On August 29, 2022, we welcomed Gao-Ly Vang as the Master of Social Work Intern at the Philadelphia Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA). She will intern with our office during 2022-2023 academic year. We’re excited to introduce her to you.
Gao will work with OIA Director, Amy Eusebio, to design a system for OIA to receive and direct calls and emails from new Philadelphians and those supporting them to city and community resources they need. She will also help set a plan to launch a future Immigration Services Task Force.
We asked Gao some questions to get to know her better.
Where are you originally from and why did you come to Philly?
I was born and raised in Ontario, Canada. I came to Philly because I am inspired by Restorative Justice (RJ), an indigenous philosophy inclusive of communities, victims, and offenders in repairing harm and rebuilding relationships. Part of my value system includes utilizing decolonizing approaches in the social justice realm. Philly welcomes RJ approaches to social justice that are expressed through their murals and other arts programming in the city. When I first saw the murals, it felt like the community was already telling my story, which is why I was inspired to move here.
Why did you decide to intern with the Philadelphia Office of Immigrant Affairs?
I am Hmong and a child of refugees. Hmong people are indigenous people from the mountains of Southern Asia. Hmong people, and our practices and traditions, exist through an oral culture that has faced centuries of ethnic genocide. Even without a country to call home, my family has maintained and honed their Hmong identity in Canada by engaging in traditional and cultural activities with our community. Hmong culture highlights the significance of community and gathering. I feel a great sense of community because of the ways families mobilize to help when it comes to celebrations and funerals.
The Office of Immigrant Affairs symbolizes hope for immigrant individuals and families, as well as those seeking asylum, and serves as an engine for communities to connect. As an international student and child of refugees, interning at OIA augments my passions, my identity and is an opportunity to express the meanings of community while honoring inclusion, diversity, and safety.
What made you choose social work as a career pathway?
As a child, I was consistently reminded of my educational privileges through my parent’s experiences of escaping Laos. Growing up in poverty aligned my career and passions in dismantling cycles of violence, incarceration, and systemic racism. Not only is it important to align myself with my cultural values but to empower Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and LGBTQIA communities in obtaining equitable and accessible opportunities. As a first-generation student and a Hmong woman I choose to pursue social work to give voice to the voiceless and to express compassion in areas where broken algorithms strive.
What do you do in your free time?
I love staying in tune with my creative side. In my free time, I express my creativity through artistic means such as cooking, painting, or sculpting. Cooking keeps me most grounded in my roots and connected with my mother’s teachings. You will often find me in the kitchen cooking food for my family and friends. Food embodies all cultures and senses like taste, smell, and touch. Food is an experience I enjoy providing to others. It is a unique way of showing love and making connections. For me, food is a love language.
What is your Philly experience so far?
Being in Philly as a Canadian expanded my definition of culture and added to my pallet of experiences. The intersection of identities makes Philly rich in culture and exciting. However, I am still learning U.S culture through music, art and media. A positive thing is that the bridge in culture and community empowers me as a Hmong woman and person of color to be my authentic self. When I see people in Philly organizing especially fierce Black women and gender nonconforming folks, I think wow, I want to do that, and I am going to do that.
