HONORS

 

APPOINTMENTS

City of Saint Paul Cultural STAR Board, appointed by Mayor Melvin Carter (current)

Poet Laureate Advisory Board, appointed by Governor Tim Walz (2020)

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RESIDENCIES

  • National Playwright in Residence, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (2020-2023)

  • Children’s Museum / COMPAS, National Endowment for the Arts Art Works (20/21)

  • Artist on Retreat, Everwood Foundation (Fall 2020)

 

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GRANTS

  • Mid-Career Professional Development Grant, Forecast Public Art (2021)

  • Creative Support, MN State Arts Board (2021)

  • Visual Art Fund, for Dear Neighbor project, Midway Contemporary Art (2020)

  • Visual Art Fund, for FAWK Trunk Show project, Midway Contemporary Art (2020)

  • Cultural Identity Grant, Minnesota Humanities Center (2020)

  • MAP Fund (2020; Finalist 2019 and 2018)

  • PEN America Emergency Fund for Writers, PEN America (2020)

  • Messages of Hope Minigrant, Forecast Public Art (2020)

  • Emergency Relief Fund for Artists, Springboard for the Arts (2020)

  • Bush Leadership Fellowship (Quarterfinalist 2020)

  • Creative Capital (Finalist 2019)

  • Asian Pacific Endowment Fund, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation (2019, 2017, 2015)

  • Arts Activities Support, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (2019)

  • Community Arts, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (2018, 2015, 2014)

  • Travel and Study Grant, Jerome Foundation (2018)

  • Emerging Artist Grant, Forecast Public Art (2018)

  • Next Step Grant, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (2018, 2015, Finalist 2014)

  • Open Meadows Foundation (2017)

  • Joan Aldous Grant, University of Minnesota (2017)

  • Knight Arts Challenge, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation (2017, 2016)

  • Cultural Community Partnership Grant, Minnesota State Arts Board (2017)

  • VERVE Grant for Spoken Word Poets, Intermedia Arts (2017)

  • Solidarity MN Grant (2017)

  • Building More Philanthropy With Purpose Grant (2017, 2016)

  • Bush Foundation (2016)

  • Community Innovation, Headwaters Foundation for Justice (2015)

  • Artist Initiative, Minnesota State Arts Board (2015)

  • Arts Access, Lazy Hmong Woman/Minnesota State Arts Board (2014)

  • New Media Project Grant, Independent Filmmaker Project (Finalist 2014)

  • Minnesota Emerging Writer, Loft Literary Center (Honorable Mention 2011)

 

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FELLOWSHIPS

  • Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship, Jerome Foundation (2021-2022)

  • Community-Engaged Public Art Fellowship, McKnight Foundation/Pillsbury House + Theater (2021)

  • Mirrors and Windows CYA Fellowship, Loft Literary Center (2019)

  • Our Space is Spoken For Public Art Fellowship, Twin Cities Media Alliance (2018)

  • Aspen Ideas Festival Fellowship, Bush Foundation (2017)

  • Many Voices Fellowship, Playwrights’ Center (2017-18)

  • Spoken Word Immersion Fellowship, Loft Literary Center (2017-18)

  • Folk and Traditional Arts, Lao Assistance Center/Minnesota State Arts Board (2015, 2013)

  • New Performance, Mu Performing Arts/Jerome Foundation (2012, 2011) 

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AWARDS

  • Sally Ordway Award for Initiative, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts (2019)

  • MN Original feature, PBS/Twin Cities Public Television (2018)

  • Fan Favorite Guest of Honor, CONVergence (2017)

  • Best Production of 2013, L’Etoile Magazine (Kung Fu Zombies vs Cannibals)

  • Lao Minnesotan Artists Certificate of Recognition, Office of Governor Dayton (2012)

  • Change Maker, Intermedia Arts (2011)

  • Alfred C. Carey Prize in Spoken Word Poetry, New York (2010)

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PUBLIC DISCOURSE (selected)

  • Keynote, Leadership Conference, Midwest Asian American Student Union (2020)

  • Speaker, Grantmakers for Education (2020)

  • Speaker, 3M Leadership Summit (2020)

  • Speaker, Diverse Books, UNICEF Houston (2020)

  • Speaker, Minneapolis Institute of Art (2020)

  • Panelist, Thank You No Thank You Exhibit, Laos in the House/Asian Arts Initiative Philadelphia (2020)

  • Panelist, Eastside Freedom Library (2020)

  • Speaker, KidLitLab!, University of Minnesota (2020)

  • Speaker, Art of Survival, Guthrie Theater (2019)

  • Keynote, NEA Big Read, Illinois (2018)

  • Keynote, Southeast Asian Diaspora Gala (2018)

  • Keynote, Minnesota College Professionals Association Conference (2018)

  • Panelist, Giant Steps, Minneapolis Convention Center (2018, 2013)

  • Panelist and Facilitator, Center for Refugee Poetics, Smithsonian APAC, Philadelphia (2018)

  • Speaker, NCAA Inclusion Forum, Indianapolis (2018)

  • Keynote, Greater Than 7 Summit, University of Minnesota Twin Cities (2017)

  • Keynote, 4th Lao American Writers Summit, Seattle (2017)

  • Guest of Honor (for life), CONvergence (2017)

  • Panelist, “Misrepresentation, Misappropriation, and Exclusion,” MN Theater Alliance Conference, St. John's University (2016)

  • Panelist, Mn Artists, Walker Art Center (2016)

  • Keynote, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum Conference, U of MN (2016)

  • Keynote, Power in Diversity Leadership Conference, MN State Colleges and Universities (2015)

  • Keynote, Women Empowering Women, Metropolitan State University (2013)
     

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COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  • Ananya Dance Theatre (2014-2016)

  • Saint Paul Almanac (2012-2016)

  • Intermedia Arts (2011-2016)

  • Dispute Resolution Center (2011-2014)

 

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ADVISORY

  • Asian Economic Development Association’s Little Mekong Arts District (2013-present)

  • St. Paul Foundation’s Asian Pacific Endowment Fund (2011-2016)

 

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PANELIST for GRANT PROGRAMS

  • Forecast Public Art (2019)

  • Next Step Grant, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (2019)

  • Spoken Word Immersion Fellowship, Loft Literary Center (2017)

  • Artist Neighborhood Partnership, CURA (2017)

  • Knight Arts Challenge, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation (2017, 2016)

  • Sidewalk Poetry Contest, Public Art Saint Paul (2015)

  • Night Market Arts Program, Little Mekong C4/Springboard for the Arts (2014)

  • Asian Pacific Endowment Grant, Saint Paul Foundation (2013-2016)

  • MN Humanities Center Reading Together Project (2012)

  • Legacy Artist Fellowship, Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans (2012, 2011)

  • MN State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant (2011)

  • MN State Arts Board Artistic Site Visitor (2011-2013)

 

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PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • PEN America (2020-present)

  • Dramatists Guild of America (2018-present)

  • Minnesota Theater Alliance (2016)

  • Horror Writers Association (2015-2017)

  • Science Fiction Poetry Association (2014-2015)

  • Association of Asian American Studies (2014-2017)

  • MN Young Women’s Collaborative (2013-2015)

  • National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (2013-2014)

 

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MENTORING (as mentor)

  • Lao Students Association of U of MN (2013-present)

  • Legacy Artist Fellowship Program (2011-2013)

  • Pillsbury House Theatre’s Chicago Avenue Project (2009-present)

  • Asian Pacific Youth Council (2010-2012)

  • MN Spoken Word Association Youth Slam (2002-2004)

  • Center for Hmong Arts and Talent (2003-2005)

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