Traditinal Arts Program for Students (TAPS)
We know that change starts with people like you, and joining our Traditional Arts Programs for Students (TAPS) is a great place to start. Every act of kindness, every dollar, every class you join, and every moment of your time brings us closer to achieving our mission. Together, we can create a brighter, more compassionate world for all
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Refugee Support Services (RSS)
We provides support services to eligible refugees, asylees, and other qualified individuals, including employment assistance, case management, benefit applications, vocational training, translation, transportation, and emergency needs across Guilford, Forsyth, Alamance, and Rockingham counties.
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Interpretation Services (Contracting)
High quality and competitive pricing for Bunong, Rhade, Jarai, Vietnamese, Karenni, Khmer, Burmese, French, Swahili, Pashto, Dari, Arabic, Oromo, Dari, Pashto, Swahili, French
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Volunteer/Training
Your time, energy, and expertise are valued. Institutional pathways available for student involvement in our programs and research.
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College Internship
MDA regularly offers internship opportunities for senior undergraduates and graduate students, and some summer opportunities for juniors. If you are a college student, grad or a post-doc and are interested in working with us, contact us.
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Service Learning
Service-learning is an educational approach that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities.
