WHO WE ARE
Mission and history, Staff, Board, Community Advisory Council and partners
MDA Mission and History The Montagnard Dega Association (MDA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Community-Based Organization formed in 1988. We exist to unite and strengthen the fraternal ties of all persons of Montagnard heritage, to create a positive environment for all to meet, to build safe, healthy communities, to inspire education and to preserve our cultural heritage. North Carolina is home to many Montagnards outside of Southeast Asia and comprises a major portion of the local AAPI population. MDA works in cooperation with mutual assistance organizations, community groups, faith organizations, local, state, and refugee resettlement agencies. MDA is a refugee service provider recognized by NCDHHS. We have expanded to include a youth branch, Montagnard American Organization (MAO), research network, and community advisory council. We work closely with Bhutanese, Cambodian, Karenni, Sudanese, Liberian, and Swahili-speaking communities on education, health and Covid response.
Who are the Montagnard people? We are the indigenous peoples of the Central Highlands of Vietnam. The term Montagnard is French for “mountain people” or "highlanders", and is often used to refer to us, the indigenous people of the region. There are over 30 different Montagnard tribes. We were some of the frontline fighters during the Vietnam War, alongside with U.S. Special Forces. Today, North Carolina holds the largest population of Montagnards outside of Southeast Asia... (more)
OUR STAFF
Executive Director
Zainab Rahimi Refugee Support Services (RSS) Case Manager
Mica Bunjang
Youth Program Director /Civic Engagement Specialist
Senior Employment Specialist
Program Coordinator
Dr. Ysiu Hlong
Montagnard Community Health Worker
Swahili Community Health Worker
Karenni Community Health Worker/Civic Engagement Specialist
Bhutanese Civic Engagement Specialist
Liberia Community Health Worker
TBA
TBA
Sel Mpang
Traditional Arts Program Dance Instructor
H'Debra Siu
Traditional Arts Program Dance Assistant Instructor
Karpuih Moyun
Traditonal Arts Program Coordinator
Yit Ksor
Traditonal Arts Program Music Instructor
Carl Mize
Vocational Industrial Sewing Instructor
H'Luon Nie
Vocatinal Industrial Sewing Assistant Instructor
Irina Sidlouski
Social Work Intern, UNCG, BSW 2023
Tanajuh Rouse
Social Work Intern NCA&T, BSW 2023
Nicolette Daniluk
Social Work Intern,
UNCG, BSW 2023
Xuem Siu
Public Health Intern,
UNCG, MPH 2023
H'Missy Ksor,
The Montagnard Legacy Scholar 2022-2023
H'Gloria Eban, The Montagnard Legacy Scholar
2022-2023
OUR BOARD
Y'Thong Hmok
Chair
Yeremy Budam,
Videographer
Y Hin Nie
Senior Pastor, United Montagnard Christian Church Advisory Board
Lila Nie Miles
Co-Chair
Pierre K'Briuh
Deacon, St Mary's Catholic Church
Advisory Board
TBA
Vice-Chair
Y'Siu Hlong, PhD
Director Emeritus
Advisory Board
Caitlyn Polito
Co-Vice-Chair
Daniel Touprong Ho-le
Owner, Ho-Le Accounting
Advisory Board
H'Lat Mlo
Treasurer
Raleigh Bailey, PhD
Director Emeritus, Center for New North Carolinians
Advisory Board
Brao Bolton
Secretary
Dock Rmah
1996 NC Hertiage Award recipient
Advisory Board
Elizabeth Thinh, BA
Vice Chair
H'Yiu Ksor, RN
Co-Secretary
Gelly Long, BA
Co-Secretary
Sharon Morrison, PhD
Non-voting
Member, Academic Liaison
Andrew Young, MFA
Non-voting
Member, Technical Adviser
SERVICE PARTNERS
Bhutanese Community, Dev Bhandari
Cambodian Culture Center of NC (CCC of NC)
Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro
Elon Humanitarian Immigration Law Clinic
Faith Action International House
International Advisory Committee
Kate. B. Reynolds Charitable Trust
Montagnard / Asian Community Disparities Research Network
North Carolina African Services Coalition
North Carolina Asian American Together (NCAAT)
Senior Resource Center of Guilford
Southeast Asian Coalition (SEAC)
UNCG Center for New North Carolinians