Dismissal of MN Lao Family’s Executive Director

[Reporter]

You young hmong people also need to grow up and accept the OG's.  That's the only thing that got left to hold on to to live.  Let them do their things and you do yours....

As a leader we need to understand that things are done by the people, of the people and for the people. If you are not working or doing things for the people, you should not be in a public leadership position.....

I agree, Crusader. I did say this before:

They are not losers. Let them reign during their times.

[Renaissance]

we can say a lot of shit about the og all we want.  peb cov tuaj loj hlob tebchaw no, peb txawj xwb, peb tseem tsi tau ntse li lawv.  we look at our bank account compared to theirs and we are put to shame.

[NceegVaj]

Here's your replacement:

I just don't know if the Hmong community will respect this young lady.  TOOO AMericanized and tooooo hard headed.

She can't help the poor.  I don't think she understands what the refugee needs are.  WHAT SHE DOES UNDERSTAND IS ORGANIZING PEOPLE AROUND ISSUES.  MOST YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE HER AND MOST OLD PEOPLE HATED HER.

--------------------------
Lao Family Community of Minnesota, Inc. welcomes new Interim Executive Director
Lao Family Community of Minnesota, a leader organization in facilitating and promoting the success of Hmong Americans, other immigrant and refugees, is pleased to announce the appointment of Amee Xiong as its new Interim Executive Director.
January 28, 2012
“Ms. Xiong is a proven leader in the community with solid knowledge and strategic insights about the intersections of transformation al social services, public policy and civic engagement,” said ChuPheng Lee, Board President of Lao Family Community.  “We like Ms. Xiong’s management style of accountability and efficiency. Her leadership and vision for the organization, and the passion and energy she put to obtain her vision, is inspiring."
Amee Xiong has a Master of Arts in Public Policy and Leadership from the University of St. Thomas and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Education from Hamline University . Amee's professional background reflects both social services and community organizing. She was the Hmong Organizing Program Director at TakeAction Minnesota , worked and consulted with the Girl Scouts of River Valleys, the St. Paul City Council, the private colleges in the state, and the St. Paul Public School District . She successfully organized the implementation of Hmong history as part of the Social Studies curriculum in the St. Paul Public Schools District. She organized the Hmong American community and allies to defeat Clear Channel Communications and KDWB 101.3 FM for their racist and sexist parody. She organized the Hmong American community to elect candidates from U.S. Senator Al Franken to Governor Mark Dayton and others. Amee was a 2008 graduate from the Organizing Apprenticeship Project and the Gamaliel Foundation- National Leadership Training. In 2006, she received the Racial Justice Award, and the prestigious Barbara Simmons Eagle Award from Hamline University . She also received the Leadership Award from the Council of Asian Pacific Minnesotan.
Pamela Twiss , Organizing Director of TakeAction Minnesota , said, “Amee Xiong is a true believer in people and the power of people working together. She is a compelling combination – a big thinker who always gets the details right. Amee has earned the trust and admiration of everyone at TakeAction, and we look forward to continuing our relationship and our admiration for Amee in her new role at Lao Family.”
“We are proud of the legacy General Vang Pao has accomplished with Lao Family and the resettlement of Hmong Americans in Minnesota the last 30 years,” said ChuPheng Lee. “Ms. Xiong is our first Hmong American woman in this leadership role in the history of the organization who will build on that legacy along with the Board of Directors to further advance the Hmong American community.”
“Amee Xiong is a focused, detailed, and dedicated leader,” said Amy Brendmoen, St. Paul City Council Member. “I have seen her in action and I know Amee will competently work across race, gender and socio-economic status to make people’s lives better!”
“Amee has a keen sense of building power, leadership and the development of leaders,” said Minnesota State Representative Rena Moran. “Not only is she committed to Hmong families but also to building a strong community. I look forward to working with Amee in District 65A.”

[andro]

She seems like a good candidate for the job.  Wish her well.

[shina]

My question is, how much money is she planning to steal from Lao Family???  Every Director in the past stole hundreds of thousands from Lao Family, how much is she hoping to take with her?? 

[shina]

The best thing for Lao Family is to close it's door.  Stop wasting taxpayers money.  Running Lao Family isn't like running a regular non-profit agency.   Just take a look at the clients, if there are clients.

[Believe_N_Me]

Honestly, I've never fully understood the real purpose of having these Hmong non-profit organizations. The Hmong have always been able to help each other without establishing an organization of sorts. Perhaps this is impossible in demographics with large concentrations of Hmong?

[thehotone]

My question is, how much money is she planning to steal from Lao Family???  Every Director in the past stole hundreds of thousands from Lao Family, how much is she hoping to take with her?? 

Not much, just her asking salary of $200,000 and a annual $100,000 bonus. 

[NceegVaj]

Just so you ALL know.   Chue Pheng Lee the current Board President is or was an associate with Amee Xiong during his involvement at TakeAction.  No surprise here. The TakeAction Hmong people are nothing but bunch of young college kids trying to kill time volunteers.  Many of them come and go.  At one point there were over 6 or 7 issues group.  Now nothing left.  I do want to say they are very strategic though for the things they do - only if it had been successful.  It's always power, power, power, etc...hahahha. ..LOL.

WE NEED SOMEONE WHO KNOWS AND CARES ABOUT THE HMONG REFUGEES AS WELL AS NEW KAREN, BURMESE, RUSSIAN, ETC. REFUGEES...NOT SOMEONE WHO IS GOING KEEP USING OTHERS TO BUILD "POWER"...hahahahah .......LOL.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPCPGzs2dK8

[Crusader]

Well, lots of people wants new blood and she is a new blood so will see what she is made off....best of luck to her....

[shina]

Just so you ALL know.   Chue Pheng Lee the current Board President is or was an associate with Amee Xiong during his involvement at TakeAction.  No surprise here. The TakeAction Hmong people are nothing but bunch of young college kids trying to kill time volunteers.  Many of them come and go.  At one point there were over 6 or 7 issues group.  Now nothing left.  I do want to say they are very strategic though for the things they do - only if it had been successful.  It's always power, power, power, etc...hahahha. ..LOL.

WE NEED SOMEONE WHO KNOWS AND CARES ABOUT THE HMONG REFUGEES AS WELL AS NEW KAREN, BURMESE, RUSSIAN, ETC. REFUGEES...NOT SOMEONE WHO IS GOING KEEP USING OTHERS TO BUILD "POWER"...hahahahah .......LOL.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPCPGzs2dK8

After watching this video of this girl,  I come to a conclusion that Lao Family should just be eliminated.  Everything about her is UNPROFESSIONAL . 

[thehotone]

Is that the new girl?! Oh my.    Talk about using puppets to mastermind your organizations from behind the curtains.   Oh well, I guess we'll have to give her a chance, let's hope she doesn't get eaten by those big dogs.

[lilly]

I'm surprised Lao Family organizations are still being funded.  What exactly do they do for the community anyway nowadays that is so important they must remain in business?  Are they really still needed?  It seems they get bad press all the time because of corruption, greed, embezzlement, defamation, and so on and so on.  No class, no integrity whatsoever.  They make the Hmong look bad.  They need to be done with.

Not only Lao Family but all the non-profits that have corruption and power struggles... such organizations need to be shut down.  If you are in the field to help people and all you are concerned about is helping yourself, making yourself look good, obtaining status and power... please.  Grow up already.  I'm so sick of people who are so hungry for power they get into non-profits for their own personal gains; they try to squeeze any little dollars they can get their little dirty hands on into their little pockets; they will push for things that won't even benefit the organization in the least.  Geez.  Man.  Don't work for non-profits or get on the boards if you are so messed up and shady and you aren't even there to do what you really should be doing, which is to serve the community and accomplish the goals and missions of the organization. 

If you are an employee, just do your job to the best of your ability and pick up your biweekly checks and go home.  Board members, you should serve without asking for anything in return.  Do what you're supposed to do--do your good deed for the community; volunteer; give your time and skills freely; go to the board meetings and make good decisions that will benefit and better the organization and then go home, man.  Take all of your personal agendas home with you… don’t let them become the reasons that bring an organization to its knees, man.

[Reporter]

I'm surprised Lao Family organizations are still being funded.  What exactly do they do for the community anyway nowadays that is so important they must remain in business?  Are they really still needed?  It seems they get bad press all the time because of corruption, greed, embezzlement, defamation, and so on and so on.  No class, no integrity whatsoever.  They make the Hmong look bad.  They need to be done with.

Not only Lao Family but all the non-profits that have corruption and power struggles... such organizations need to be shut down.  If you are in the field to help people and all you are concerned about is helping yourself, making yourself look good, obtaining status and power... please.  Grow up already.  I'm so sick of people who are so hungry for power they get into non-profits for their own personal gains; they try to squeeze any little dollars they can get their little dirty hands on into their little pockets; they will push for things that won't even benefit the organization in the least.  Geez.  Man.  Don't work for non-profits or get on the boards if you are so messed up and shady and you aren't even there to do what you really should be doing, which is to serve the community and accomplish the goals and missions of the organization. 

If you are an employee, just do your job to the best of your ability and pick up your biweekly checks and go home.  Board members, you should serve without asking for anything in return.  Do what you're supposed to do--do your good deed for the community; volunteer; give your time and skills freely; go to the board meetings and make good decisions that will benefit and better the organization and then go home, man.  Take all of your personal agendas home with you… don’t let them become the reasons that bring an organization to its knees, man.

I keep telling people and I will tell you the same: keep these organizations going so our people will have jobs. I'd rather see us working than relying on welfare.

[lilly]

Man, Reporter.  I dunno.  The organizations are there so that people can have jobs.  But if the people managing the organizations make the organizations look bad (such organizations are supposed to be more publicly-serving and not privately-serving but they look like they are privately-serving), that just does not make us Hmong people look very good as a community.  The wider communities and the funders will raise their eyebrows at us questioning our integrity and ethics.  I guess we need to choose which is more important to us: reputation or jobs.