Executive Director
Zang Vang-Lee
Zang Vang-Lee understands the importance of healthy experiences for children, especially during their early years. She is a mom of three who all empowered her to become the advocate and resource for children, families, and community, today. Zang has been in the early childhood field for over 15 years and has experience working with schools, families and communities advocating for more equitable resources and services. She received her Masters of Education and Licensure in K-8 at the University of MN-Twin Cities and Early Childhood licensure at Metro State University. Zang has been a dedicated member of Hmong Early Childhood Coalition (HECC) for over 10+ years. She believes in HECC’s mission and vision, working to ensure Hmong children and families have the essential tools and resources they need to do well in life.
Outreach Manager
Nee Xiong
Nee Xiong has been involved with Hmong Early Childhood Coalition since 2015. Nee’s interest and passion has always been in early childhood. She started her career out as a lead teacher in a daycare center to becoming a preschool teacher and program lead at a charter school in St. Paul. Through her classroom experiences, she saw the barriers and challenges families came across in supporting their children. No longer in the classroom, Nee works to advocate for and provide relevant resources to families and caregivers to ensure their children receive the support needed to be successful.
Training Manager
Bao Vang
Bao Vang recently came back to join Hmong Early childhood Coalition after stepping away for a few years. Being interested in early learning education at a young age, Bao has been in the classroom teaching our young kids to training early childhood educators and providers for over 10 years. With being in multiple learning environments, Bao is motivated to assist in helping families create the village that is needed to raise their children.
Administrative Coordinator
Pa Nhia Xiong
Pa Nhia Xiong is a dedicated professional and mother of three handsome boys. Her passion for early childhood education began in 2013 after earning her AAS in Early Childhood Education. During her early years in the field, Pa Nhia noticed that very few young minority children were enrolled in childcare centers. This realization inspired her to become an advocate for young minority children and their families, helping them access community resources they might not have known were available.
Over the years, she has gained extensive experience working with families in low-income communities and has developed a deep understanding of the importance of early education for children under the age of five.
Program Coordinator
Kalia Yang
Kalia Yang is the Program Coordinator for both the All About Me and iStrive programs. Her passion for child development stems from the positive memories and lasting impact of her own preschool experience, where she first discovered the joy of learning through play. Guided by her inner child, she designs experiences that are fun, engaging, and developmentally meaningful.
Kalia studied Child and Family Development at UNC–Charlotte and spent five years teaching preschool and kindergarten. Wanting to deepen her impact within the Hmong community, she took a leap of faith, left her hometown, and joined HECC. Through her work, she weaves together the cultural and identity pieces she once yearned for as a child, helping to build strong foundations for the next generation.
Her vision is to foster belonging, nurture culture, and strengthen identity at an early age so families can grow in confidence and connection together.
Early Learning Coach
Ntxheb Xiong Moua
Ntxheb Xiong Moua has always been passionate about early education. As a first-generation immigrant, she saw the need for early learning in the Hmong community and has spent more than a decade working in the childcare field, providing support and resources to families and providers. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and completed the Nonprofit Emerging Leaders Academy (NELA), further strengthening her leadership and advocacy skills. Ntxheb strongly believes in the Hmong Early Childhood Coalition’s (HECC) mission and vision to ensure children grow up with strong educational foundations and a proud connection to their cultural identity.
Outreach Specialist
Kao Yee Xiong
Kao Yee Xiong brings over 15 years of experience in community programming and family engagement, with a special focus on uplifting Hmong families through culturally responsive care and education. Her work has included leading parent groups, developing bilingual curriculum, and fostering partnerships across schools and nonprofit organizations. Fluent in both dialects of Hmong, Kao Yee is deeply committed to bridging cultural and language gaps for underserved communities. She is also a proud Hmong mother of four, and her experiences as a parent inspire her passion for creating spaces where families can thrive.
Grant Writer
Kabao Xiong
Kabao is a secondary English Language Arts educator in the Twin Cities and holds a BS in Communication Arts & Literature (5-12) and an MS in Teaching and Learning. She is also an older sister, auntie, and diligent daughter. She currently serves as the Grant Writer for Hmong Early Childhood Coalition and was previously in a Course Writer role in Early Spring of 2025. Kabao is passionate about culturally specific and linguistically relevant curriculum in schools and community spaces.
Support Staff
Shelley Houang
Shelley is a parent to a 4 year old boy. As a newly mom to a toddler, Shelley was interested in learning about early childhood development, finding resources and gaining knowledge for herself so she can advocate for her son and family. HECC provided all those information via detailed trainings and amazing programs for her child. Hence, Shelley joined HECC in October 2022 and works part-time as an Outreach Support. Shelley also currently works full time as a Dental Hygienist and is constantly educating her patients and others on a daily basis. Shelley acknowledges that educating, learning and good habits starts at home first for our children.