Our Family

Christine Her (she/her) // Copywriter + Editor

Christine is the daughter of Hmong refugee parents from Laos. She graduated from East High School and pursued her B.A. at Drake University studying Creative Writing, Philosophy and Political Science. She was named one of 15 People to Watch in the State of Iowa for 2021. Christine is a fellow with the Mid Iowa Health Foundation HealthConnect Fellowship focusing her project on developing diverse and healing-centered texts reflecting authentic stories of individuals who are minoritized and marginalized. She is part of the DSM USA 4 Equity Collective and the Des Moines Performing Arts (DMPA) Equity Diversity Inclusivity (EDI) Community Task Force. She is highly motivated to interrupt social and systemic injustices with hope and art while helping others rise in their own power and lean into their purpose.

Emma Parker (she/her) // Designer

Emma is a visual artist with a talent for envisioning collaborative projects. She graduated from Iowa State University with a BFA in Studio Art with an emphasis in printmaking. She is a believer in the power of the arts and self expression, and that all young people should have the opportunity to create. Through the act of creating, people are able to reflect and better understand who they are. Emma values growth, because it is through growth that we continue to learn who we are and our role in this world.

CLAUDIA KYALANGALILWA (she/her) // Writer

After immigrating to Des Moines at a young age from Kenya, Claudia began school at Riverwoods Elementary School and then was a student at Weeks Middle School. An East High School graduate, Claudia attended the University of Iowa and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies as well as a Human Rights certificate. Claudia strives to serve as an advocate for young people in the Heroes Program, building collaborations within the community as well as serving youth directly. Claudia believes it to be important to uplift healing spaces and aspires to continue on a path that disrupts systemic inequities preventing us from envisioning as well as enacting our fullest potentials.

Tyler Gates (he/him) // Filmmaker

Tyler is a filmmaker with a passion for justice. Born in Cedar Rapids and educated at the University of Iowa, Tyler gravitates towards film, writing and animation. The son of a Filipino immigrant, Tyler respects the work it takes to learn about a culture that is one generation removed. Tyler wants to create media that engages and inspires people to envision a better world.

Kamaura Kim (she/her) // Photographer

Kamaura is currently a senior at Ankeny High School, and plans to major in Journalism and Photography. Growing up, Kamaura lived with her refugee grandparents from Cambodia and Laos, which has had a big impact on who she is today. From her experiences, she learned a lot about the importance of family, importance of culture, and to be true to who you are.

Keezeng Lee (he/him) // Designer

Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Keezeng is a second generation Hmong-American and a former ELL (English Language Learners) student. He has previously served his community in Minnesota and has continued to do so in Iowa. After joining RISE AmeriCorps and serving with his host site, ArtForce Iowa, his passion for the arts was reinvigorated. He continues to practice traditional art and aims to grow in the graphic design field. With his #1 value being beauty, he wants to share the beauty of his community with the world. Keezeng continues to create art and believes he can always improve to bring out the beauty in his art.

Cam Schneider (he/him) // Musician

Cam is a Des Moines based multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. He serves on the board of directors for The Supply Hive, a 501c3 nonprofit. He is active in program development and community engagement. He is passionate about connecting humans and their stories through music. Cam values holding space for all people and creating safe spaces in music for self expression and discovery. 

Mee Xiong (she/her) // Archivist

Mee is a second generation Hmong person living in the U.S. and a child of Hmong refugees from Lao PDR. She has experience working in university libraries and archives, state historical societies, and community-based institutions with reference, collections, outreach and fundraising. Her interests include the intersections of Asian American communities, social justice and the practice of archiving. Mee values courage because she believes it’s integral to the success of working towards a more just and equitable world.

Adria Husband (she/her) // Academic Scholar

Adria Husband has nearly 20 years experience in educational leadership, operations management, and organizational development. Adria has served as an advocate for racial and social justice throughout her professional career, from orchestrating systemic social-emotional development in students grades K-12 across twenty large urban school districts to creating and implementing policy and practices around the equitable distribution of educational resources to historically underserved communities in Chicago. Adria is passionate about bringing healing and restoration into equity and justice work. Adria is a coach, facilitator, mediator, gift cultivator, and lifelong learner of the human experience. Adria is the founder of D.I.V.A.s Middle School Mentoring Program which focuses on creating space to explore and develop the identity, voice, self-confidence, and unique gifts of young women of color in Chicago. Adria is mother to a teenage daughter and a boisterous Lhasa Apso puppy. She is a writer and poet in her downtime.

Noreen Naseem Rodríguez (she/her) // Academic Scholar

Noreen Naseem Rodríguez is an Assistant Professor of Teacher Learning, Research and Practice in the School of Education at the University of Colorado Boulder. She is the daughter of Asian immigrants and was a bilingual elementary educator in Austin, Texas before becoming a teacher educator at the University of Texas at Austin and Iowa State University. Her research interests include the culturally sustaining pedagogies of Asian American and Latinx teachers and the teaching of so-called "difficult histories" to young learners through children's literature.