About Maiv Muas Xyooj

Maiv Muas Xyooj is dedicated to celebrating and preserving the rich heritage of her Hmong American culture and experience through music, arts, and education. Her mission is to create vibrant arts to connect with others who appreciate and support the unique expressions of the Hmong cultural identity and experience. She is committed to learning and becoming more curious about how arts can transform many generations to come.

My California Roots

Maiv Muas was born and raised in the warm and beautiful valley of Fresno, California where she began her journey with choir in elementary school, but went on to pursue most of her musical journey in middle and high school playing the flute and percussion where she gained knowledge about music composition and how emotions and storytelling show up in the world of music and arts. After attending the Southeast Asian Student Coalition Summer Institute at UC Berkeley in 2018, she was introduced to spoken word slam poetry, and began exploring her Hmong American social and political identities through different forms of arts and storytelling.

CURIOSITY IN THE EAST COAST

After completing the Honors Program and completing her Associates to Transfer Degree of Political Science at Reedley College, Maiv Muas adventured out to Massachusetts to pursue Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Public Policy, with minors in American Ethnic Studies and Cross-Cultural and Social Justice Studies at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, where she went on to pursue her student advocacy and organizing work. As a student scholar and student-athlete, she's received the Change Agent Award and Senior Award to honor the contribution she's done to support the student and MCLA communities. Maiv Muas was also passionate about creating a more inclusive space beyond her college, therefore, she served as a member on the City of North Adams Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Working Group.

Redefining in Minnesota

Now Maiv Muas resides in Saint Paul, Minnesota, home to the biggest Hmong American population. She is curious and eager to continue learning more about the community in Minnesota, and explore more into her own roots as she continue to ask what is means to be Hmong in the 21st Century. While in Minnesota, Maiv Muas began her songwriting journey and connecting with different channels to learn more about how Hmong arts and music can continue to move and transform growth and healing in communities today. She also continues to do work in education and nonprofit.