MaiBao Yang (she/her) is a dedicated advocate with 12+ years’ experience providing support for survivors of gender-based violence and mobilizing the community through a culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and survivor-centered framework. Her passion lies with advocating for the underserved and unserved communities. MaiBao is one of the co-founders of California Hmong Advocates Network (CHAN).

Formed in 2013, CHAN is dedicated to supporting Hmong advocates’ leadership in beloved community while forging bold vision and facilitating nuanced discussions on gender-based violence to shift the narrative around providing support. In 2019, CHAN partnered with Building Our Future, a community campaign to address abusive international marriages, to create California Hmong Advocates Network – Building Our Future for Peace Collaborative (CHAN-BOF), where MaiBao was a Program Specialist from 2019 to early 2021.

Under MaiBao’s co-management, CHAN-BOF grew to a network of 25+ actively committed Hmong advocates, leaders, and community members working to address and prevent gender-based violence in Hmong communities in Sacramento, Merced, and Fresno counties through cultural transformation work. CHAN-BOF envisions a Hmong community where the collective leadership of youth, women, and LGBTQIA folks builds strong families free from violence and thrives from generation to generation.

Today, MaiBao continues to volunteer with CHAN-BOF. In her free time, MaiBao enjoys reading fantasy adventure novels, hiking through California’s scenic places, and attempting to grow a small vegetable garden in her backyard. She can be reached at maibaoyang@gmail.com.