Board of Directors

( Image description: From left to right. Mang, Asian Hmong women in sunglasses, bun hair wearing a black and white striped shirt with jean shorts and light beige skin tone. Mang is holding a boy toddler with black brown hair and is wearing a blue and white striped shirt with khaki shorts and light beige skin tone.. Girl child is sitting next to the toddler boy and is wearing a light pink dress and light beige skin tone.. Caucasian man with pulled up sunglasses on light brown short hair and wearing a blue shirt with gray shorts and light beige skin tone.. Family sitting on stairs in front of two black front house doors.)

​President

Mang Shaper (she/her) is based out from Philadelphia. Am married with two beautiful kids who keeps her busy. 
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Currently, she serves as the Director of Quality Management for Liberty Resources, Inc. They are the Center of Independent Living in Philadelphia. Mang's background is in Social Work and is passionate about policy and practice change in healthcare. Additionally, she serves as a Board Member for the Wyss Wellness Center in Philadelphia. 

As a Board Member for United Hmong with Disabilities (UHD), Mang hope to bring her experience with disability services and healthcare advocacy. She looks forward to the day when UHD can serve as a voice of advocacy for our community.  

In her free time, Mang loves to sew and make paj ntaub (cross stitch). She loves our Hmong textiles and working with fabric is very soothing and fun for her. In these busy times, sitting down to just focus on making art allows her time to reflect. Mang also feels more connected to our history when making paj ntaub.

( Image description: Asian Hmong women with long blackish-brown wavy hair and light beige skin tone. Wearing a light blue jean jacket. Standing in front of a white wall. )

Vice President

Mai Vang (she/her) currently working at Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division with the Department of Human Services as an ASL Social Security Advocacy and identities is Deaf and Hmong. She values her identities because she wants to represent herself and her identities are purposely to spread the awareness of who she is to the public. She recognized that not many Deaf people would identify themselves like she does. She is proud of her identities and that's who she is.  Mai was born as hearing then became deaf at the age of one year old. She is the only deaf in her family. Her main communication method is using American Sign Language (ASL). She deals with communication barriers in her family regularly. She learned sign language when she was in Deaf and Hard of Hearing program at preschool. She was fortunate to attend the D/HH program from elementary to high school. She was in most mainstream classes during her middle and high school with an ASL interpreter.

Before joining DHS, Mai worked as a learner advocate at ThinkSelf Adult Education Advocacy where she was working with Deaf adults to guide them with their independent living skills and provide support in the community. She was a former Deaf Mentor for Deaf Mentor Family Program, where she teaches hearing parents with Deaf child/ren American Sign Language and Deaf culture. 

Mai graduated from Metropolitan State University with a Bachelor of Human Services.

She wants to spread awareness of the Deaf in Hmong community. Deaf are an underserved population and often are left out especially being Hmong. She strongly supports her Deaf community and has invested her time in Deaf community compared to other cultures because Deaf is the only community she has known since day one. Her understanding is that Deaf community is welcome to diversity of disabilities but more often wants to be inclusive of others in Deaf community.

Her main reason was to represent herself as a Deaf person in the Board Member for UHD. She often firsthand sees that Deaf isn't inclusive of any Board member in any other organization. She believes in diversity and inclusiveness. She wants to share with the public that Deaf can be involved with any organization no matter what kind of disabilities they have. They deserve a chance to be part of it and invested in the organization. She is excited to make a network with the other Board members and be actively involved by sharing her thoughts as a Deaf person with disability. She wants to share her knowledge on communication accessibility, interpreter services, and many other resources. She hopes to gain by learning how Board members can work together as a team and support each other through this journey. Also, Mai hopes that Board members will listen to our disabilities' needs. 

( Images Description: Asian Hmong women with long black brown curled hair and light beige skin tone. Wearing a black blouse shirt. Standing in front of a white backdrop screen. )

Secretary

Panou (she/her) is a mother, wife, colleague and a community member.  As a mother, I am a caregiver and a provider.  

She has dedicated years and hard work to social service agencies through her years of practice as a Department Supervisor, 245D Program with their DD/IDD individuals and now expanded that skill to MI/CD and MI/D. She is a supervisor of 48 clients and 22 staff.  In this role, she has learned to not ponder too much on issues yet, be the one to find solutions.

Panou finds that to make change, you have to be a part of it.  She wants to see the stigma of disabilities dismantled and to educate communities that their loved ones can live a happy and supported life.
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Her expertise comes from what she lived with and what she experienced on a personal level as well as the skills she learned over the years from her professional work such as -- person centered language, approaches to using motivational interviewing with people who are living with manic depression, having been diagnosed with a mental health illness, and more. She would like to uplift the notion that there are resources that can be shared with goals to compile a list of resources that can be shared to our community. To have trainings that can be provided to people as an avenue to help us work on dismantling the stigma of disabilities. 

Panou has been appointed by the governor of MN to be a member of the mental health and developmental disabilities committee for the office of the Ombudsman. 

Treasurer

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( Image Description: Asian Hmong men with short black hair and light olive skin tone. Wearing a black shirt. Standing in front of a white wall )

member

Passionate about advocating for social justice, Kong Lee (he/him) resides in the West Coast and is a Husband and Father to two kids - a girl and a boy. 

Kong received his Bachelors of Arts in Social Work at the California State University of Fresno. He is Certified in Adult Mental Health First Aid and National Council for Mental Wellbeing with excellent communication and problem-solving skills, coupled with a solid understanding of social work principles and ethical standards.

Currently he is the Vice President for the Asian Social Work Organization at California State University of Fresno. He also worked and volunteered with the blind community at Valley Center for the Blind in Fresno, California. 

Kong’s visual impairment connects him to the world of disability. It signifies his belonging to a marginalized population that encounters discrimination, oppression, and inequality. By serving as an advocate as a blind student on the CSU Fresno campus, pursuing higher education, and assisting individuals in finding available resources, he aims to contribute to breaking down this stigma. 

A few of his objectives is to dismantle the stigma surrounding disability, making a positive impact in individuals’ lives, and send the message that being blind doesn't limit your capabilities; it simply requires a different approach. 
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In this role, he wants to learn from others, speak up for the different needs of people with disabilities, and help make more people aware of disability issues in the Hmong community. 

( Image Description: Asian Hmong women with long wavy black hair and light beige skin tone. Wearing a pink blouse shirt and silver hmong (xuav) necklace . Standing in front of blurred green trees and plants. )

member

Gaochi Vang (she/her) is a Hmong American woman, daughter, sister, friend, advocate, and writer. She holds all of these pieces close to her because they remind her that her family and friends ground who she is, that her voice has power, and that her words can be both written and verbalized into the universe for her own liberation. Each part of herself reminds her of the collectivist roots that she comes from and encourages her to use her individual light to move forward for and with her people.

Gaochi received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, minoring in Women’s Studies/Gender Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She is working toward her Masters of Science in Psychology, specialization in Social Psychology at Walden University.

She is a Peer Specialist Program Manager at Access to Independence with specialty in facilitating training and meetings; with hopes to support and lead discussions or sessions towards educating or bringing awareness to disabilities. She also works in the mental health field where she can connect the identities that people hold to their mental wellbeing.

Gaochi has had a complicated relationship with her disability in that this was never a part of the identity she would acknowledge. She avoided this part of her even even though she lived with this piece of herself every single day. Today, she has come to use her disability as another piece of herself that keeps her driven and motivated to use her voice and her individual power. This disability has reminded her that the world that she lives in was not made for her but she still has the ability to create a better world for those who she stands alongside and for those who come after her.

What excites Gaochi the most as a Board Member with UHD is working and sharing space with more of her Hmong people across the states. Where we do not have to explain ourselves, our existence, our lens of being people with disabilities. She hopes to gain more perspectives, resources, and opportunities to connect with each other; and she hope to give pieces of herself to UHD so that we can find innovative, efficient, and creative ways to educate the Hmong people about disabilities, to amplify the voices of Hmong people with disabilities, and to advocate for disability justice within and outside of our community.

Gaochi aspire to use storytelling to build on UHD's work as a writer, specifically in hopes to share her personal lens of someone with a disability and to connect with others on our Hmong identity towards supporting and advocating for one another. 

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Staff

( Image Description: Asian Hmong women with middle-length wavy black hair and light beige skin tone. Wearing a black blouse shirt with green and red floral designs Standing in front of cream white background. )

Executive Director

Cynthia Yongvang (she/her) is a disabled Hmong woman, wife, and a passionate advocate for social justice and disability rights. Based in Washington State, she is a philanthropist, creative artist, and leader in her community. As the Executive Director of the United Hmong with Disabilities (UHD), Cynthia plays a pivotal role in advocating for the rights and inclusion of Hmong people with disabilities on a national level. She is also the co- founder, CEO, and President of the Hmong Impact Giving Network, a national philanthropic organization dedicated to uplifting the Hmong community through strategic collective giving.

Cynthia’s creative talents shine through her work as the founder and CEO of the
CYNTHIA YONGVANG™ brand, a textile and fashion company inspired by her rich
Hmong heritage and global cultures. Her artistry and advocacy are deeply intertwined, reflecting her commitment to cultural preservation and empowerment.

With over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Cynthia has held numerous leadership roles, including as the former Executive Director of the Hmong Association of WA and an immigrant and refugee women and girls’ organization. She has been instrumental in various initiatives, such as founding the Hmong Women’s Giving Circle in MN, leading the formation of the WA Hmong Farmers Cooperative during the pandemic, and serving on the Regional Food System steering committee at the Northwest Agriculture Business Center (NABC). Her work has had a lasting impact on both the Hmong community and broader immigrant and refugee communities.

Cynthia’s dedication to community service extends to her involvement on multiple
boards and committees, including the United Communities of Laos, a coalition of
Hmong, Lao and Khmu organizations, the Advisory Committee of Disability and
Philanthropy Forum, the Empowering to Thrive’s Hmong Men/Boys Conference
Planning Committee, the Hmong National Development Leadership Symposium, and the Disability Inclusion Fund’s Grantees Convening Planning Committee. She was also a 2018 Fellow from the Community Leadership Institute at Puget Sound Sage in Seattle.

Through her diverse advocacy roles, Cynthia Yongvang continues to champion the
rights of marginalized communities and inspire others to lead with compassion and creativity.

( Image Description: Asian Hmong women with long wavy black hair and olive tan skin tone. Wearing a red maroon long dress and shawl scarf . Sitting in front of large window )

Operations & Programs manager

Pa Nyia Vang (she/her/we) is a devoted wife, mother of six, and a compassionate advocate who has dedicated her life to uplifting her family and community. With three of her children having special healthcare needs and complex medical conditions, Pa Nyia brings a deeply personal understanding to her work in the disability and healthcare advocacy space. She herself identifies as neurodivergent and has navigated challenges like PVD of vision impairment leading to blindness, treated depression, and PTSD, which have only strengthened her resolve to support others facing similar struggles.

An introverted INFJ-A Diplomat Empath, Pa Nyia channels her creativity and empathy into her work as a sustainable visual arts mixed media artist through her studio, Atelier Paaj. She is also a writer, poet, and humanitarian advocate, whose art and words resonate with the challenges and triumphs of those in the disability community.

For over 15 years, Pa Nyia has been a tireless advocate for the rights and justice of children and youth with special healthcare needs (CYSHN), disabilities communities, and Disability Service/Support Workers (DSWs). Her leadership extends across numerous boards, committees, and councils, including the Saint Paul Public Schools Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC), the Minnesota Department of Health’s CYSHN Stakeholder Advisory Team, and the grassroots group Hmong Supporting Needs (HSN), which she founded to empower Hmong families.

Pa Nyia’s expertise and dedication have also been recognized through her work as a Parent Navigator with Family Voices of MN, where she provided crucial support to families navigating complex systems, built cultural competency, and promoted self- advocacy. Her insights have been sought after at conferences organized by institutions like Saint Paul Public Schools, the Minnesota Department of Health, and the Hmong Health Care Professionals Coalition.

In 2015, Pa Nyia was honored with the Ramsey County, Minnesota Public Health Award for her exceptional contributions to improving community health. Through her multifaceted roles as an artist, advocate, and leader, Pa Nyia continues to make a profound impact on the lives of individuals and families in her community.

In her personal time, she enjoys growing her relationships with her family and loved ones, is an avid streamer-content creator-video gamer, loves being in nature and her garden, and enjoys her craftsmanship and arts via her studio shop Atelier Paaj. As a socially awkward introverted INFJ-A Diplomat Empath she enjoys exploring workshops on essential skills towards being a servant leader on such items as effective communications and relationship building.  

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Thank You to Committee Team 2021-2022 for your support and commitment

Sue Yang, Pa Nhue Vue, Cynthia Yongvang, Mai Thor, Mai Shoua Moua, Susun Xiong, Pang ChaXiong, Houa Moua, Melaine Yang, Nancy Yang, Chee Lor, Tsua Xiong, Cristy Yongvang, Tong Kou Lor, Youa Lee, and Fleurine Yang. ​

Committee Chair
Sue Yang (she/her) is a disability advocate from greater Minnesota. She lives with her parents, who are from the older generation that didn’t know about the needs of disability awareness and knowledge. She taught her parents about generalized disability consciousness that led her to become an activist to bring more disability awareness and education to our community. 

Member
Pa Nhue Vue (she/her) is from WI and currently resides in MN. She received her Bachelor of Sciences in Rehabilitation Psychology with a certificate in Global Health from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is passionate about doing equity work to amplify the voices and experiences of underrepresented populations. She has served the disability community for over three years with her latest experience being in disability advocacy services and outreach in the Hmong community.

Member
Nancy Yang (they/she) is a mad queer HMoob womxn and psychiatric survivor. Her personal experiences and intersectionality make her passionate about advancing disability justice, neurodiversity, and gender and racial justice. Nancy loves to spend their time doing whatever feels right in the moment. Currently, Nancy is the Education and Programs Assistant at Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network (AWN). Nancy is also working on her Masters of Arts in Disability Studies at the City University of New York School of Professional Studies. 

A picture of a Southeast Asian person with short, teal hair with lavender highlights. They are smiling into the camera. They are wearing a white tank top, sunglasses, and long dangling earrings with Hmong paj ntaub cloth at the ends. 

Member
Tong Kou Lor, pronouns are he/him/his, and identify as a first-generation Hmong male. He was born in Thailand and immigrated at the age of 2 to and grew up in Sacramento, California. He currently resides in Minnesota and he works as an Access Consultant at St. Catherine University located in St. Paul. His journey to Higher Education and Student Affairs started with personal experiences with his older brother, who is Deaf, and his familial culture. Deciding to attend school at the community college to learn American Sign Language (ASL) for better communication skills, resulted in an exposure to impactful stories from his sibling. His initial plan was to be an ASL teacher at the elementary level; however, those plans changed as he felt he was able to work better with college students than younger students. Tong looks forward to bringing more awareness of disability in the Hmong community. ​

Member
Youa Lee is an alumni from St. Catherine University with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a Health Educator concentration and a minor in Psychology. She is from MN. Youa is a Program Director at PICS - Partners in Community Supports, offering financial and technical support for individuals with disabilities and families who self-direct care. She worked with Hmong families on Consumer Support Grants (CSG) and Consumer Directed Community Supports (CDCS) to understand program policies and procedures and provide support while they keep their independence in their own home and communities. Youa have a passion for education, social responsibility, and community reach. I love to connect, learn, and bring awareness around disabilities.

Member
Pang Chaxiong is a co-founder of the Facebook group Supporting all Abilities Welcoming all Voices (SAWV) and is a graduate student in Educational Psychology at the University of Minnesota. Her work focuses on understanding Hmong families' experiences with autism and ways to improve autism identification and connection to services/supports.

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