March 15-31, 2000                                                                                                    The Asian Pages
 
After-School Program Helps Young 
Hmong Women Expand Their Horizons
 

Jagged Innocence Photo by Laurie Schneider
 
What program is this you ask ... the Portage for Youth? It is an after-school girls program held in a lovingly restored 100-year old house in the Dayton's Bluff neighborhood on St. Paul's East Side. It is very much a home, down to the built in dining room hutch, the lace curtains; and the bread still warm, from baking. It is an atmosphere intended to protect young  women, most of whom know gang members, from  impending street danger of drugs, crime, pregnancy and truancy. It is a second home to nearly all who enter. This is especial- ly important for the young women who come to the Portage, because there is a sense of permanency and stability that many do not experience in their own homes. At the Portage, the staff feel that it is essential that there is someone or something to grab on to, as young women travel through youth. Also the Portage is a safe place to be girls: safe from harassment, safe from the barrage of household duties many are required to do, and safe from negative social stereotypes. At the Portage GIRLS RULE in all the best ways: they make decisions, create projects and work together on initiatives they choose and enjoy. 

The Portage is open to all young women, but for the past 2 years has been predominately Hmong. Programs are offered daily, between the after- school hours of 3 to 6 p.m. Or, later depending on the programs, which change quarterly. Summer programming is also available, with monthly trips to Bay Lake Camp, which is located on a 70 acre island in Deerwood, Minnesota. 

Last October, Laurie Schneider, a photographer who has done several photo mentorships with the Portage, arranged for local singer/songwriters Barbara With and Deb Brown to mentor four Hmong girls in songwriting. Barbara and Deb visited the Portage once a week and help Mai Her, Xia Thao, Kong Vang and Mai Yia Vang discover their inner voice, write about their hopes and dreams, and put those words to music. The result was not only a song, "Faith in Someday," but the formation of a new girl singing group called Jagged Innocence. The girls got to record in a professional recording studio and sing their own song at Capital City New Years at RiverCentre last December. 

The result was not only a wonderful experience being recording artists, songwriters and performers, but a CD single of "Faith in Someday" was released in February. The Portage, Barbara and Jagged Innocence have decided to continue on with composing songs and plan to release a CD of several more of their original songs sometime next autumn. . For more info call the Portage, 965 Fremont Ave. in St. Paul, at 651-772-8674.