Shift Narratives. Empower Community. Heal Together. One Heart.

.Welcome.

I am from being proud of my lu-Mienh heritage

I am from a dying culture with little documentation and

no rooted homeland to return to

I am from a refugee family that hid in the jungle to avoid gunshots

I am from seeing my mother lay on her death bed 

and my last words to her was “no, you can’t have water”

I am from deciding my mother’s fate at the age of 14 and planning her funeral because my father’s emotions consumed his capabilities to do so

I am from being a translator and social worker for my family

I am from seeing my father, after 10 years of taking care of his mother, transition to working 50 hours a week at $11 an hour

I am from a community that tell ourselves we are not smart or good enough

I am from being a first generation college graduate

I am from organizing my community to have a better life

I am from standing with people who have ever felt hopeless and discriminated against

I am from having a supportive and loving partner and family

I am from believing in myself and going for my dreams

I am from making the changes I want to see in the world, 

which is a vision of love, healing, and justice

I am Yian Pou Saechao

 

For those of you who happen to stumble upon my page, I really appreciate you taking the time to read about who I am as a person. I will have the opportunity to learn, train, and grow as an organizer with the Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) in Richmond/Oakland, California/ Seeding Change  from June to August. This is also an opportunity for me to give back by mentoring other Asian Pacific Islander youth, learning to facilitate meaningful workshops, and working with my Iu-Mienh community. I am excited about my next chapter in life, but I would need your support in helping me raise $3,700 by June 10th (but of course you may continue to donate after the deadline) that will go towards travel/transportation expenses, monthly rent and food.

 

Here is a breakdown of my expenses:

•   Transportation (flights & daily transit): $1000

•   Lodging: $1500

•   Food: $1200


•   Total: $3700

***Fees: the site takes 5% of each donation+ processing fee (2.9% & $0.30 of each donation)

 

To donate, please do so here on my GoFundMe page!

If you’re able to donate $33 a month, that is up to $100 ! So feel free to donate on a monthly basis if you prefer! 
Anything helps!

(Heres the link to show you how to cancel your monthly donations: http://support.gofundme.com/hc/en-us/articles/203999258-How-do-I-stop-or-refund-a-monthly-donation-)


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If you cannot donate to my page, but are willing to help me share my story to your networks that would be amazing. Thank you again for reading through my page and helping me get one step closer to my dreams and the world I envision; a world of love, healing and justice.

 

 

If you have any questions and/or would like to know more about me or what I am doing this summer, I will try my best to update here on my GoFundMe and/or you can contact me through this GoFundMe page/find me on Facebook! 

 

 

Here are some informational links:

Slam Poetry/Spoken Word Poetry about Iu-Mienh: http://youtu.be/LXGF18Sr2gQ

 
Documentary about the Iu-Mienh Community in Portland, OR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64n_vph-8X8


Asian Pacific Environmental Network (host site): www.apen4ej.org

 
Thank you all again for your support and time. My family, my partner, and I appreciate it.