Title
Celebrating community leader Leng B. Wong’s 70th birthday and achievements.
Body
Whereas, Leng B. Wong was born in Laos on May 13, 1947; and
Whereas, Mr. Wong served as an Officer in the Royal Lao Army from 1961-1965 and 1969-1975 in the following positions: Battalion Chief of S-1; Brigade Deputy Chief of S-4; Forward Air Guider; Field Liaison Officer; Operations Assistant to U.S. Military Advisors/Personnel; Translator/Interpreter; and English Teacher; and
Whereas, Mr. Wong graduated from Lycee Somboon Vientiane, Laos in 1969 and started his military training with the United States CIA in the Basic Special Guerilla Unit in 1969, Advanced Special Guerilla Unit Training in 1970, and Forward Air Guider in 1971; and
Whereas, In addition to Mr. Wong’s military service, he provided clerical support to the United States International Voluntary Service Agency (IVS) in Vientiane, Laos; and
Whereas, Mr. Wong was admitted to the United States as a refugee in January 1976 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1984; and
Whereas, In 1985, Mr. Wong attended National College in St. Paul, Minnesota in Business Administration; and
Whereas, Mr. Wong made great contributions and strides in the new Southeast Asian American community from 1977 to 1980 working as an Information Referral Worker for Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota to help secure sponsors for refugees, facilitate cross-cultural workshops and orientation for service providers and the general public; and
Whereas, From 1980 to 2010, Mr. Wong committed to public service and served the Minnesota State Department of Health and Human Services as a Special Population Coordinator, Community Services Program Specialist, and Income Maintenance Program Advisor to coordinate, identify, assess, and develop recommendations on policy issues related to housing, legal, health, education, welfare, and employment impacting the immigrant and refugee communities; and
Whereas, Mr. Wong also contributed many decades to supporting the community through various leadership roles such as President of the Hmong Association of Minnesota (now known as the Lao Family Community of Minnesota), appointed member of the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Human Rights in Minnesota, member of the St. Paul Foundation Lao/Hmong Fund Committee in Minnesota, President of the Hmong Amity Society of Minnesota, member of the Summit-University Acculturation Task Force, Chairman of the United Lao/Hmong Veterans of Minnesota and Vang Council of Minnesota, and board member of the Lutheran Medical Center in Minnesota; and
Whereas, Mr. Wong continues to be a successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, and community advocate; and
Whereas, Mr. Wong will be celebrated by friends, family, and community members on Saturday, May 14th for his accomplishments; and now, therefore, be it
Resolved, the Saint Paul City Council recognizes and celebrates the lifelong contributions and achievements of Leng B. Wong; and be it further
Resolved, the St. Paul City Council hereby proclaims May 14, 2022 as Leng B. Wong Day in the City of Saint Paul.