2026 Community Research Symposium

(Session 2)

Resources: What We’re Up Against

This panel brings together community leaders, funding organization representatives, and demographers to consider how recent political, institutional, and financial changes have impacted our work. How might we locate other sources of (continued) support, and how do we leverage alliances to the benefit of all? We aim to highlight key issues and articulate practical solutions.

Moderators: Becky Butler, Carolina Asia Center, UNC-CH; and Kevin Kim, Asian American Center, UNC-CH

Panelists:

Madison Allen, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust

Stacey Carless, NC Counts Coalition

Sachi Dely, Montagnard Association of North Carolina

Marthalenar Nya Mar, Bamboo Roots

Denise Powell, Powell & Associates

(Session 3) 

Community Narratives in Policy and Practice 

This session explores how policymakers can help communities share and preserve their narratives and cultural traditions. Speakers will discuss the importance of lived experience, oral histories, and new media alongside academic research in shaping collective memory and identity. Participants will gain practical strategies for engaging communities and integrating community-driven research into programs, partnerships, and policy decisions.

Moderator: Sara Colm, Montagnard/Asian Community Disparities Research Network 

Panelists:

Lap Siu, Anthropology Lecturer, Texas Tech University; Creator of the Montagnard Channel

Pastor Prince Mundeke, Mundeke Gospel Mission

Shahpeerai Aimaq, International Advisory Committee, City of Greensboro 

Romat Eban, Montagnard Community Assistance

(Session 4)

Round Table Role-Play: $25M Grant Sparks Debate Over NGO's Future

A what-if scenario presented by moderator Stephen Sills to role players familiar with recent reports from the Governor’s Office, NCIOM, and Cone Foundation on refugees, immigrants, and communities in order to react, respond, and engage with one another across institutional traditions and silos. What happens when communities come to the table as coequals? How can funding cuts and dramatically shifting politics be opportunities for a fairer, more equitable Triad?

The Fictional Setting

MacKenzie Scott made national headlines the other day when her foundation announced that a small community nonprofit in the Southern city of Green Acres will receive something north of twenty-five million dollars. Typically, her foundation places no strings on grant recipients; it awards them based on its own review and assessment of those who receive these large-sum grants. 

Green Acres is a medium-sized city and one of the state’s earliest communities to resettle large numbers of refugees. It also has a sizable immigrant population. Today Green Acres finds itself an unexpectedly international city. The award recipient, a community-based organization created and controlled by the Highland Folk, a refugee community, has a long record of successes despite the community’s relative poverty when it first arrived decades ago. While everyone is excited that Green Acres has received positive reporting and media attention, they wonder what the nonprofit will do with this staggering gift.

Round Table Role-Players, what advice would you give?

Moderator: Stephen Sills, Innovative Research Insights

Round Table Role-Players:

Hector Suarez, Siembra NC, plays a State Legislator

Ivey Ghee, The Hospitality G, plays a Big Hotel Owner in downtown Green Acres.

Lily Chen, UCA Waves, plays the Executive Director of a refugee and immigrant group.

Mir Habibullah Akhgar, NC Afghan Association, plays Green Acres County Public Health Director.

Franca Jalloh, Jalloh's Upright Services of North Carolina, plays the first immigrant mayor of the city of Green Acres.

Chauncey Greene, Co-Director of Joint Field Instruction, UNCG/NCAT, plays Green Acres County Director of Social Services.

Anna Pennell, Guilford College, plays the new principle of Green Acres High School.

Vung Ksor, UNCG StrongMinds, plays a refugee mother working two jobs to support her three kids and elderly parents.

Kevin Kim, Asian American Center, UNC-CH, plays the Director of Community Engagement for the Good Old Boys Foundation.

(Session 5)

Promoting Mental Health within Southeast Asian Communities 

This session explores creative, culturally grounded strategies for promoting mental health and healing within Southeast Asian communities, especially those with refugee origins. The aim is to address urgent mental health needs while celebrating community strengths and creativity.

Moderator: Ana Sucaldito, UNCG/MACDRN

Panelists:

Laura Mrosla, MPH/MSW and Pany Julia Mounsamlouath, Guilford County Department of Public Health: "Hidden in the Data: Disaggregating Southeast Asian Vital Records Data".

Khaoula Bouti, PhD candidate, UNCG, "Mapping the Gap: Where SEA Communities Live vs. Where Services Reach".

Rich Enoul, Community Member & Advocate, "After the Rescue: The Mental Trauma Human Trafficking Leaves Behind".

Nida Qamar, PhD candidate, UNCG, "Toward Healing: Public Health Educators’ Creative Role in Trafficking Trauma Recovery".

Htey Meh, MSW, Bamboo Roots, "Rooted in Resilience: Culturally Responsive, Community Mental Health Programming".

(Session 6)

Succession: Preparing Next Gen Professionals

This session showcases models for co-governance in health, education, social services, and civic life, highlighting how shared leadership strengthens systems and improves outcomes. We invite policymakers, funders, and institutional leaders to move from token consultation to shared governance with communities that have lived expertise and demonstrated leadership capacity. We emphasize that they are not passive beneficiaries but co-strategists—ready with solutions, insights, and culturally grounded practices.

Moderator: Andrew Young, MACDRN

Panelists: Bob King, UNCSA (ret) "The Montagnard Community in the Course: UNCSA" (2011)

Sharon Morrison, UNCG "From Cultural Brokers to Community Leaders: How Montagnard Youth Are Changing Systems" (2026)

Discussants:

James Shield, African American Cultural Center

Leslie Garvin, NC Campus Engagement

(Session 7)

Culture Worth Creating

This session centers on equitable systems change, community-driven history, and healing and wellness that is grounded in partnerships that work for everyone. This is a culture worth creating for all.

Moderators: Sachi Dely, Montagnard Association of NC, Lee Meh, Bamboo Roots

Panelists:

Glenn Perkins and Ayla Amon, Greensboro History Museum

Jenny Lee, Montagnard/Asian Community Disparities Research Network, "My Walk For Change"