KBTC Profiles: Khmer - A Connection to Culture

>> The following is a presentation of KBTC Profiles. [ Music ] >> We have such a rich, loving culture. Our history goes back thousands of years. Every gesture and movement symbolizes who we are and how we came about in this world. [ Music ] >> KLACA is Khmer Language Arts and Culture Academy, and really our mission is to strengthen our community through education and cultural enrichment programs. We do that by providing Khmer language classes, by providing Khmer dance classes. Classes are held a

t the Asia Pacific Cultural Center once a week, every Sunday. "Kuh-mer" is more American, right? It's just easier to pronounce. "Kuh-my" is what we as a native Khmer language would say, Khmer. There's more than 15 to about 20,000 Cambodians in this area. We are actually, I believe, the third or fourth-largest Cambodian population that resides here in the Puget Sound. I was born during the Khmer Rouge era. My family and I endured the camps, but we were blessed enough to escape the Khmer Rouge. We

were able to get sponsored to the United States. Our port of entry was San Francisco, and I grew up in San Jose, California. There was a community center that was built right across the street from my house. Through that community center, my family received support and services. But what was really awesome is I got connected to the cultural enrichment program, which was ran by a local nonprofit there. And that's how I was introduced to the Khmer language and the Khmer dance program. >> Being Kh

mer American, my generation were born here in the US. Because of that, there's a lot of potential of being disconnected with our Khmer culture and our identity. You know, and I feel like not being able to know your language and your culture, it's possible to feel disconnected from Khmer identity and to feel proud of being Khmer, too. >> Without the program, the kids, you know, wouldn't be able to identify themselves or where they came from. They just know they're Cambodian. What is that? What is

Khmer? They don't know because they don't live it. They don't know it because they're American children living here in America. So without this program, they don't know who they are. They wouldn't have an identity. >> That passion and that desire to provide a safe space, to build a strong, resilient community, to keep the culture alive, that passion is what really blinded us to just say we're just going to do it. We formed our own nonprofit. >> I feel it is important for everyone to recognize t

hat we're all different. You know, we live in a world of diversity. You know, we all come in different shapes, different forms, different colors, different sizes. I feel like that's what makes up the world. That's what makes up the community, is when we're all so different, but then we come together. We share our background. We share our different experiences, our opinions, our thoughts, and we express them differently. And I feel like that's what makes us human, is when we're able to recognize

and accept each other for who we are. >> As a matter of fact, we have non-Khmer that are students here. We have many non-Khmer folks that are students here in KLACA. We have a lot of kids that are half-Khmer. So it's really neat to see. >> I mean, KLACA has made a huge impact on my life. I feel like I wouldn't know what I'd be passionate about, and I feel so fortunate enough to love something like this. I mean, there's so many people my age who don't really have, like, hobbies that they love, yo

u know? The enjoyment that comes with it, it's just unexplainable. Like, you have to experience it for yourself to know what it feels like. >> I hear parents, including grandparents, say that they feel more connected. The students feel more connected to one another. And that, to me, is huge. I remember growing up, having the language barrier, even the cultural barrier, really makes you feel like, as a youth, it makes you feel like you're alone. When I talk to parents, including the students, and

just -- and also seeing how they interact, it fills my soul. >> We look out for one another, and it's also a place where we can just learn about our identity, different cultures, different nations, coming together and being one big family, just working together, making the community stronger. [ Music ] >> Funding for this edition of KBTC Profiles provided by the KBTC Association. >> KBTC Profiles are available at kbtc.org.