The first Southeast Asian refugees to arrive in La Crosse was a Vietnamese family in 1974. In 1975, the first Cambodian family settled in this area. The first Hmong refugees arrived in June of 1976.

The primary voluntary agencies, responsible for initial reception and placement services for the refugees in the La Crosse during the first 18 years were: the Episcopal Migration Ministries, Lutheran Social Services, Catholic Charities/Diocese of La Crosse, and Church World Services. During the next several years, the numbers of refugees arriving from Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam continued to increase. By 1982, there were approximately 800 Southeast Asian refugees in La Crosse. The group consisted of the following approximate numbers: 600 Hmong, 120 Cambodian, 55 Vietnamese, and 25 Lao. It was obvious to caring individuals that the needs of these people from Southeast Asia, with vastly different cultures, lifestyles, languages, educational levels, etc., were not being met. In 1982, a group of agencies and individuals, concerned about the resettlement of the refugees, formed the La Crosse County Refugee Task Force. Leaders of the Hmong and Cambodian communities joined the Task Force and were instrumental in making the needs of the refugees known. Cheu Yang, a Hmong leader from Laos, and Sam Ghanty, a leader from Cambodia and a professor at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse (UW-L) played key roles in identifying the need for culturally appropriate services for the refugee communities. To meet the needs of the increasing refugee population, the La Crosse Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association, Inc. (HMAA) was formed and incorporated as a non-profit, tax exempt agency in December 1982. The mission of the agency is to serve as an educational and charitable organization assisting refugees' adjustment to life in the United States.

During the next few years, the number of refugees from Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam continued to increase. By 1982, there were approximately 800 Southeast Asian refugees in La Crosse. This consisted of the following approximate numbers: 600 Hmong, 120 Cambodians, 55 Vietnamese, and 25 Lao. It was obvious to caring individuals that the needs of these people from Southeast Asia with vastly different cultures, lifestyles, language, education, etc., were not being met. In 1982, a group of agencies and individuals concerned about the resettlement of the refugees formed the La Crosse County Refugee Task Force. Leaders of the Hmong and Cambodian communities joined the Task Force and were instrumental in making the needs of the refugees known. Cheu Yang, a Hmong leader from Laos, and Sam Ghanty, a leader from Cambodia and a professor at UW-L, played key roles in establishing the need for culturally appropriate services for the refugee communities.

To meet the needs of the increasing refugee population, the La Crosse Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association (HMAA) was formed and incorporated as a non-profit, tax exempt agency in December of 1982. The mission of the agency is to serve as an educational and charitable organization assisting refugees adjust to life in the United States.

Operations began with volunteer staff (Hmong, Cambodian, and American) in December of 1982 in the lower level of Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 612 Division Street in La Crosse. The HMAA maintained its existence with volunteer assistance until July 1983. At this time, a grant of $15,000.00 was received from the refugee office (now known as the Office of Refugee Services, Division of Economic Support, Department of Workforce Development, State of Wisconsin) in Madison, which allowed paid staff to be hired. The HMAA (with paid staff) was now able to begin promoting the mission it established at its foundation in 1982. The HMAA implements programs, advocates for appropriate services from other agencies, and coordinates refugee services.

Beginning with that first grant of $15,000.00, the HMAA, in January 2000, operated with a budget of approximately $700,000.00 and provided a multitude of services. The Southeast Asian refugees and non-Southeast Asian refugees in La Crosse then numbered 3,516.

With the increasing refugee population, health needs were of great concern to the HMAA. In February 1984, the HMAA, St. Francis Medical Center (now Franciscan Skemp Healthcare) and the La Crosse County Health Department coordinated a project which established the Indochinese Screening Clinic. During the existence of that clinic, the HMAA provided a full-time Bilingual Health Aide and supplies for the clinic. Funding for the HMAA's role in the clinic was granted through the State Division of Health in Madison, Wisconsin. The clinic completed its mission and closed on September 30, 1998.

Having outgrown its main location at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, and to obtain additional needed space, the HMAA established a branch office at St. John's Reformed Church of Christ in August 1984. Both the main office at Our Savior's Lutheran and the additional space at St. John's were donated rent-free by the individual churches. However, both offices were very small and the HMAA was quickly out of space again. In October 1986, with an increased budget , the HMAA combined both offices and moved to 326 South Seventh Street in La Crosse. This space provided five offices and a small conference room. Due to continued expansion and increasing numbers of refugees, the HMAA offices were soon overcrowded. To satisfy the need for additional space, the HMAA moved to 2615 George Street in August 1989; the HMAA is now located at 1815 Ward Avenue in the same facility as the Hmong Cultural and Community Center.

Several of the individual agencies and churches, who were instrumental in establishing the HMAA, have continued their support and encouragement. The HMAA remains grateful to former Pastor Vern Rice and the congregation of Our Savior's Lutheran Church, and Pastor John Tyler, former Pastor of St. Johns Reformed Church of Christ, and St. Francis Medical Center for providing free office space during the HMAA's early years.

In 1987, the La Crosse County Refugee Task Force merged with the HMAA Advisory Board to form the Refugee Resource Board. The Refugee Resource Board is still in existence along with the Community Attitudes Task Force, Multicultural Youth Council, Employers Advisory Group, Elderly Advisory Council, Key States Initiative Interagency Coordination Group, Western Wisconsin Family Strengthening Initiative Regional Advisory Council, Legal Alien Hunger Committee, FACET Advisory Board, and HMAA Youth Council - all sponsored by the HMAA. During the past decade, the HMAA has emerged as a multi-cultural organization promoting appreciation for diversity and advocating for the civil rights and culturally sensitive services for minority groups.

During the past decade, the HMAA has emerged as a multi-cultural organization promoting appreciation for the diversity and advocating for the civil rights and culturally sensitive service for minority groups.

The HMAA extends their heartfelt gratitude to the many caring individuals who have continued their support and belief in the HMAA and the Southeast Asian refugee communities.