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Council issues Arbor Day proclamation and recognizes 50th anniversary of Hmong diaspora
Summary
At its April 22 meeting the city council proclaimed April 25, 2025 as Arbor Day and recognized the 50th anniversary of the Hmong diaspora in the United States with remarks from local Hmong community members and descendants of early resettlers.
The Eau Claire City Council issued a proclamation naming April 25, 2025 as Arbor Day and presented a resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Hmong diaspora in the United States.
Council President Emily Bergey read the Arbor Day proclamation, noting the National Arbor Day Foundation has recognized Eau Claire as a Tree City USA for 46 years. City forestry staff and volunteers — including named forestry crew members and office staff — were acknowledged for ongoing spring planting, with staff noting roughly 300 trees were being planted in the current season.
Council then presented a proclamation recognizing the Hmong community’s contributions during the 50th anniversary of resettlement in the United States. The text noted milestones including the Moa family’s arrival on April 9, 1976, the first Hmong American UW-Eau Claire graduate (1989), and other local “firsts” cited in the proclamation. Charles Vu, a retired UW-Eau Claire educator, and La Zheng Zhong (son of Joby Zhong, the first elected Hmong official in Wisconsin) spoke at the podium about the community’s history and the impact of the city’s early support for Hmong leaders.
Council members and the audience thanked the presenters and guests. The proclamations were ceremonial recognitions; no formal council votes were required beyond adoption of the consent agenda under which proclamations were listed.
