The Center for Multicultural Cooperation is one of  GIIP’s strategic partners.  Building on the program she developed while a GIIP fellow, MaryJane Skellerup started her own non profit working with Hmong youth in Fresno.  Using digital video, she introduced teens to new technologies and to the resources to help launch them to pursue a college education. 

Working with another former GIIP fellow, Brandon Wright, the Center for Multicultural Cooperation has expanded to serve both  Hmong and Latino youth by facilitating the  production of documentaries of  the lives of their grandparents and parents.  Hmong Voices and Latino Legacy  play an important part in with promoting cross-generational  connections in the community. To further expand on this goal, CMC also produces Stories of Service to share stories of veterans

In addition to the digital story projects, CMC  currently implements a variety of Civic Education Initiatives, including the Civic Education Network for Region 7 and opening  a public charter school, Fresno Academy for Civic and Entrepreneurial Leadership (ACEL).

MaryJane and Brandon’s hard work continues to pay off.  Since 2003, CMC has assisted local Stories of Service program sites to launch across the state of California (10 sites), Michigan, and Minnesota., and are working on building Latino Legacy into a statewide project.

More information can be found at www.cmcweb.org