Hmong Bike-Ped Community Map receives grant with help from UWSP faculty

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An ethnographically-based bicycle/pedestrian activity map of Stevens Point will be funded in part by Saint Michael’s Foundation. The Hmong Bike-Ped Community Map aims to engage the Hmong community by creating a culturally relevant approach to physical activity.

The collaborative efforts of Portage County Can Coalition and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point will engage Hmong families of Stevens Point to provide insights about the challenges of being physically active and identifying culturally relevant resources to support them in their physical activity goals.

Program coordinators–including Professor Annie Wetter from the School of Health Promotion and Human Development, Assistant Professor of Education Maysee Herr, Anthropology Lecturer Tori Jennings and Assistant Professor of Geography Ismaila Odogba and Hmong cultural consultant Song Cheng–envision the success of the project to be applied to similar health promotion resources for other ethnic minority and under-represented populations within the Stevens Point and surrounding communities.

The Hmong Bike-Ped Map will be designed based on interview data in collaboration with the Department of Geography, UW-Stevens Point Design Center and Hmong community members. Drafts will be presented to interviewees for input on the design, utility and the appropriate and effective use of colors, iconography and text. The committee plans to apply for undergrad research support this fall and will present at the Small Cities Conference in October. The goal is to have the full maps available by spring.

The rate of diabetes for Hmong adults in America is 20 times the rate for Hmong in Thailand and in comparison to three other Asian ethnic groups in the U.S., Hmong were most likely to be diabetic and had the highest BMI. According to the 2010 census data, 1,274 Hmong reside in Stevens Point.