Bamboo, Borders, and Bricks: Theology Building for Housing Improvements with Lao Refugees

Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries, Fresno, CA

This new research creatively engages often marginalized voices of Christian refugees in the U.S. to develop a theology building process appropriate to the social, cultural, and multi-religious backgrounds of Laotian refugees in Fresno, California.  Then, that theological process for empowerment is applied to improve sub-standard housing conditions so often encountered by refugees in the Central Valley and elsewhere.

The research identifies, describes, and holds in conversation three contexts of “bamboo, borders, and bricks” for Lao theology, which represent traditional, exilic, and newly encountered religious and cultural influences.  These contexts are applied to create Christian responses to poor housing through the use of biblical and folk stories, re-worked Lao housing rituals, and community organizing approaches through artistic poetry, songs, and visuals.