Our organization was founded in 1998 when a group of Hmong women leaders from around the Twin Cities Metropolitan area gathered at a retreat to talk about issues affecting Hmong women and girls. From there, a group of core members formed to implement the mission of preventing violence against Hmong women and girls by ending sexism in the community.

HWAT has always strived to mobilize Hmong women and girls to actively engage and participate in their families and communities to elevate the status of Hmong women and to shape their own lives. HWAT does not work directly with individuals, but selects projects that cast a wide net towards the community to change in ways that will be more inclusive of Hmong women at the decision making tables, and to inform others about the plight of Hmong women and improve opportunities for their voices to be sought out, heard, and their issues, championed.