|
Co-FounderCynthia Yongvang is a Hmong woman with a disability, a graphic and textile artist, and a social justice and disability advocate. She is currently the Executive Director of the United Hmong with Disabilities, a national Hmong disability organization; the former executive director of the Hmong Association of WA; the current co-founder/CEO & President of the Hmong Impact Giving Network, a national Hmong philanthropic organization; and a business owner as the founder and CEO of the CYNTHIA YONGVANG™ brand in Washington state, a textile and fashion company inspired by art forms from her Hmong culture and other cultures around the world.
Cynthia has over 20+ years of experience in the nonprofit sector as the former executive director of an immigrant and refugee women and girls’ organization, the former Chair of the New American collaborative, a coalition of over 13 immigrant and refugee organizations, the former co-founder of the Hmong Women’s Giving Circle and served on several boards and commissions in MN before she moved to Washington state in 2008. She currently serves on the Empowering to Thrive’s Hmong Men/Boys Conference Planning Committee ‘23, HND Leadership Symposium ‘23 and the Disability Inclusion Fund’s Grantees Convening Planning Committee ‘24. Previously, she also served on the Regional Food System steering committee at the Northwest Agriculture Business Center (NABC) and on the board of the United Communities of Laos, a coalition of Hmong, Lao and Khmu organizations, and was a 2018 Fellow from the Community Leadership Institute at the Puget Sound Sage in Seattle. |
|
co-founderMai Thor, 2021 Bush Fellow
Mai seeks to embed disability justice in the work of larger justice and equity movements. As a person living with a disability and as a leader who has helped design more accessible and inclusive systems for people with disabilities, she sees that social justice movements often leave disability out of their efforts. She wants to transform these movements to be completely accessible and inclusive so that every march, rally or community meeting is informed by a disability perspective. To grow her capacity to lead, she will study ableism and disability culture, history and law. |
|
co-founderMai N. Vang identifies herself as a Hmong Deaf woman. She was born hearing then became Deaf around 2 years old. Mai is in her final year at Metropolitan State University for Human Service Family Studies and she is aiming to receive her Bachelor of Human Services degree. Mai currently working at ThinkSelf, a non-profit organization that serve adult education and Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault for Deaf and Hard of hearing community. In addition to her job at ThinkSelf, Mai is Deaf Mentor with Deaf Mentor Family Program and has been working for 6 years as a Deaf Mentor. Mai believes learning American Sign Language is part of our communication access, language foundation, and part of who we are to express ourselves. American Sign Language (ASL) is our most language access and part of our language foundation. Mai is looking forward to sharing her story with Hmong community and spreading awareness about Deaf in Hmong community.
|
|
co-founderHoua Moua is an advocate for disability justice in her community. As a Hmong American with a disability, she has lived experience navigating multiple layers of marginalized spaces. Because of this she has developed an outgoing spirit and a desire to be a helping hand to others. A lifelong admirer of the performing arts, she enjoys going out to plays and other local events to support her immigrant community.
|
|
co-founderKathy Thao-Shada is a stay-at-home mom to 3 of her children. The first one is five years old; the middle is 2, and the 3rd is 9 months. She was born in Saint Paul, MN. She have cerebral palsy since birth. She graduated with her bachelors of science in Corporate Finance in 2011.
|
|
co-founderMai Shoua Moua was born at a refugee camp in Bangkok, Thailand. Her family and she immigrated to Minnesota in 1989. At four months old Mai Shoua got really ill. When she first attended school her 1st grade teacher noticed she was not engaging in conversations about schoolwork when being spoken to. It was brought to the attention of her parents that she may have a hearing loss. Her mother took her to an audiology specialist and was identified as a hard of hearing person.
Her parents and she had no prior knowledge about hard of hearing. Mai Shoua encountered many difficult challenges growing up in middle school through high school. Some teachers were not very supportive or respectful towards students with disabilities. While other challenges included her struggles of being bullied by other students because of her disability. In the beginning of her journey Mai Shoua thought that her disability would limit her career options, however she has been successful. Mai Shoua has 10+ years of experience working as a PCA-- providing care for individuals with disabilities which include dementia, Alzheimer, cerebral palsy, physical, intellectual or learning, cognitive, neurological disorders, etc. She has had experiences as an Assistant Program Manager for mental illness clients, deaf and blind individuals. She is currently working with the State of Minnesota. |
Where it all begun: Grassroots
* UHD's origin started with a small group of Hmong individuals with disabilities.