Hnub Tshiab: Hmong Women Achieving Together

10/14/2026

✨ From discovering her leadership voice to empowering others to live authentically. ✨

“To me, being a leader is someone who can live their most genuine and authentic life. Through this, they can affect the people around them to do the same.”

In 2015, Nakita Vang participated in the Hmong Women Leader Institute (HWLI), a leadership program through Hnub Tshiab: Hmong Women Achieving Together. It was the first time she heard the words Hmong women and leader together. That moment sparked a journey of discovering what kind of leader she wanted to become.

In 2023, Nakita took a leap of faith and founded Heal in Heels, creating a space where women and LGBTQ+ individuals could build confidence, reconnect with their bodies, challenge limiting beliefs, and find healing and community.

Today, Nakita’s passion for helping others embrace their authentic selves continues to shape her leadership and inspire those around her. Her commitment to creating spaces where people feel safe, empowered, and free to be themselves is what makes her a meaningful choice for Hnub Tshiab’s 2026 Hmong Woman of the Year. 💜

🌸 Read Nakita’s story and discover how her journey from finding her own definition of leadership to leading with authenticity, joy, and passion is inspiring others to do the same.

Read the full story: https://www.hmongwomen.org/post/from-finding-her-confidence-to-creating-space-for-others-meet-hnub-tshiab-s-2026-hmong-woman-of-the

10/13/2026

✨ Couldn't Join Us at the Gala? You Can Still Be Part of the Celebration! 💜

Our 2026 Living Our Dreams: Hmong Women Leading Across Industries Gala was a wonderful evening celebrating Hmong women, sharing stories, and recognizing the incredible accomplishments of women across industries and generations.

Whether you joined us in person or couldn't make it this year, there's still a chance to catch up on all the highlights! 🎉

📖 Our gala recap blog takes you back through the evening's special moments, introduces our inspiring award recipients, and celebrates the community that came together to support Hmong women.

💜 Come see what made this evening so special!

👉 Read the full recap: https://www.hmongwomen.org/post/living-our-dreams-2026-gala-recap

10/13/2026

09/29/2026

💙 Thank You to Our Friend Sponsors! 💙

We are incredibly grateful to our Friend Sponsors for their generous support of Hnub Tshiab’s Living Our Dreams: Hmong Women Leading Across Industries Gala.

Your generosity helps make this special evening possible and allows us to gather, celebrate, and honor the incredible Hmong women who are leading, inspiring, and creating change across our communities.

A heartfelt thank you to:

✨ Salty Highlander
✨ University of St. Thomas Morrison Family College of Health
✨ Securian Financial
✨ Hmong American Partnership
✨ Pebmoob Senior Center

Your support means so much to us and helps Hnub Tshiab continue creating opportunities for Hmong women to connect, grow, lead, and live our dreams.

Thank you for standing with us and investing in the future of Hmong women. 💙

09/23/2026

✨ You can help inspire a young person today.

As we gather to celebrate and hear from incredible Hmong women who are making an impact in today’s world, we invite you to help create that same sense of possibility for the next generation.

Sponsor a gala ticket for a young person and give them the opportunity to attend our gala at no cost to them.

Join us for Living Our Dreams: Hmong Women Leading Across Industries:

📅 Friday, October 2, 2026
🕕 6:00–9:00 p.m.
📍 Mosaic Venue | Minneapolis, MN (3rd floor)

For a young person, being in a room filled with inspiring women, powerful stories, and new possibilities can be more than just an evening. It can be a moment that builds confidence, sparks new dreams, and reminds them that their dreams are within reach.

Because when we open the door for one young person, we open a world of possibilities.

💛 Sponsor a ticket today and help a young person dream a little bigger.
https://www.hmongwomen.org/livingourdreams/registration

09/22/2026

(✨ Meet Our 2026 Living Our Dreams Award Recipients! ✨

We’re thrilled to announce this year’s recipients of the Live Our Dreams Awards—celebrating two remarkable Hmong women who are pursuing their dreams and making an impact in their communities. 💜

🌸 Hmong Woman of the Year: Nakita Vang

Nakita Vang is the founder of Heal in Heels, a dance company she launched in 2023 to create a space where women can break through self-doubt, challenge limiting beliefs, and build unshakable confidence in themselves and their bodies.

Through movement, community, and self-expression, Nakita is helping women reconnect with their strength and embrace who they are.

🌱 Ilean Kao Ly Her Live Your Best Life Grant: Elizabeth Lor

Elizabeth Lor is a college student at the University of St. Thomas, where she is pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering. As a first-generation college student, Elizabeth hopes to use her engineering background to strengthen and uplift the communities around her.

Her journey reflects perseverance, purpose, and a commitment to building a future where she can create meaningful change.

We can’t wait to celebrate Nakita and Elizabeth at our Living Our Dreams: Hmong Women Leading Across Industries Gala and give you the opportunity to hear more about their journeys, their dreams, and the impact they hope to make.

✨ Come celebrate these incredible women with us!

📅 Friday, October 2
🕕 6–9 PM
📍 Mosaic Venue, Minneapolis (3rd Floor)

🎟️ Learn more and join us:
https://www.hmongwomen.org/livingourdreams/awards

09/21/2026

🌸 We’re so grateful for our Ally Sponsor!

Today, we’re giving a special shoutout to North Hennepin Community College for supporting Hnub Tshiab and our Living Our Dreams Gala!

When organizations and community partners invest in the work of Hnub Tshiab, they’re investing in stronger families, stronger communities, and a future where more Hmong women have the opportunity to dream boldly and lead authentically.

Thank you, North Hennepin Community College, for being an Ally and helping us create more opportunities for Hmong women to connect, grow, and thrive. 💜

We’re so grateful to have you with us!

✨ Living Our Dreams: Hmong Women Leading Across Industries
📅 October 2 | 📍 Mosaic Venue, Minneapolis
https://www.hmongwomen.org/livingourdreams

09/21/2026

✨ Only TWO weeks to go! ✨

We’re just two weeks away from our annual Living Our Dreams: Hmong Women Leading Across Industries Gala on Friday, Oct. 2, at 6:00 p.m.!

Hear from Hiyana, one of our incredible board members and treasurer, as she shares what she’s most looking forward to at this year’s gala.

💫 Don’t miss your chance to be part of this special evening! Get your tickets and join us as we celebrate the dreams, leadership, and accomplishments of Hmong women.

🎟️ Tickets are available now!
https://www.hmongwomen.org/livingourdreams

09/18/2026

We are so grateful to be the recipient of this grant from the Women's Foundation of Minnesota.

Grants like this allow us to create opportunities where we can empower young girls through programs like our Girls Enterprise Workshop, at no cost to them.

Thank you again to the Women's Foundation of Minnesota for your support in making these opportunities possible!

09/16/2026

A message from Dr. MayKao Hang! 💜

Dr. MayKao Hang is a Hnub Tshiab board member who oversees our Investment Committee and leads our governance processes. She also serves as Dean of the Morrison Family College of Health at the University of St. Thomas and is the owner of Salty Highlander.

Hear from MayKao about why she’s excited for this year’s Living Our Dreams: Hmong Women Leading Across Industries Gala on Friday, Oct. 2! ✨

Join us for an evening celebrating the strength, leadership, and achievements of Hmong women across industries.

Don’t miss it—register today!
👉 HmongWomen.org/LivingOurDreams