Mao Thao formed the Hmong Health Care Professionals Coalition to provide health education and screening, free flu vaccine clinics, and hosts community health fairs at the July Sports Festivals.Bea Vue-Benson became first ordained Hmong woman minister in the United States.Two Hmong American Women’s Delegations led by Minnesota Hmong women participated in the United Nations Fifth World Conference on Women in China.Pacyinz Lyfoung became the first Hmong American woman attorney to practice law in Minnesota, at Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services.KaYing Yang named as executive director of WAHL - the first young and unmarried Hmong woman to head a mutual aid association.She may be the first Hmong woman to do this. Houa Vue Moua published an autobiography of her life and journey to America titled, Trails Through The Mist.Ilean Her is the first Hmong woman attorney to pass her Minnesota Bar exam.Mao Thao started Hmong Health Talk Program through Kev Koom Siab.Mai Neng Moua and other writers created Paj Ntaub Voice, a Hmong literary journal.Mao Thao led a group of health workers to research Sudden Unexplained Death Syndrome (SUDS) in Phanat Nikhom refugee camp in Thailand.Paul School Board, the first Hmong elected to any public office in the United States.
This effort was the motivation for creating the first Hmong public TV show, Kev Koom Siab. There was no media outlet to reach the Hmong, so the workers used a mass door knocking campaign, especially in public housing sites in Saint Paul. Mao Thao, Va Thao, Cha Her, Xia Lor Vang, Soua Vang, Sue Lee, Pam Thao, Yer Thao, and Blia Vang were among those who worked on the 1990 Measles Outbreak in Saint Paul.Phoua Yang co-founded the first Translation/Interpretations Certificate Program at the University of Minnesota.WAHL was never invited to organize the New Year thereafter. As President of WAHL, Phoua Yang chaired the Hmong New Year and decided to divide profits evenly between all other organizing agencies for the first time, which led to angry responses from male leaders.First Hmong women’s scholarship fund created by Women’s Association of Hmong and Lao.Paul Technical Vocational Institute (now Saint Paul College). Mao Thao, Va Thao, Ma Moua, and Mee Yang were among the second wave of Hmong women who graduated with Licensed Practical Nurse and Clinical Nurse Specialist degrees from St.Phoua Yang became the first Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).Gaoly Yang, first Executive Director of WAHL, established a program to provide social services for elderly women widowed by the Secret War in Laos.She was the first Hmong refugee who visited the Ban Vinai camp. Mao Thao was invited by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to talk about life in America to 40,000 Hmong refugees in Ban Vinai camp.WAHL started domestic violence awareness and services program but community criticism and the funder’s unwillingness to use culturally appropriate approaches forced it to end.Women there were well known for their paj ntaub (embroidery and story cloths), which was sold throughout the world to support their families. The largest concentration of Hmong (around 45,000) remained in Ban Vinai refugee camp.Sy Vang Mouacheupao became an advocate for victims and survivors of domestic violence, despite receiving death threats from men and male spouses.A second Hmong women’s group founded the Association for the Advancement of Hmong Women in Minnesota, which primarily focused on serving women in Minneapolis.Mao Thao, Xiong My Ly, Ka Her Vang, True Vang, Yer Yang and other Hmong women became the first group of healthcare interpreters.Minnesota’s first Hmong women's organization, the Women’s Association of Hmong and Lao (WAHL) was founded, amidst protest from male leaders.Refugee camps established in Thailand, and Hmong resettlement to countries in the West began.