Since this organization was formalized in 2021, the Lao Community Center of Wisconsin (LCCW) has spearheaded the following events: educational advising and acknowledgement of Southeast Asian high school/college students, food drives, COVID vaccination clinics, Lao language classes, cultural dance performances, Lao arts and cultural summer camp. Its Board of Directors and Officers have created three subcommittees to develop and implement programs: education, health & housing, and cultural enrichment.
Mission
LCCW aims to empower the Lao community and cultivate spaces for multigenerational and multiethnic sharing and community-building. To achieve its aim, the Lao Community Center of Wisconsin provides social service support, educational and professional development, culturally adapted workshops and programs, and community resource navigation tools.
Vision Statement
LCCW builds strong, healthy, and economically and socially secure Lao communities in Wisconsin.
Executives
Hinhpalom “Hinh” Phouybanhdyt, President
Hinhpalom Phouybanhdyt emigrated as a refugee from Laos with his family at the age of 11 and settled in Waukesha, WI. From young on, he knew that he wanted to go into the mental health field. After completing his doctoral program in Counseling psychology at UW-Madison, Hinhpalom joined Family Options Counseling and found a specialty in working with children, adolescents and families. Having been there for over 15 years, he has extensive experience working with Southeast Asian populations, to which he is passionately committed. During his free time, Hinhpalom enjoys hanging out with his friends and family, golf, tennis, outdoors, food, live music, and traveling.
Soumaly Bounket, Vice President
Soumaly Phakeovilay Bounket graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor Degree in secondary mathematics education with a minor in health education and Lao bilingual endorsement. She pursued her master degree in Educational Psychology with emphasis on school counseling and certification in school administrative leadership at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Soumaly is currently retired from the Milwaukee Public School District as a high school mathematics teacher, school to work coordinator, and a counselor. For the past thirty two years, she has coordinated efforts to bringing precollege experience to high school students in Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest through the PEOPLE program, Upward Bound program, English for College program, Talent Search program, and Engineering Summer Program. Beyond her work as an educator, she maintains a strong connection to the Lao community in Milwaukee, WI. As a vice president of the Lao Community Center of Wisconsin, she holds a commitment to bridging the social, economic, and educational gaps that continue to exist within the Lao community and between the Lao community and other groups throughout the United States. She enjoys spending time with families, fishing with her husband, traveling, and volunteering in different organizations such as the food pantry at Hmong American Friendships, the Milwaukee Consortium for Hmong Health (MCHH), Wat Pathoummaphoutharam, the Lao American Women Organization, and the Milwaukee Lao Association.
Akarath Soukhaphon, Secretary
Akarath, or Ake, is currently a PhD candidate in the geography department at UW-Madison. His research explores impacts related to hydropower development in mainland Southeast Asia among ethnic Lao peoples. Beyond his work in academia, he maintains a strong connection to the Lao community in Milwaukee, WI. For the past six years, he has spearheaded efforts to bring traditional Lao music and dance to interested learners in Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest. As LCCW’s secretary, he holds a commitment to bridging the social, economic, and educational gaps that continue to exist within the Lao community and between the Lao community and other groups within the state. He enjoys golf, fishing, and puzzles in his very limited free time.
Pawn Callahan, Treasurer
Pawn graduated from UW-Whitewater with a major in Communications. She’s currently a photo producer at Jockey Int’l. Pawn is committed to growing awareness of the Lao community in Wisconsin and building bridges to help meet the community’s needs. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and exploring interesting places to eat.
Subcommittee Leaders
Kaitlin Ma, Public Relations
Kaitlin is an environmental scientist for an engineering consulting firm passionate about improving the natural spaces around us. As the LCCW Public Relations Lead, she is constantly learning how to use social media more effectively in an ever-changing internet environment. She is a strong advocate for creating spaces where intergenerational and inter-ethnic dialogue within our communities can occur. In her free time, she enjoys listening to true crime podcasts because it’s never too late to jump on the band-wagon!
Johnny Rasavong, Education
Johnny Rasavong graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and a graduate degree in Educational Psychology with emphasis on Community Counseling. Currently, he works at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee as a Senior Academic Advisor in the Pathways Advising Department. As an Education Committee chairperson, he looks forward to offering academic guidance and support to the Laotian and Southeast Asian young adults and their family members. During his spare time, he enjoys reading, playing tennis, attending outdoor events and spending time with his family.