Read full article by Sieng Lee on the AAPI Data website.
Summary
This article by Sieng Lee highlights the remarkable political rise of the Hmong American community in Minnesota, tracing its transformation from refugees to a powerful civic force over the past 50 years. Fueled by grassroots organizing, resilience, and commitment to democracy, Hmong Minnesotans now hold growing political representation. They make up just shy of 2% of Minnesota’s population, but represent 4.5% of the Minnesota Legislature.
Lee shares his personal story, arriving at age 3 in the U.S. as a refugee and later becoming a political organizer. “Our parents sacrificed everything to halt the spread of Communism, paying the ultimate price: statelessness and exile from their homeland. Yet it is our enduring belief in democratic principles and the determination to claim our place within government that fuels our community’s rise as a political force in Minnesota,” he says.
Read full article by Sieng Lee on the AAPI Data website.
About Sieng Lee
Sieng Lee is the National Field Director of Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote), a national nonpartisan organization whose mission is to engage, educate, and empower Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) to strengthen their voices and create impact. Prior to joining APIAVote, Sieng was an influential and effective campaign manager and field director of political campaigns in Minnesota.
