A discussion with Yee Leng Xiong, new Executive Director of New Beginnings for Refugees.

Yee Leng Xiong has dedicated his young life to public service. Previously he has had significant roles in H.M.O.N.G. (Help Making Our Next Generation), empowering Hmong youths, and actively participated in the Wausau Area Hmong Mutual Association, now the Hmong American Center, Inc., first as a volunteer before becoming the executive director.  Xiong made history as the first elected Hmong official on the D.C. Everest Area School District Board at age 19 and served as a Marathon County Board member since 2016, and village trustee for Weston from 2018 to 2022. In 2019, he was appointed by Gov. Tony Evers to the Governor’s Financial Literacy Council and the State Council on Affirmative Action. Most recently he ran for the State Assembly and narrowly lost a race last November to incumbent Pat Snyder. Now Xiong is starting his new job as Executive Director of New Beginnings for Refugees. You can hear our discussion below: