HELP US BUILD OUR COMMUNITY WELLNESS CENTER
October 09, 2026
From Dislocation to Belonging: Building a Place to Call Home
For more than 37 years, the Montagnard community of North Carolina has built a life in the spaces between.
Dislocated by the devastating realities of the Vietnam War and fleeing layers of religious persecution, our elders arrived in Greensboro, Raleigh, Charlotte, and New Bern with heavy hearts, resilient spirits, and memories of a homeland left behind. They didn’t just survive; they planted roots. Today, North Carolina holds the second- largest concentration of Montagnards outside of Vietnam.
For nearly four decades, the Montagnard Association of North Carolina, formerly known as MDA, has been a lifeline for thousands of families. But for 37 years, we have done this vital work from rented spaces. We have been guests in buildings we could never fully call our own.
Now, it is time to build a permanent home.
The Vision: More Than Brick and Mortar
This isn't just about constructing an office building. This is about creating a sanctuary for cultural survival, physical healing, and generational joy.
Imagine a vibrant 13-acre Community Wellness Center campus filled with life:
For our Elders: Safe, dignified tiny houses built on campus to wrap our arms around unhoused elders, ensuring no one who survived the journey here is left out in the cold. Culturally and linguistically appropriate mental and physical health services, alongside a dedicated space for traditional community gardening.
For our Youth: Spaces for soccer and volleyball tournaments, access to traditional arts programs for students, chances to develop leadership roles, opportunities to intern, and life-changing scholarships that honor their heritage while launching their futures.
For the Vulnerable: A safe space to seek mental health support, employment assistance, case management, benefit application, vocational training, interpretation, and more.
This "Big Dream" is not new to us. It has emerged from years of dedicated needs assessments, hypertension research, and community listening sessions. Our people didn't just ask for services—they asked for land. They asked for a foundation!
The Breakthrough & The Missing Piece
We took the first bold step. We found the land—13 beautiful acres. We have already poured $325,000 of our own resources into securing it.
But to unlock this legacy's full potential, we must cross the finish line. We need to raise $175,000 to pay off the land debt completely, and $3,500,000 to construct the wellness center from the ground up.
Your Chance to Leave a Legacy
We are inviting visionaries, community leaders, investors, and change-makers to step into this story with us. When you make a Major or Legacy Gift to this campaign, you aren't just funding a construction project.
You are funding a place to heal from the traumas of war.
You are funding the preservation of a beautiful, ancient culture for the next generation.
You are giving a community that lost everything a place to look at and say: "This is ours finally. We are home."
Dream big with us. Help us build a sanctuary of health, culture, and belonging.
Thank you — Lač jăk.
Sincerely,
HYua (Liana) Adrong, MSW, LCSW-A
Executive Director
Staff and Board Members- Mr. Hmok, Lila N. Miles, Cece Buonya, Caitlyn Polito, Hlat Mlo.