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CHAT programs operate with two arms:
1) Youth Arts Program introduces, teaches and engages Hmong youth in art activities that foster creative expression and leadership skills, and nurtures healthy self-development.
- Art Saves Us (ASU) provides free art classes and transportation to Hmong youth, ages 8 – 19, as a productive, engaging alternative for out-of-school activities. ASU offers artistic instruction within a safe and comfortable atmosphere where youth develop a sense of identity, community and discipline through creative self-expression. ASU sessions last for 12 weeks and each class culminates with a public Showcase where youth perform and/or present their artwork to family, friends and community.
- Youth Leadership Group (YLG) is specifically for youth ages 15 – 19. YLG uses theater arts as a vehicle to foster leadership skills, encourage civic engagement and heightens expectations for success after high school. The program is an intense year-long program for youth who have extremely high potential but little opportunity to reach that potential. The group meets regularly to discuss critical issues affecting the Hmong community; select, plan and organize a theatrical campaign to address the issue; and presents the campaign at a local theatre and tours to Universities, Conferences, organizational events and libraries. Through the process of creating and implementing the campaign, youth develop skills in consensus and team-building, leadership and follow-through, as well as marketing, producing and community-building.
2) Navigate: Artist Services offers development and advancement opportunities for adult Hmong American artists and simultaneously builds audiences to support the work.
- Annual Fresh Traditions Fashion Show: Despite the 70,000 Hmong living in the Twin Cities -in 2007- Fresh Traditions was the first fashion show featuring all Hmong designers. Fresh Traditions designers have complete creative control over their designs for the show — with one challenge. Each designer was required to make one full outfit using a combination of the same 5 Hmong fabrics used in traditional Hmong clothing.
- DabNeeg Dawning Theatre: Old Stories in a New Light
