Kristen Lê

Kristen Lê, 30’s
Washington State, US
she/her

Current Role: Teacher

What racial, ethnic, cultural community or communities do you identify with?
Vietnamese.
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When and how did your family come to the United States? Where were you born?
My family went by plane through a refugee camp in Thailand. I was born in Vietnam.

What are the strengths and challenges of being Asian, Asian American, and/or Pacific Islander?
Strong collective family values.

What is your proudest accomplishment?
Being stable - coming to a place knowing and feeling empowered to keep doing more with my life.

What is one thing you learned or appreciate from your family growing up?
My family sacrificed several things for my siblings and I.

Do you speak your family's native language? Why or why not?
Yes - I don’t want to lose it. Parents have made me realize it’s important to keep your mother tongue.

What advice do you have for the younger generations in our Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander community?
Keep advocating for our community but realize the privileges we have and show up just as strongly for the rest of our BIPOC community too. We have a unique position here as Asian Americans. 

What gives you the greatest joy in life?
Right now, my new bundle of joy coming in December 2020! 

If you would like to share your voice as a person of color, please read the directions and fill out this form here. All ages, backgrounds, and generations welcome. Thank you!