Hmong American Women’s Association

Donors to HAWA include several left-of-center organizations including Voces de la Frontera, State Democracy Project, Wisconsin Voices, Center for Popular Democracy, State Voices, America Votes, Solidaire Network, Borealis Philanthropy, NEO Philanthropy, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, New Venture Fund, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Network for Good, and Tides Foundation. ³

Background

Hmong American Women’s Association (HAWA) was founded in 1993 by 13 women in a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Hmong refugee community. It advocates for and supports Hmong women and their families in Milwaukee. The Hmong people are an ethnic group who originally came from China, but many of whom settled in Southeast Asia. ⁴ In 1996, HAWA became an official nonprofit organization. ⁵ Wisconsin has the third largest Hmong population in the country. ⁶

HAWA’s first program was the Paj Ntaub Circle. Hmong women would get together to sew embroidery cloths and create a “sisterhood.” During its gatherings, participants realized that violence in the home was a common occurrence, so the group broadened its programs to include support for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in the early 2000s. ^{7 8}

In 2017, it added advocacy for the Hmong LGBT community, and in 2018, it began civic engagement and community organizing. ² As of 2024, HAWA describes itself as an organization that supports “Southeast Asian women, girls, Queer and Trans people to champion gender justice and collective liberation.” ¹

In August 2021 HAWA purchased a building. At the press conference, U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) congratulated the group, indicating “You got a partner here in Gwen Moore, your congresswoman.” ⁹

In a 2022 interview, executive director Tammie Xiong claimed that the cause of anti-Asian violence is “rooted in patriarchy and misogyny and white supremacy.” ¹⁰

Work Areas

Hmong American Women’s Association provides support to those in the Hmong community suffering from domestic violence or sexual assault by providing a “safe space” and services such as crisis intervention, referrals to community resources, and home-visit follow up. ^{11 12}

Support services for Hmong women, girls, queer, and trans people include health education, literacy development, youth tutoring, Hmong cultural programs, and providing safe spaces for the community members. ¹³ HAWA’s Express Project provides Hmong transgender and gender-nonconforming people with items to assist in expression of their gender identities. Its Queer Roots Space is a monthly support space for Hmong LGBT people. ¹⁴

HAWA works to increase civic engagement among Hmong Americans through door-to-door outreach and phone calls, and by providing voter education and resources. ¹⁵ In May 2024 HAWA had its second annual Asian and Pacific Islander Women’s Ball to highlight Asian and Pacific Islander women’s issues and encourage civic engagement during an election year. ¹⁶

Affiliated Organizations

Hmong American Women’s Association is a fiscal sponsor for the African American Roundtable ¹⁷ which focuses on developing Black leaders “to build power in service of Black liberation.” ¹⁸

HAWA is a member of the Southeast Asian Freedom Network, which supports liberal advocacy for queer liberation, Black Lives Matter, gender justice to “end patriarchy,” abolishing “imperialism” in the United States, and resistance to mass incarceration. ^{19 20}

HAWA is a member of the Community Power Coalition (CPC) in Wisconsin, which is made up of Black and Southeast Asian liberal social advocacy organizations. In July 2024 the CPC published a statement concerning the shooting of Samuel Sharpe in Milwaukee during the Republican National Convention, citing the “dangers of increased police presence in our community.” ²¹

HAWA is a member of the RID Racism Milwaukee coalition focused on “dismantling all forms of racism and racial inequities” in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. ^{22 23}

Funding

HAWA reported 2022 revenues of $2,033,740 and expenses of $2,039,104. Over $1 million was spent on employee compensation and benefits. Expenses for program services included $268,909 for civic engagement work which entailed support for voter registration, political education, and community outreach. ^{24 17}

Donors included Voces de la Frontera, State Democracy Project, Wisconsin Voices, Center for Popular Democracy, State Voices, America Votes, Solidaire Network, Borealis Philanthropy, NEO Philanthropy, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, New Venture Fund, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Network for Good, and Tides Foundation. ³

Leadership

Tammie Xiong is executive director of Hmong American Women’s Association. Her mother was one of the original founders of HAWA. ²⁵ She grew up in a Hmong community in Wisconsin and spent time at HAWA. She graduated with a major in English from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and ran an English literacy program for the University for 6 years before becoming executive director. ²⁶ She is a board director for the Black & Brown Womyn Power Coalition, ²⁷ which is working to “build a radical BIPOC womyn, Queer, and Femme led feminist movement in Wisconsin.” ²⁸

Zong Yang is HAWA’s queer justice director. Yang is also community engagement director at ManForward which works with Southeast Asian men to “build a more inclusive, equitable world.” ^{29 30}

May Vang is board chair. She’s a real estate agent in the Milwaukee area. Previously she worked at the U.S. Peace Corps and at the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at Advocate Aurora Health. ³¹