Linda Her is a Hmong American, queer-feminist writer, poet, facilitator and mentor, and a co-founder of MidWest Solidarity Movement. She has experiences and worked in different ranges of social justice issues, civic engagements, political campaigns, committees, and nonprofit organizations.

Linda is a dedicated community organizer with Trust Project Mn (fb.com/TrustProjectMN) and the Associate Director of Asian American Organizing Project (aaopmn.org) focusing on community organizing, civic engagement and social justice training.

Chong Vang is a co-founder of the collective, MidWest Solidarity Movement. Students at his school knows him by Louquieus (pronounced as Lucas) Vaj, while a few of his colleagues and family members know him by [Ab] Txoov Vaj. Chong identifies as a 1.5 queer Hmong Thai American refugee pro-Feminist writer organizer activist. He was born in a beautiful Hmong Thai refugee camp by the name of Ban Vinai and moved to the United States when he was almost two years old. Currently, he resides in the heart of North Minneapolis where the population is diverse, but the community is strong.

Chong is a student at Minnesota State University, Mankato. He is a Gender and Women’s Studies major and an Ethnic Studies minor. With this, he plans to obtain a Ph.D. in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies with a critical focus on American Studies. Chong intends to become a college professor someday and teach Intersectional Studies on LGBTQQI topics. In his free time, he enjoys taking long naps and sketching drafts for his acrylic painting artworks. His favorite vegetable is an eggplant, because it was the first dish he had that symbolized his transition from being a vegetarian into a vegan. Chong loves to munch on food politics, so if you have any food for thought, bring it on!

Dee Lee is a co-founder of MidWest Solidarity Movement. She is a Hmong American womxn, artist, activist, and organizer. She believes in ending sexual violence and promoting women’s health. Her interests include art, queer and gender theory. She is residing in California but still strongly connected with MWSM organizers.

She works as a Data Entry & Communications Assistant at Sacramento Covered. Currently, she is an organizer for Building Our Future (BOF) and Asian Pacific Islander Queer Sacramento Coalition (APIQSC), also the Co-founder of Sacramento Hmong LGBTQ.

Maica is a Queer Filipina American Womyn. She is a veteran of the United States Air Force. Her enlistment started back in Jan of 2008 when the discriminatory and dehumanizing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy was not yet DEFEATED!

The DADT situation, recent interest in politics, activism and social justice issues led her to explore LGBTQ rights. Her concerns are to organize in support of LGBTQ youth, womyn’s rights and gay rights. She envisions and believes that MidWest Solidarity Movement is a great foundation to harbor knowledge, support the Southeast Asian LGBTQ community and  across cultures and community. Though she is very new to the larger aspect of community organizing and activism, her military background sure does come in handy in terms of being organized.

She recently moved to MN and enjoys the fishing scene and whatever outdoor activities the state has to offer! She is addicted to coffee, sleep and good food. She plays the guitar, ukelele and loves to recycle. She loves adventurous outdoor activities, Despicable Me Minions, and loves Mother Nature! She tries to do intense work out on the daily, but she has mentioned she feels like an old lady trapped in a young womyn’s body.