Biographies
Board Members
(Chair)
is a dedicated mother and early education instructor for children with special needs.She has her Bachelor of Arts in Child Development and is currently pursuing her special education credential.. Nou is passionate about creating safe, nurturing environments where young children can thrive and reach their full potential. In her free time, she enjoys family time and connecting with nature.
(Vice Chair)
graduated from the California State University, Fresno with her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration Computer Information Systems. She also has her Child Development Site Supervisor Permit to obtain any early-care and education position. She’s been teaching in the Early Education Head Start program in Merced since 2005. On the side, she has also been helping individuals and small businesses file taxes for more than a decade. Amanda is very involved in Hmong Culture Camps and would like to help in any way possible to create a cultural shift in how Hmong families see early education.
(Secretary)
Daniel Akio Kubois a lifelong resident of Cortez Community, Merced County. Taught at Ballico-Cressey Schools and volunteered at Tomodachi Gakko, a Japanese American cultural program in northern Merced County. Currently, acting manager and instructor for Ballico Taiko.
(Board Member)
a resident of Cortez Community, Merced County. Taught at Ballico-Cressey Schools and co-founded Tomodachi Gakko, a Japanese American cultural program in northern Merced County, along with several other Japanese American women from the Cortez and Livingston communities. Currently, director and instructor for Ballico Taiko.
(Advisor)
is a UC Merced Assistant Professor for Ethnic Studies and is driving the movement for Critical Hmong American Studies. She was also a parent of Hmong Culture Camp and an advocate for cultural preservation.
Advisor
was a refugee from Laos and has lived in Merced since 1977. She worked closely with healthcare and mental health settings as an interpreting and translation trainer for over 20 years. She currently works part-time for BHRS Behavioral Health and Recovery Services as an Extra-Help Special Project Coordinator.
Executive Director
Executive Director of Hmong Culture Camps
She studied at CSU Stanislaus and received a degree in Business Marketing. While serving Hmong refugees in Thailand, she expanded her deep understanding of Hmong culture which drives her success. In 2017, she established Hmong Culture Camp, one of the only Hmong-English dual-language early education programs in the United States. Her approach is to close the achievement gap for Hmong youth while serving as a national model for dual-language education. She strongly believes that the only way to preserve the Hmong language and culture is through the empowerment of our youth.
Empowered Hmong Youth
Is an undergraduate student at the University of California, Davis. He is majoring in Human Biology and minoring in Public Health to pursue a career as a medical physician. He is now part of Hmong Culture Camp’s Hmong Community Table youth team.
was the marketing coordinator for Hmong Made Simple and is currently part of the Hmong Community Table youth team. She holds a Master of Science in Infectious Diseases and a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology. Her career goal is to become a pediatric physician. Kandyce has devoted a significant amount of time to volunteering in her community, which includes creating mental health workshops, teaching after-school programs, and assisting at her local hospital. She joined Hmong Cultural Camp, Inc. because she wanted to rediscover her Hmong identity and learn what it means to be Hmong.
Nou Chi is a community leader and advocate who has served the Merced and Fresno communities. Her contributions to the team allowed for the very first virtual Hmong Culture Camp classes at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nou Chi also served as the Coordinator for Hmong Culture Camp’s COVID-19 Health Equity Project and worked closely with Merced County in organizing the very first SEA COVID-19 vaccine clinics. As a Community Health Worker today, she still contributes to the efforts of advancing health literacy and creating access to the underserved. Nou Chi now serves on the Hmong Community Table with Hmong Culture Camp.
is a Merced College graduate continuing her studies at CSU Sacramento State. She is a Health Science major, hoping that she finds her calling within the medical world; aspiring to be a nurse who cares for babies and infants. She’s been involved in helping the community ever since her freshman year in high school. She joined Hmong Culture Camp her junior year, took a break for 2 years, and is now back! She is now participating in the Hmong Culture Camp’s Hmong Community Table Youth Team and hopes that with her involvement, she can help make a difference in the Hmong Community and learn a thing or two during her impact. During her free time, she loves to read and spend time with her family.
is a high school student currently attending Ronald E. McNair High School. He is eager to make a positive impact & dedicated to helping others as well as fostering his Hmong community connections. With a strong belief in empathy and kindness, he strives to inspire and uplift those around him, always seeking to learn and grow in the process. He is currently taking part in synthesizing the Hmong CommunityTable needs assessments & on the video production team.
graduated from the University of the Pacific with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. She is a financial entrepreneur who is passionate about learning and educating the HMong community about financial independence, building a legacy for the future, and establishing generational wealth. Her role at HMong Cultural Camp is to promote HMong literacy through educational content. Outside of work, she’s adventurous and enjoys creating music, singing, and exploring new places.
is a highly motivated individual who is passionate about giving back to his community through Hmong outreach activities. He enjoys teaching and inspiring the youth by being a leader in his community and to his fellow peers. At Hmong Culture Camp, he enjoys volunteering his time to create educational content and build connections amongst the Hmong community. In his spare time, he finds peace through driving and working on cars.
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