ThaoMee Xiong (she/her)
Executive & Network Director
As a legal and legislative expert, a change-manager, and a movement builder, ThaoMee is a natural fit for CAAL as Executive & Network Director. She actively works to build collective power and collective leadership through racial solidarity and political participation.
ThaoMee received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her master’s degree in public administration from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Administration.
Prior to CAAL, ThaoMee was the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the City of Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter’s Office, leading state and federal legislative initiatives while the city received over $300 million in state bonding, direct appropriations, local government aid, and federal funding. ThaoMee led the historic $52 million bonding request to build a new bridge, which was projected to create over 1200 jobs.
ThaoMee has held leadership roles at the Center for Health Equity at the Minnesota Department of Health and has international experience working for the International Organization of Migration and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.
Growing up in a traditional Hmong family as a refugee in Wisconsin has shaped ThaoMee’s passion for pursuing issues concerning gender equity, racial justice, and immigrant rights – the very issues that define our work at CAAL through advocacy and policy work, leadership support, community investment, research, and solidarity partnerships.
Derlee Moua (she/her)
Associate Director
With 20 years of nonprofit expertise in program and operations management, Derlee brings a wealth of knowledge and skills as CAAL’s Associate Director, including donor and programmatic database implementation and management, program design and execution, IT infrastructure management, and operational process improvement.
Derlee received her degree in International Relations and Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota. In her role prior to CAAL, Derlee served as the Director of Workforce Development and Economic Prosperity at Hmong American Partnership (HAP). In this pivotal capacity, she provided visionary leadership, overseeing HAP’s mandated program services, education, job training programs, lending and financial services, and small business development.
Derlee also held pivotal roles overseeing the operational infrastructure of a Hmong charter school and a rapidly expanding nonprofit organization. Her contributions enabled these organizations to extend their programs across 32 states and establish satellite offices in 6 states.
Derlee’s operational expertise and advocacy experience help advance CAAL’s mission, a mission that aligns seamlessly with Derlee’s commitment to nurturing educational opportunities and cultivating economic growth to empower the Asian Minnesotan community.
Jeffrey Ting (he/him)
Program Manager
Jeffrey moved to Minnesota in 2019 to pursue a master’s degree in public health. After graduating, he worked on the Minnesota Department of Health’s COVID Hospital Surveillance Team.
As a CAAL network leader and MOVEE program alum, pursuing the opportunity to work for CAAL was a natural next step. In his role as Program Manager of Movement Building, Jeffrey effectively leads programs that advocate for Asian Minnesotans and support communities of color.
Yer Yang (she/her)
Senior Program Manager
Yer received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota in global studies with an emphasis in human rights and social justice. She has over eight years of leadership and management experience within the nonprofit sector and retail management. She also has two years of experience helping individuals navigate and access public assistance benefits.
In the last five years she worked at a nonprofit as a senior manager in workforce development implementing short-term credential training programs for low-income Hmong, Southeast Asian and other BIPOC individuals. Yer is passionate about building more educational and employment opportunities for the community and her young children to thrive in.
Chonburi TsheejYim Lee (he/him)
Senior Manager of Grant Making
Chonburi holds dual master’s degrees in management information systems and business administration with certifications in data analytics and project management from Metropolitan State University. He is a certified SCRUM Master and also holds expertise in mass communication and client engagement.
Chonburi is actively engaged in the community, serving as a Maplewood City Council Member, member of the Maplewood Multicultural Advisory Committee, and former Board Chair for New Millennium Academy. He has a passion for community building and enjoys bridging gaps that connect people to community resources and organizations for support.