OUR BOARD MEMBERS
Mai Xiong
CHAIR
May Vang
BOARD MEMBER
Sang Chin Par
BOARD MEMBER
OUR STAFF
Tammie Xiong | Executive Director | tammie@hawamke.org
Tammie (pronouns: she/her/hers) currently serves as the Executive Director for the Hmong American Women’s Association (HAWA), in Milwaukee, WI, a grassroots social justice organization led by Southeast Asian women and queer fem women that is dedicated to ending gender-based violence against Southeast Asian women, girls, and LGBTQ folks. She has dedicated over 14 years to providing advocacy for Southeast Asian women and girls in Milwaukee through literacy development, parent education, community education, domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy, and leadership development of Southeast Asian girls. Tammie’s current leadership roles include serving on the WI Governor’s Council on Domestic Abuse and as a Commissioner for the City of Milwaukee Commission for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.
Tammie is deeply passionate about building fierce, engaged, socially conscious young Southeast Asian women that will use their gifts to impact the world. She holds a Bachelors of Arts in English/Creative Writing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Masters of Science in Administrative Leadership with Emphasis in Adult Education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
In her free time, Tammie enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and baking.
Leana Yang | Outreach & Education Director | leana@hawamke.org
Zong Yang | Queer Justice Director | zong@hawamke.org
Zong, (Zoo) is the Queer Justice Director at Hmong American Women’s Association. With eight years experience in non-profit community work and learning from Hmong Women and LGBTQ leadership, Zong has been a part of both local, national and international efforts to end gender-based violence against Southeast Asian Women, Girls and LGBTQ people. In his role, he develops and runs youth empowerment programs and supports victims & survivors through case management in the areas of: domestic violence, sexual assault and family rejection.
Zong graduated from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. In addition, he is a long time member of ManForward, an organization dedicated to mobilize Southeast Asian young men and boys to end gender based violence and deportation. He loves, and believes in community transformation in order to build a better world for the most impacted communities.
In addition to his work at HAWA, Zong is an artist and community organizer. His art and organizing work is centered on ending gender-based violence through local advocacy and visual creativity throughout the upper Midwest.
Paul Vang | Civic Engagement Director | paul@hawamke.org
Paul serves as the Civic Engagement Director here at HAWA. He is a former science educator and is passionate about helping to build power within the Southeast Asian community by engaging in conversations with people at their doors, hosting educational events that are open to the public, as well as educating elected officials on the southeast asian population here in Milwaukee.
Cheraty Par | Southeast Asian Advocate | cheraty@hawamke.org
Cheraty serves as HAWA’s Southeast Asian Advocate. Cheraty joined HAWA in Dec 2017. Prior to joining HAWA, Cheraty did case management for refugees assisting in securing employment and job skill development. Cheraty speaks Burmese, English and Chin. Cheraty also serves the community by providing support to our refugee communities, and educating elected officials on Milwaukee’s Southeast Asian population.
Me Htway| Southeast Asian Advocate | me@hawamke.org
Me serves as the Southeast Asian Advocate at the Hmong American Women’s Association. She received her Bachelor of Science in Social Work degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Spring 2019. She migrated as a refugee in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in Fall 2007. She always helped volunteers in a refugee community since she started as a freshman in High school.
Me Htway joined HAWA as an intern in Fall 2018 and continued working with HAWA to strengthen families within the Southeast Asian community. As she started working with survivors of women at HAWA, she values a justice of ending violence and sexual violence against women and girls within the Southeast Asian Community in Milwaukee. Me Htway is fluent in both Sgaw and Pwo Karen and an intermediate level of speaking Burmese.
Outside of work, Me Htway always finds time to spend with her family.
Nouchee Vang| Southeast Asian Advocate | nouchee@hawamke.org
Outside of HAWA, Nouchee enjoys playing volleyball, singing, dancing, and spending time with family.
Kathy Thao | Administrative Support Coordinator | kathy@hawamke.org
Kathy graduated from Mount Mary University with a major in Justice and minor in History. She is the Administrative Support Coordinator at HAWA, who does a lot of the administrative things, but also assists and supports all advocates with anything they need. Her goal and value is supporting all Southeast Asian women and LGBTQ folks in anything they need and helping them be free of violence.
Outside of HAWA, she enjoys spending time with her family, watching Asian dramas, and traditional Hmong and Thai dancing.
Thao Vue | Citizenship Coordinator | thao@hawamke.org
Thao is the Citizenship Coordinator at the Hmong American Women’s Association. She majored in both Business Administration and Sociology at Mount Mary University. As the Citizenship coordinator, she organizes and facilitates the citizenship classes and assists clients and students in filling out their naturalization paperwork with a goal to help as many Permanent Residents as possible to achieve U.S. citizen status.
Outside of work, she enjoys watching Asian dramas, movies, T.V. shows and anime.
Vina Xiong | Digital Media & Resource Coordinator | vina@hawamke.org
Vina attended the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities where she graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in communication studies. Her role as the digital media and events coordinator focuses on creating, and editing video content to engage the broader community, and spreading HAWA’s mission and values. She values uplifting the voices of women, girls and LGBTQ folks and hopes to become a resource for them in their pursuit of life. She spends her time reading sci-fi novels, and playing board games with her family.
Fantasy Vang | Youth Lead Organizer | fantasy@hawamke.org
Fantasy (Fanny) Vang (pronouns: she, her, hers or anything said with love & respect) is currently attending Mount Mary University. She is a survivor who advocates for young girls and womens around her. Been a part of HAWA for a long time through three different programs: Project Visible, HAWA Daughters, & SAY MKE. Fantasy is committed to raise the safety of SEA women, queer folk and young girls among women in the society and values them. Her goal is to aim and provide our community with information and space, so that SEA women, queers and young girls are able be set free from violence and led young girls to become leaders of their own.
Outside of work, Fantasy enjoys spending time with her friends and family. Loves to read empowering poem books and building self-love.
Hmong American Women’s Association
Office Hours:
Monday to Friday
8:00 AM — 4:30 PM
- 414-930-9352
- 414-930-9354
- 3727 West National Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53215
- staff@hawamke.org