Our mission as the Arts and Cultural Program is to preserve the Karen language, history, traditional arts, crafts, and practices of the Karen people, ensuring that this knowledge is passed down through generations and that these traditions continue to thrive in California. We serve the Karen population throughout the state of California. We provide Karen children, youth, and adults with opportunities to learn about Karen history, language, dances, traditions, arts, and crafts. Our program is open to individuals of all ethnicities who are interested in learning about Karen culture and celebrating diversity. Our two main activities include traditional Karen dance classes and Karen language classes.

The goal of the Karen traditional dance classes is for children, youth, and young adults to learn more about Karen traditions, prepare for cultural events, promote bonding and collaboration, and celebrate diversity. Dancing together is a deeply human act that has been practiced for millennia across many different cultures, and we aim to foster unity by encouraging people to participate in this activity.

There are two main types of Karen traditional dances: the Don dances and the bamboo dances. Don dance originated from the Pwo Karen people, and the meaning of “Don” is “togetherness.” Don dances were created by our ancestors to promote unity among the Karen people and remind them of their common heritage. Similarly, bamboo dances are Sgaw Karen dances that encourage community, togetherness, and collaboration among all Karen people. These traditional dances are performed during celebrations such as the Karen New Year, the Karen Wrist Tying Ceremony, and harvest festivals. They are also performed at other events, such as courtships and funerals.

Karen Language Classes

We offer free Karen language classes virtually to everyone interested in learning the Karen alphabet, vocabulary, and basic sentence structure. We offer three levels of classes: Beginner, Intermediate I, and Intermediate II. Our Karen classes run in a 5-month cohort, from March to July, followed by an in-person graduation at the State Capitol in August.

Beginner:
The goal of the Beginner class is for students to acquire basic knowledge of the Karen language, including vocabulary, colors, numbers, the Karen alphabet, simple sentence structure, listening comprehension, and conversational basics.

Intermediate I:
The goal of the Intermediate I class is for students to gain a deeper understanding of the Karen language, demonstrated by an expanded vocabulary, knowledge of Karen vowels and the alphabet, basic reading and writing skills (using the Karen alphabet and vowels), and improved conversational proficiency.

Intermediate II:
The goal of the Intermediate II class is for students to achieve near-native fluency in the Karen language, demonstrated by fluid conversation and storytelling, advanced vocabulary (e.g., understanding terms used in medical, political, and social service contexts), complex writing skills (using the Karen alphabet, vowels, and tones), and a deeper cultural understanding.

Youth's testimonial and participants