Sophia Neou

Sophia Kong Neou is a Cambodian refugee who immigrated from Battambang, Cambodia, to Faribault, Minnesota, in the early 1980s with her mother and eight other siblings. She worked with a number of different communities, sharing and educating audiences on the complex history of Cambodia through the storytelling of Cambodian tales at local elementary schools, organizing cultural festivals, and more. Sophia is also a devotee Buddhist who has spent over 15 years volunteering her services to Watt Munisotaram. Sophia is currently the executive director for a non-profit organization, Wattanak Dance Troupe, and hopes to continue working with the youth to help preserve and propel Cambodian arts and culture saying,

"In my role as a community leader, I endeavor to lead in supporting, facilitating, promoting, and implementing the work of the community to achieve shared sustainable achievement objectives.”