Hmong Women Speakers’ Series features 4 outstanding, successful, and influential Hmong American women.  The series seek to highlight and promote the work, leadership, and contributions of Hmong women.

The speakers share openly and honestly about the challenges and triumphs they’ve experienced along the way to personal and professional happiness.

The series seek to influence and provoke conversations about the struggles and realities Hmong women face among people who have the  authority, ability, and responsibility to make changes that will benefit the lives of Hmong women.

Dr. Mai Na Lee

Hmong Women's Role in the Shaping of the Hmong

When: Thursday, June 11, 2009
Time: 12 pm NOON - 1:30 pm
Where: Hoa Bien Restaurant, 1105 University Ave W., St. Paul, MN

Cost
$50 Corporate/Professional
$30 Nonprofit/Community
$25 Student

When Mai Na Lee came to the United States with her family in 1980, she was 12 years old and had never held a pencil. Twenty-five years later, she became the first Hmong American to earn a Ph.D. in history. Today, as an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota , she is the first in the nation to develop and teach college-level courses on Hmong history.

She was the first among her four siblings to master English, to graduate from high school (Humboldt in St. Paul ), and to receive her B.A. (Carleton College ) and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees ( University of Wisconsin–Madison ). She was also the first Hmong to receive a $20,000 Susan B. Anthony Fellowship from the American Association of University Women, which enabled her to finish her dissertation. “This was a great honor for me,” Lee says. “It was the first time the word pioneer was attributed to me. I love that title. I am a great admirer of Susan B. Anthony and other American women who were pioneers in their struggles for civil rights.” The manuscript for her dissertation, titled The Dream of the Hmong Kingdom: Resistance, Collaboration and Legitimation Under French Rule, will be published as a book next summer.

Upcoming Series Includes:

Kazoua Kong-Thao
September 10, 2009
Education: The Great Equalizer

Sy Moua
December 10, 2009
Lessons from an Advocate for Battered Women

Past Speaker:
May Lee-Yang
Literary Voice for Empowerment

Please note that you can pay and register on the day of the event.  However, you must RSVP to info@hmongwomenachieve.org or by calling 651.276.0957.

For more information, please download our Speaker Series Brochure.

Speaker Series Brochure

To register, please download the Registration Form. Please complete the form. You can mail the form in to us or bring it on the day of event with your payment. All registrations are not complete until we receive payment.

Registration Form