Buddhism is the dominant religion in Laos. Wat Lao Buddharam is a temple that serves the Laos community in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
One of the largest Laotian communities in the United States is in Middle Tennessee. In this episode, we leave Nashville to meet the people of Laos who call Murfreesboro home. We’ll talk about how this community came to be and how immigrants from Laos are passing on their culture and heritage to the next generation.
But first, early voting is underway and one of the races we’re closely watching is for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. We’ll talk to Tennessee Lookout reporter Sam Stockard about the candidates Republican Congressman Mark Green and Democrat Odessa Kelly, and why Green is calling the Congressional district map unfair.
Guests:
- Sam Stockard, Tennessee Lookout reporter
- Tommy Mekaloun, vice president of Wat Lao Buddhist Temple
- Phaivanh Mekaloun, singer and Tommy’s wife
- Sophia Luangrath, API of Middle Tennessee board member
- Chay Sengkhounmany, lead immigration attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM