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)
RESIDENCIES
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National Playwright in Residence, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (2020-2023)
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Children’s Museum / COMPAS, National Endowment for the Arts Art Works (20/21)
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Artist on Retreat, Everwood Foundation (Fall 2020)
GRANTS
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Mid-Career Professional Development Grant, Forecast Public Art (2021)
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Creative Support, MN State Arts Board (2021)
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Visual Art Fund, for Dear Neighbor project, Midway Contemporary Art (2020)
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Visual Art Fund, for FAWK Trunk Show project, Midway Contemporary Art (2020)
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Cultural Identity Grant, Minnesota Humanities Center (2020)
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MAP Fund (2020; Finalist 2019 and 2018)
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PEN America Emergency Fund for Writers, PEN America (2020)
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Messages of Hope Minigrant, Forecast Public Art (2020)
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Emergency Relief Fund for Artists, Springboard for the Arts (2020)
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Bush Leadership Fellowship (Quarterfinalist 2020)
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Creative Capital (Finalist 2019)
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Asian Pacific Endowment Fund, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation (2019, 2017, 2015)
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Arts Activities Support, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (2019)
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Community Arts, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (2018, 2015, 2014)
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Travel and Study Grant, Jerome Foundation (2018)
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Emerging Artist Grant, Forecast Public Art (2018)
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Next Step Grant, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (2018, 2015, Finalist 2014)
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Open Meadows Foundation (2017)
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Joan Aldous Grant, University of Minnesota (2017)
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Knight Arts Challenge, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation (2017, 2016)
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Cultural Community Partnership Grant, Minnesota State Arts Board (2017)
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VERVE Grant for Spoken Word Poets, Intermedia Arts (2017)
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Solidarity MN Grant (2017)
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Building More Philanthropy With Purpose Grant (2017, 2016)
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Bush Foundation (2016)
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Community Innovation, Headwaters Foundation for Justice (2015)
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Artist Initiative, Minnesota State Arts Board (2015)
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Arts Access, Lazy Hmong Woman/Minnesota State Arts Board (2014)
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New Media Project Grant, Independent Filmmaker Project (Finalist 2014)
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Minnesota Emerging Writer, Loft Literary Center (Honorable Mention 2011)
FELLOWSHIPS
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Community-Engaged Public Art Fellowship, McKnight Foundation/Pillsbury House + Theater (2021)
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Mirrors and Windows CYA Fellowship, Loft Literary Center (2019)
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Our Space is Spoken For Public Art Fellowship, Twin Cities Media Alliance (2018)
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Aspen Ideas Festival Fellowship, Bush Foundation (2017)
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Many Voices Fellowship, Playwrights’ Center (2017-18)
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Spoken Word Immersion Fellowship, Loft Literary Center (2017-18)
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Folk and Traditional Arts, Lao Assistance Center/Minnesota State Arts Board (2015, 2013)
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New Performance, Mu Performing Arts/Jerome Foundation (2012, 2011)
AWARDS
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Sally Ordway Award for Initiative, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts (2019)
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MN Original feature, PBS/Twin Cities Public Television (2018)
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Fan Favorite Guest of Honor, CONVergence (2017)
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Best Production of 2013, L’Etoile Magazine (Kung Fu Zombies vs Cannibals)
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Lao Minnesotan Artists Certificate of Recognition, Office of Governor Dayton (2012)
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Change Maker, Intermedia Arts (2011)
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Alfred C. Carey Prize in Spoken Word Poetry, New York (2010)
PUBLIC DISCOURSE (selected)
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Keynote, Leadership Conference, Midwest Asian American Student Union (2020)
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Speaker, Grantmakers for Education (2020)
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Speaker, 3M Leadership Summit (2020)
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Speaker, Diverse Books, UNICEF Houston (2020)
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Speaker, Minneapolis Institute of Art (2020)
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Panelist, Thank You No Thank You Exhibit, Laos in the House/Asian Arts Initiative Philadelphia (2020)
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Panelist, Eastside Freedom Library (2020)
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Speaker, KidLitLab!, University of Minnesota (2020)
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Speaker, Art of Survival, Guthrie Theater (2019)
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Keynote, NEA Big Read, Illinois (2018)
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Keynote, Southeast Asian Diaspora Gala (2018)
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Keynote, Minnesota College Professionals Association Conference (2018)
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Panelist, Giant Steps, Minneapolis Convention Center (2018, 2013)
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Panelist and Facilitator, Center for Refugee Poetics, Smithsonian APAC, Philadelphia (2018)
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Speaker, NCAA Inclusion Forum, Indianapolis (2018)
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Keynote, Greater Than 7 Summit, University of Minnesota Twin Cities (2017)
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Keynote, 4th Lao American Writers Summit, Seattle (2017)
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Guest of Honor (for life), CONvergence (2017)
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Panelist, “Misrepresentation, Misappropriation, and Exclusion,” MN Theater Alliance Conference, St. John's University (2016)
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Panelist, Mn Artists, Walker Art Center (2016)
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Keynote, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum Conference, U of MN (2016)
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Keynote, Power in Diversity Leadership Conference, MN State Colleges and Universities (2015)
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Keynote, Women Empowering Women, Metropolitan State University (2013)
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Ananya Dance Theatre (2014-2016)
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Saint Paul Almanac (2012-2016)
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Intermedia Arts (2011-2016)
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Dispute Resolution Center (2011-2014)
ADVISORY
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Asian Economic Development Association’s Little Mekong Arts District (2013-present)
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St. Paul Foundation’s Asian Pacific Endowment Fund (2011-2016)
PANELIST for GRANT PROGRAMS
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Forecast Public Art (2019)
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Next Step Grant, Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (2019)
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Spoken Word Immersion Fellowship, Loft Literary Center (2017)
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Artist Neighborhood Partnership, CURA (2017)
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Knight Arts Challenge, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation (2017, 2016)
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Sidewalk Poetry Contest, Public Art Saint Paul (2015)
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Night Market Arts Program, Little Mekong C4/Springboard for the Arts (2014)
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Asian Pacific Endowment Grant, Saint Paul Foundation (2013-2016)
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MN Humanities Center Reading Together Project (2012)
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Legacy Artist Fellowship, Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans (2012, 2011)
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MN State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant (2011)
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MN State Arts Board Artistic Site Visitor (2011-2013)
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
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PEN America (2020-present)
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Dramatists Guild of America (2018-present)
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Minnesota Theater Alliance (2016)
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Horror Writers Association (2015-2017)
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Science Fiction Poetry Association (2014-2015)
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Association of Asian American Studies (2014-2017)
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MN Young Women’s Collaborative (2013-2015)
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National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (2013-2014)
MENTORING (as mentor)
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Lao Students Association of U of MN (2013-present)
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Legacy Artist Fellowship Program (2011-2013)
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Pillsbury House Theatre’s Chicago Avenue Project (2009-present)
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Asian Pacific Youth Council (2010-2012)
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MN Spoken Word Association Youth Slam (2002-2004)
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Center for Hmong Arts and Talent (2003-2005)