We’re Seeking Board Members!
If you are passionate about Hmong history, culture, and art and would like to make a difference in the community, join the Hmong Museum board. Download Board Description PDF
Chuayi Yang, Secretary
” ‘Deep roots anchor strong trees.’ — I believe a Hmong museum will remind the Hmong community how valuable its cultural storytelling practices are for healing, rejoicing, learning, and reconnecting. A Hmong Museum can provide opportunities and spaces for the community to seek, remember, and fill its hearts with all the narratives that make up the Hmong journey.”
Andrew Stone, Member-at-Large
Billy Lor, Member-at-Large
Dee Pha, Member-at-large
Mai Nhia Vang Huizel, Founder and Executive Director
“I am excited about the possibility of permanently preserving Hmong history and share the ever-expanding history of our heritage.”
Mai Vang Huizel is Founder and Executive Director of Hmong Museum with over a decade experience in the museum field as a registrar, to curator, and collections manager. Her full time job is as a volunteer and intern program manager at the Minnesota Historical Society. She sees potential and possibilities in people and believes that everyone should have the opportunity to tell their own stories from their own voices.
Chee Meng Xiong, Director of Development & Partnership
Chee Meng is Co-Founder and a Principal for Collective Purpose, a multi-disciplinary community engagement practice. He has experience working with Communities of Color towards the planning and updates of public parks, public-serving spaces, and assets. Prior to Collective Purpose, he worked for the Minneapolis Parks Foundation and Ackerberg Group. Chee Meng was a member of the Generation Listen Advisory Council at American Public Media and served the Board of Directors for the Minneapolis Art Lending Library. Chee Meng splits his time between Denver, CO and Minneapolis, MN.
Lee Pao Xiong, Advisor
“I am excited at a chance to preserve and showcase our history, culture, and language.”
He is, Executive Director at the Center for Hmong Studies at Concordia University. Xiong’s community experiences include being the founder of the Asian Economic Development Association (Formerly known as Asian Development Corporation), co-founder of the Hmong College Prep Academy, Community School of Excellence, the Dragon Boat Festival (formerly known as the Asian American Festival), and the Hmong Resource Fair. Currently, he is the Chair of the Hmong United Martial Arts Society and the Sepak Takraw of USA, Inc.
He is widely sought after as a speaker and trainer by many educational institutions, community organizations, and business groups to speak about Hmong history, culture, and society as well as on leadership and board governance. He is often sought out by filmmakers to provide knowledge content to documentaries and publishers to review books relating to the Hmong experiences prior to publication.
Lee Pao received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from the University of Minnesota and his Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from Hamline University. He has recently completed his Doctorate in Public Administration coursework at Hamline University.
July Vang, Advisor
“The Hmong Museum is an important construction for the community as a culturally significant heritage resource. The Hmong Museum will help build and strengthen personal and community identity, and pass onto the future generations.”
July Vang currently provides administrative leadership as Senior Admin Specialist to the Wilder Program of Amherst H. Wilder Foundation in St. Paul, MN. Vang’s extended involvement with local nonprofits includes serving as Board Secretary to Hmong Museum, Board Role to Green T Productions, and Program Advisory Council to Planned Parenthood. She brings in more than a decade of comprehensive corporate and nonprofit operations, process improvement, marketing, and strategic planning. Vang also has a diverse background in theatre and film medium including roles such as Bee in May Lee-Yang’s “Confession of a Lazy Hmong Woman,” Chai Vang’s wife in Investigation Discovery’s TV series of Fatal Encounter, “Terror in the Woods,” and focuses on creating conceptual performances by using insurgent themes relative to sexuality, family structure, and violence – commenting on oppressing themes in our contemporary society. Vang received her BA at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and MBA at Cardinal Stritch University.
Nalie Lee-Heidt, Volunteer, Digital
“The work Hmong Museum is doing is vital and will have impact on future generations. I am excited to be part of this amazing team–they are passionate, intelligent and inspiring!”
Nalie is an experience designer & strategist. She has over 10+ years as a user experience professional: researching human behavior and designing technical solutions to solve complex problems. She has experience leading large corporations through digital transformation by focusing on customer needs through journey mapping and customer feedback. As a chief digital strategist on Small Business Revolution, she helped transform small businesses across America. Nalie has a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science from the University of Minnesota.