Linn Yann Carroll, The Girl Who Spelled Freedom
Against All Odds: Linn Yann’s Journey from Refugee to American Success Story Linn Yann is a Cambodian American refugee whose inspiring story was immortalized in the 1986 Disney movie, “The Girl Who Spelled Freedom.” Born in Cambodia, Linn experienced unimaginable hardship during the Khmer Rouge regime. She lost her father and spent three years in […]
Jessa Khan, Asian Games Gold Medalist
Jessa Khan: From Texas Prodigy to Cambodian Jiu-Jitsu Icon Jessamine Jada “Jessa” Khan (born October 8, 2001) is an American-born Cambodian jiu-jitsu athlete. Khan began training in jiu-jitsu at the age of 12, and was awarded her black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on October 6, 2020, by her coaches, the Mendes brothers. Khan represented Cambodia […]
Lian Cheun, Executive Director of Khmer Girls in Action
Lian Cheun: Championing Social Justice and Youth Empowerment in Long Beach Lian Cheun, a 1.5-generation Cambodian refugee, has dedicated over two decades to community organizing and advocacy, particularly within low-income communities of color. Born in Cambodia, she and her family endured three years in a Thai refugee camp before resettling in the United States, initially […]
Youk Chhang, “Time 100” Most Influential People in the World
Youk Chhang: Preserving Cambodia’s History and Pursuing Justice Youk Chhang, born on January 22, 1961, in Tuol Kouk District, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, is a distinguished human rights activist and executive director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam). As a survivor of the Khmer Rouge’s brutal regime, Chhang has dedicated his life to documenting the […]
Sokhary Chau, First Cambodian American Elected as US Mayor
Sokhary Chau: From Refugee to Historic Mayoral Leadership in Lowell Sokhary Chau is a Cambodian-born American politician who made history in 2022 as the first person of Cambodian descent to serve as a mayor in the United States, elected by the City Council of Lowell, Massachusetts. Born in Cambodia’s Battambang province, Chau experienced a turbulent […]
Sopheap Pich, Renowned Contemporary Artist
Sopheap Pich: Sculpting Cambodia’s Story on the Global Stage Sopheap Pich, born in 1971 in Battambang, Cambodia, is a Cambodian American contemporary artist renowned for his evocative sculptures that intertwine personal history with cultural identity. His early years were marked by the harrowing experiences of the Khmer Rouge regime, during which he and his family […]
Rady Mom, First Cambodian American Elected to State Legislature
A Cambodian-American Trailblazer in Public Service Rady Mom, born on July 7, 1970, in Pailin Province, Cambodia, is a distinguished American politician and acupressure therapist. As a child, he and his family endured the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge, ultimately seeking refuge in a camp before emigrating to the United States in 1982. Initially settling […]
Dr. SreyRam Kuy, First Cambodian Refugee Surgeon in US
From Survivor to Surgeon: The Inspiring Journey of SreyRam Kuy SreyRam Kuy is a Cambodian American surgeon, writer, and healthcare leader. As a child, she survived the Khmer Rouge Killing Fields and a bombing in a Thai refugee camp, experiences that inspired her to pursue medicine. After moving to the U.S. in 1981, she earned […]
Haing S. Ngor, Oscar Winning Actor
From Killing Fields Survivor to Oscar Winner: The Haing S. Ngor Story Haing S. Ngor was a Cambodian doctor who survived the Khmer Rouge’s brutal regime. After enduring unimaginable hardships, he fled to the U.S. and unexpectedly became an actor. Ngor’s first role was in “The Killing Fields” (1984), where he portrayed journalist Dith Pran, […]
Soben Huon, Miss Utah 2006
Miss Utah turned investment pro, Soben Huon proves talent knows no bounds Soben Huon, a Cambodian-American from Los Angeles, made waves in 2006 as the first Asian-American to win the Miss Utah USA title. Representing Utah in the Miss USA pageant, she broke barriers and proudly showcased her heritage on a national stage. Her win […]