Hmong V.I.S.I.O.N.

My desire to help others is why I joined VISION.

I am amazed by the commitment of the wonderful VISION members and the dedication to creating social changes in the Hmong community. I know as one person, you can make changes, but as a group uniting together for a common goal, anything is possible. It is this thrill of the impossible that that pulls me to VISION. We have been challenging issues in the community and trying to develop new methods of creating changes (i.e. VISION Awards and retreat) so that others will help us.

I am excited every time we come up with ideas to try or the events that we plan. I am grateful to be a part of VISION as it moves forward to create social changes.

- Zong Xiong

May Lee is a writer, activist, and youth worker. She has worked in non-profits for over seven years providing services to at-risk youth in various settings from after-school enrichment programs to the juvenile detention centers.

She has also participated as a consultant, organizer, and trainer for service providers working with youth. She is the founder of the social change group, VISION (Validating and Inspiring Successful Initiatives for Outreach and Network). In her 9-5 life, she currently works at the Girl Scout Council of St. Croix Valley as the Teen Program Manager.

Shao Lee was born and raised in the Midwest with a variety of influences. He spent a good chunk of his schooling at two private schools, the last one being Saint Thomas Academy, an all-boys military school. Currently, he attends Metropolitan State University where he is pursuing a Media Studies degree.

One of the reasons he is involved with VISION is because he believes that everybody has something to give and, as individuals, we posses the knowledge and understanding to make this Hmong community or whole community a better place.

LaMee received her Bachelors of Science in Marketing and Management Information Systems through the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities in 2003. As a former Community Advisor (RA) at Comstock Hall and President of the Hmong Minnesota Student Association (H.M.S.A. 2001-2002 academic school year), LaMee has spent a great deal working with people and the community. As one of two oldest members of VISION, LaMee has worked on both the 2002 and 2003 VISION Conference, the 2002 Our Times, Our Voices event, the 2005 VISION Awards, and is working on the 2006 conference committee.

Currently, LaMee wakes up earlier than she has ever done in her life to spend an hour commuting to work in order to utilize her Marketing degree as a Meat Buyer at SUPERVALU Corporate. On her free time, she watches Korean and Taiwanese Drama's, works out at the YMCA, shops on eBay, and “constructively” argues with her boyfriend.

Bounmee Yang is currently a student at the University of Minnesota, Twin Citites Campus majoring in Mechanical Engineering.

In his spare time, he likes to eat weird food, go jogging, play soccer and play football. Bounmee is involved with VISION because he believes each person has a unique untapped potential that could contribute great things to the community whether it is finding new ways to encourage education, help network people, promote community service, and help better the lives of people within the community.

Donna Yang is a recent Bachelor of Arts graduate from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

Donna has always collected inspiration from small or big events that focused on positive development, knowledge, and connection. Being involved with different communities in the past, and Donna has witnessed many diverse backgrounds not only come together, but make changes and validations for the better. Some people tend to think too much about the impossible, whereas Donna would rather think about doing the impossible.

Fortunately, she found V.I.S.I.O.N and still admire the goals and encouraging energy each member bring. Donna saw this as a foundation to build awareness through creativity and unity.

Zong Xiong recently graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College with a Bachelors of Art in Nursing and will be working at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park this summer as a Registered Nurse.

Zong's desire to become a nurse comes from her community service experiences. Throughout high school and college, she has been committed to helping the unmet needs in my community. Zong has volunteered at nursing homes, Regions Hospital, elementary schools, community centers, and outdoor to help in any way that I could, whether it be assisting patients, teaching kids to read, teaching adults to write, planning programs for at-risk youths, working with new Hmong refugees, or cleaning up parks. Zong has enjoyed seeing the smiles that light up everyone that I helped and worked with. This joy that Zong gets from helping to meet the needs of others lead to her desire to help others through the healthcare field.

Besides, being a “help” addict, Zong believes that she is the biggest klutz ever, love eating chocolate, reading cheesy romance books, watching Korean dramas, and listening to Hmong music.