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 in Duluth, Minnesota, the family later relocated to Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1984. Mom became a U.S. citizen in 1990 and pursued studies at Middlesex Community College. Prior to his formal education, he served as a Buddhist monk, following the path of his grandfather, the high priest at the Lowell Glory Buddhist Temple. He later established Mom’s Therapy & Herbal Center, providing holistic healthcare to the community.
In 2014, Mom achieved a historic milestone as the first Cambodian-American elected to a state legislature in the United States, representing the 18th Middlesex District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He was re-elected for multiple terms, serving until 2024. Throughout his tenure, he championed education, community development, and cultural preservation. In December 2023, he introduced legislation to incorporate the Cambodian genocide and related histories into Massachusetts’ school curricula, underscoring his commitment to historical awareness and education.