Somprathana Akeela Kongdara

Born and raised in Amarillo, TX; Somprathana Akeela Kongdara is a second-generation Lao American. She is a rising senior at The University of Texas at Austin where she is a double major in Political Communication and Ethnic Studies on the Asian American Studies track. She finds deep pride in her Lao heritage and is most passionate about educating others about the Lao American diaspora. She has served as the Resource Director of Burnt Rice Bunch – an APIDA youth activist group and the Diversity and Inclusion Director of No Strangers Magazine – a student-led publication working to amplify hyphenated identities. She enjoys writing about the American Dream and navigating the world as the grandchild of refugees. She is empowered by learning more about the world around her and using that knowledge to educate others.