Searching for Our Humanity: A Quest Beyond Survival
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
View the recorded Livestream presentation.
Ms. Kao Kalia Yang is an acclaimed Hmong American writer, filmmaker, and educator whose award‑winning work brings powerful visibility to refugee and immigrant experiences. She is the author of multiple celebrated books—including The Latehomecomer, The Song Poet, and Somewhere in the Unknown World—each earning national recognition and numerous literary honors. he co-edited the groundbreaking collection What God is Honored Here?: Writings on Miscarriage and Infant Loss By and For Native Women and Women of Color.
Ms. Kao Kalia Yang’s essays and children’s books have earned prestigious honors including the McKnight Fellowship, PEN America distinctions, and multiple Minnesota Book Awards. Her work has also been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Chautauqua Prize, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, the American Library Association’s Notable Books list, Kirkus Best Books of the Year, and the Heartland Bestseller’s Award. Beyond her writing, Yang is a sought‑after speaker and advocate whose storytelling elevates marginalized voices and deepens cultural understanding. Her achievements—and her unwavering commitment to justice, empathy, and the power of narrative—continue to inspire students to lead with courage and compassion. She lives in Minnesota with her family and teaches and speaks across the nation.
The Bartling Scholarship 