Mayhoua Moua came to the United States when she was a 7-year-old refugee child, fleeing persecution and trying “to live another day,” she says. Her father had worked with the U.S. to rescue American soldiers during the Vietnam War, which meant the family had to flee in the middle of the night when the war ended. They fled first to Thailand, where they lived in refugee camps before coming to the U.S. in 1976. Like many Hmong children who came to this country, Mayhoua became a translator for her parents and other elders in her community. It was the support her family received in those early years and her role as a translator that has, among other things, inspired a life of service.  

We met Mayhoua inside the sprawling Milwaukee Asian Market building on Milwaukee’s north side, a community center that brings people together around food, culture and resources. Craft and clothing stalls line a huge swath of the first floor, the centerpiece of which is a food court. The building is jammed with small offices providing all kinds of services, including counseling and legal aid. Posters are tacked up in elevators and near entrances, notifying those who come and go of upcoming meetings and opportunities. 

Mayhoua’s domain is up on the second floor, the Milwaukee Consortium for Hmong Health, where she is executive director. Her organization provides outreach and education around issues of  wellness not only for the Hmong community but also to much of the Southeast Asian community, including newer refugees from Myanmar. This includes education about breast and cervical cancers, hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic diseases and conditions. It also includes an annual conference featuring free medical screenings that attracts people from across the region. Mayhoua has lived in Milwaukee for 30 years. She’s a leader in the Hmong community who has served on countless boards and committees, including the Equal Rights Commission for the City of Milwaukee. Here is Mayhoua talking about democracy and a desire to give back.