{"title":"Events","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"the-rise-of-hmong-minnesotan-political-power-and-civic-engagement","title":"The Rise of Hmong Minnesotan Political Power and Civic Engagement","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJoin us for a celebration of voice, victory, and vision.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eXIA Books and Minnesota Asian Ameriican Film Festival present a special evening celebrating the rise of Hmong Minnesotans in politics. Join current Hmong elected officials for a powerful discussion on leadership that has turned the Twin Cities into the epicenter of Hmong political power in the United States. From Choua Lee, the first Hmong elected to public office in the United States in 1991, to Mee Moua and Cy Thao in 2002, a foundation paved the way for a new generation of leaders, culminating in the historic 2025 election of \u003cb\u003eKaohly Her\u003c\/b\u003e as the first Hmong American mayor of St. Paul.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePanelist of Hmong elected officials invited:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMayor-Elect Kaohly Her\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eState Senator Foung Hawj\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eState Senator Susan Pha\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRepresentative Fue Lee\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eState Representative \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJay Xiong\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCity Councilmember Nelsie Yang\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe panel discussion will be moderated by community leader Pakou Hang.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCome join the discussion, hear the stories, meet the changemakers, and look forward to the future. The event will include a screening of the documentary \u003cb\u003e\"The Time is Right for Mee\"\u003c\/b\u003e (2002). Produced by State Senator Foung Hawj, the film provides an intimate look at the grassroots mobilization that led to the historic election of the first Hmong American to the state legislature, Mee Moua.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDate:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e December 19, 2025\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTime:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLocation:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e XIA Books \u0026amp; Café, 422 University Ave W #14, Saint Paul\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRSVP:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Limited seating. Register and reserve your seat.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFilm Screening\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe are proud to present a screening of \u003cb\u003e\"The Time is Right for Mee\"\u003c\/b\u003e (2002), the documentary that captures the energy of Mee Moua’s historic 2002 campaign. Produced by current State Senator \u003cb\u003eFoung Hawj\u003c\/b\u003e, the film offers an intimate look at the grassroots mobilization that made history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cb\u003eFollowing the film, join us for a Q\u0026amp;A with current Hmong elected officials\u003c\/b\u003e as they discuss the power, impact, and legacy of Hmong political power and the future of our democracy. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA Legacy of Leadership\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe rise of Hmong elected officials in Minnesota is an American story of transformation and rapid civic ascent that serves as a model for the nation. It began in 1991 when \u003cb\u003eChoua Lee\u003c\/b\u003e shattered barriers as the first Hmong American elected to public office in the United States, winning a seat on the St. Paul School Board. The momentum surged in 2002 when \u003cb\u003eMee Moua\u003c\/b\u003e became the nation's first Hmong American state legislator, winning a seat in the Minnesota Senate, while \u003cb\u003eCy Thao\u003c\/b\u003e won a seat in the Minnesota House later that same year. This foundation paved the way for a new generation of leaders, culminating in the historic 2025 election of \u003cb\u003eKaohly Her\u003c\/b\u003e as the first Hmong American mayor of St. Paul. Today, Minnesota stands as a beacon of representation, home to the highest concentration of Hmong elected officials in the country.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNOTICE: This event is educational in nature and is a nonpartisan activity. It is supported by the \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.maaff.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMinnesota Asian American Film Festival (www.maaff.com)\u003c\/a\u003e, XIA Books, and \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/www.aedamn.org\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAeda (www.aedamn.org)\u003c\/a\u003e, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Event","offers":[{"title":"Admission-Hmong Political Power","offer_id":41949377134667,"sku":null,"price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0635\/5645\/2427\/files\/Rise_of_Hmong_Minnesota_Political_Power.png?v=1764972526"}],"url":"https:\/\/xiabooks.org\/collections\/events.oembed","provider":"XIA Books \u0026 Café","version":"1.0","type":"link"}