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Why is Tibetan Community Cultural Center Needed?
The Twin Cities are becoming increasingly diverse. Tibetans represent a strong and growing proportion of this population, contributing both economic and cultural nourishment to life in this area. The Tibetan Community Cultural Center will be a center from which the community can organize and preserve their traditional values and cultural heritage, which have been severely threatened since the Chinese occupation of Tibet began.
The role of the Tibetan Community Cultural Center is to preserve the unique cultural heritage of the Tibetan people by organizing seminars, talks, exhibitions, cultural shows, and other activities to promote Tibetan cultural life. It will also provide and support educational, economic, health and community development programs for the Tibetans in Minnesota. Providing the various Tibetan cultural groups with one place to meet will improve the effectiveness and communication among organizations, increase collaboration, and promote understanding and vitality throughout the community.
Project Team
Chief Advisor & Financial Consultant - Doug Baker
Architect - Peter Kramer
Legal Consultants - John Lundquist and Mary Runam
Grants Consultant - Martha Bolinger
Technology Consultant - Karma T. Youngdue
TAFM Acquires Property
The Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota (TAFM) purchased a property which will be officially known as Lugnyi Phuntsok Khang Tibetan Community Cultural Center. Minnesota Tibetans can now look forward to having a place of their own for learning about Tibetan culture, language, history and religion. The Center will also be a gathering spot for Tibetans of all ages and a place to welcome non-Tibetans who want to learn about Tibet and Tibetan culture.
The 7500-square foot building is conveniently located at 1096 Raymond Ave, St. Paul, near the Minneapolis/St. Paul border. Renovation plans for offices, classrooms, a prayer hall, a library, a full kitchen and a community hall that will seat 350 people
TAFM in the past, conducts its programs in rented and donated spaces scattered throughout the Twin Cities. The programs include the Tibetan Cultural School, Tibetan dance and music classes, commemorative and holiday celebrations, Tibetan films, workshops on practical and cultural topics, lectures by visiting scholars and dignitaries, and Tibetan dance and language classes for non-Tibetans.
Jigme Taythi, former Executive Director of TAFM, thrilled at acquiring the center said, "it is a great source of pride for the Tibetan community to find a home-and one that is the right place for Tibetan culture to flourish in Minnesota for the benefit of both Tibetans and non-Tibetans. Now there will be an appropriate space to hang the Thangkas given to the community by the Private Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama." TAFM Board Member, Karma Wangchuk, who is the Director of the Tibetan Cultural School, had this to say, "The new building will provide an excellent learning environment for our students. This solves one of our major problems-a permanent location for classes"
In 2000 a committee began to meet to plan for a future center. Pema Takza, who has been the Chair of the committee since its inception said, "The Tibetan Community Cultural Center committee has worked hard and it has been a long quest, but I believe that we have found a place that will serve the community well." HH Sakya Trizin Rinpoche conducted a blessing ceremony when he visited the center on June 29, 2003.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, well aware of the Minnesota Tibetans' efforts to find a home for their activities, gave the project his blessing. His visit to Minnesota in May 2001 provided a substantial base of funding for the Tibetan Community Cultural Center project. In addition, each Tibetan adult in Minnesota is contributing $200 for the Center. A Capital Campaign is underway to raise funds for building renovations, equipment, and an endowment.
For more information about the Minnesota Tibetan Community Cultural Center and how to become a part of this project through a donation, please contact:
Ngawang Choechen, Executive Director
Phone Numbers: 651-917-9556/651-917-9565 Email: edirector@tafm.org
The Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.