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Bo Thao-Urabe

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Bo Thao-Urabe
Thao-Urabe speaking at the Marshall Space Flight Center
Occupationsocial entrepreneur
Known forsocial entrepreneurial

Bo Thao-Urabe (born 1973) is a social entrepreneur who has founded numerous organizations and efforts to advance social justice. A sought after leader, Thao-Urabe has served the community in local, state and national settings. She was appointed as a Regent to the University of Minnesota by Governor Walz in 2021.[1] President Obama appointed Thao-Urabe as a Commissioner to the President’s White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.[2][3] She has also served as Senior Director at Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP).[4] She has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the prestigious Bush Fellowship from the Bush Foundation in 2019.[5]

Early life and education

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Thao-Urabe was born in Laos.[6][7] Her family is Hmong and fled to Thailand after the Secret War in Laos, a covert operation by the CIA during the Vietnam War.[7] They spent three years in a refugee camp and immigrated to the United States in 1979.[8][4] She received a B.S. from the University of Minnesota and lives in Minnesota.[3]

Career and community activism

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In 2012, she founded the Building More Philanthropy with Purpose (BMPP) Giving Circle with Kaohly Her and Terri Thao, [9] which brings Asian American families together to pool their resources together to fund social justice causes in the Upper Midwest. As of 2024, the BMPP Giving Circle has raised $300,000 for projects.[10] The following year, Thao-Urabe co-founded the Coalition of Asian American Leaders (CAAL).[11] The CAAL sought to create a leadership network representative of the Asian Populations in Minnesota and together they provide policy recommendations. She acted as the Executive and Network Director until 2022, when she transitioned into a Senior Advisor role. [12] In 2014, Thao-Urabe founded and served as the Chief Operating Officer of RedGreen Rivers, a social enterprise which develops and connects women artisans in Southeast Asia to global markets.[2]

Apart from her entrepreneurship pursuits, Bo Thao-Urabe has been elected and appointed to a multitude of philanthropy driven boards. In 2022, she joined Drake Bank's Board of Directors.[13] Drake Bank is an independent bank in St. Paul, MN. In 2023 alone, she was elected to both the Minnesota Public Radio Board of Trustees and the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation Board of Directors.[14][15]

Awards and recognition

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Bo Thao-Urabe has received numerous awards, including the prestigious Bush Fellowship from the Bush Foundation in 2019.[5] Many of her honors come from the Minnesota community, such as being recognized as the Minnesota's Association of Fundraising Professional's 2020 Philanthropy Day Award Honoree.[16] Her commitment extends beyond the realm of philanthropy, as seen when she was awarded the Facing Race award in 2018 from the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation for her work with CAAL.[17][18] Both Saint Paul Mayor Coleman and Governor Mark Dayton declared November 1 as Bo Thao-Urabe Day.

References

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  1. ^ "Walz appoints Hmong leader to serve on University of Minnesota's Board of Regents". startribune.com. 2021-08-21. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
  2. ^ a b "White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders". Former Commissioners. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
  3. ^ a b "Bo Thao-Urabe nominated to President's AAPI Commission". Asian American Press. 2015-10-02. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
  4. ^ a b "Bo Thao-Urabe". AAPIP. 2011-01-10. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
  5. ^ a b "Eagan resident named Bush Fellow". hometownsource.com. 2017-10-12. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
  6. ^ "Bo Thao-Urabe and Otis Zanders receive 2018 Facing Race awards". SPMCF. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
  7. ^ a b "Meet Bo Thao-Urabe". Pollen. 2016-02-26. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
  8. ^ "Seeking Peace, Security, and Home: Our Journeys as Refugees". whitehouse.gov. 2015-12-18. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
  9. ^ "Evolving American philanthropy". womenspress.com. 2016-11-01. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  10. ^ "Innovations in Philanthropy: Building More Philanthropy with Purpose Giving Circle". Twin Cities Business. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  11. ^ "'America is not somebody else; America is us': Civil rights organizer Bo Thao-Urabe wants Minnesota to measure success differently". sahanjournal.com. 2021-05-19.
  12. ^ Gay, Julia (2022-02-09). "CAAL Announces New Executive Leadership". CAAL. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  13. ^ Lewis, Hailey (2020-07-09). "Drake Bank Welcomes Bo Thao-Urabe and Richard Wanke to its Board of Directors » Drake Bank". Drake Bank. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  14. ^ "Foundation Announces New Board…". Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  15. ^ kevincarter (2023-01-04). "MPR Bolsters Board Of Trustees With Thao-Urabe". RAMP - Radio and Music Pros. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  16. ^ "2020 National Philanthropy Day Award Honoree - AFP Minnesota Chapter". www.afpminnesota.org. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  17. ^ "Facing Race Awards | Anti-Racism…". Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  18. ^ Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation (2018-10-02). Bo Thao-Urabe - 2018 Facing Race Award Recipient. Retrieved 2024-12-04 – via YouTube.
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