Mahnker Dahnweih (she,her) Co-Executive Director

Mahnker is the child of Liberian refugees and grew up on the South Side of Chicago. Later, she moved to Normal, IL where she studied Geography at Illinois State University and has spent most of her career in electoral politics. Helping to build and support the advancement of a Queer politic in Madison, WI and abroad is central to her work. Mahnker is also passionate about her work to build political power with Black and Southeast Asian Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, and elevate their concerns to a broader audience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bianca Gomez (she,her) Co-Executive Director

Bianca is a former special education teacher and recent graduate of UW-Madison's Afro-American Studies Masters program. Her research focused on alternatives to punitive disciplinary policies and practices that impact Black youth and youth of color. Her area of expertise includes Gender Justice and Youth Justice. Bianca provided domestic violence and sexual assault services to Black women, youth, and LGTBQ+ folx. She provided educational advocacy for Black students and families who are dealing with antiblackness in school. Bianca helped lead political education groups for young people including the Freedom Youth Squad, who were organizing against police in school, Black Girls Matter, where they talk about fighting against white supremacy and loving their bodies, and Books and Breakfast for younger kids, where they talk about body safety, activism and cultural pride. Bianca is unapologetically dedicated to Black liberation and believes in shifting power to the most impacted communities. Her dream is for all Black people to live free of violence. She looks to her ancestors for support and guidance as she engages in the struggle for freedom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chai Moua (she,her) Co-Executive Director

Chai Moua was born in Ban Vinai Refugee Camp and came to the United States at the age of two. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Human Services Management and a Family Development Specialist Certification from the National Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice at the University of Iowa School Social of Work. Currently on the Executive Team at Freedom, Inc., Chai started off her work in community organizing in one of Madison's most isolated neighborhoods. This is where she realized her passion for racial and gender equity. She has over 20 years of experience working with low- to no-income communities, especially within the Hmong community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sheur Yang (she,her) Chief Financial Officer

Sheur Yang is a Hmong woman, born in a refugee camp in Thailand and came to the United states in 1980 as part of the Hmong resettlement after the Vietnam War. She has an BBA degree in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. Her work experience includes 5 years as an Insurance Financial Examiner before she started working for Freedom, Inc. Sheur’s work and dedication exemplifies the leadership pipeline at the organization with her first involvement as a volunteer accountant in 2003, then she became a contractor in 2007, and in 2020 was hired as full time employee. She became part of the FI Executive Team in 2018 undertaking the formational work needed to create the Operations and Financial department of the organization. Her advocacy for Hmong women, children, and LBGTQ folx began in high school after years of witnessing and experiencing racism, patriarchy, homophobia, and injustice within and outside her community.