The Beginning of a Tradition: Karen New Year in San Diego
This is the first place where the Karen people began celebrating Karen New Year in San Diego, a powerful beginning born from hope and resilience. In 2009, just two years after resettling in a new land, without funding or even a community office, Karen leaders and youth came together to honor their heritage. From those humble beginnings, the San Diego Karen New Year has grown into a beautiful, vibrant tradition filled with dances, music, food, and the proud stories of our people.
STAR 2
Star2 (Star Htoo) is a singer, songwriter, and rapper whose music seamlessly blends pop, R&B, and hip-hop, drawing deeply from his personal journey, from a refugee camp in Thailand to a new life in San Diego. His lyrics are rooted in real-life experiences, offering an honest and powerful narrative that resonates with listeners around the world.
Born in a refugee camp without parents, Star2 was raised by his grandmother, who made the courageous decision to bring him to the United States in search of a better future. Life in America was far from easy. His family faced serious financial hardship, and he lived with an uncle who struggled with addiction. Despite these challenges, Star2 refused to let adversity define him. Instead, he found strength and purpose in music.
Today, Star2 is quickly making a name for himself in the music industry. He has collaborated with well-known artists both locally and internationally, including $tupid Young, Luh Kel, Sprite, Soulja Boy, and prominent musicians from Thailand, Burma, and the Karen community. His rising success has not distanced him from his roots—in fact, Star2 recently returned to Karen State, his homeland, to reconnect with his culture and give back to the community that shaped him.
A Place to Worship: The Beginning of San Diego Karen Church
This is the first location where the Karen community in San Diego came together to worship. They were given the opportunity to use the kitchen of Fairmont Baptist Church as a gathering space.
It began in 2007, during a time when finding a place to worship was incredibly difficult. Despite the hardships, three to four families gathered with faith and hope to hold church services.
Over time, their determination brought together more than 25 families, building a strong foundation of worship, unity, and community.
Tharamu Angela
Tharamu Angela (Angela Chit) arrived in San Diego in 1972 from Burma, making her the very first Karen person known to settle in the city. Although she didn’t grow up in a refugee camp or in an area with other Karen people, Tharamu Angela proudly maintained her native Karen language and is also fluent in Burmese.
When refugees from Burma began resettling in San Diego decades later, Tharamu Angela played a vital role in supporting the growing Karen community. She helped many families find jobs, provided interpretation services, offered transportation, and connected them with essential resources. Her support was more than just logistical, it was personal and heartfelt.
Angela also generously shared traditional vegetables she grew in her backyard, helping newly arrived families feel a sense of home and connection to their culture. She assisted in helping Karen families find places of worship where they could pray in their native language, further nurturing their sense of belonging.
One of her most lasting contributions is co-founding the Karen Organization of San Diego (KOSD), a cornerstone of support for Karen families in the region. To this day, Tharamu Angela continues to give back to the community in any way she can, embodying a legacy of service, compassion, and cultural pride.