Contact Us!
515 28th Street Suite 101, Des Moines, Iowa 50312 (o)515.288.0881(f)515.244.7417 contact (at) muawi (dot) org
Iowa City Office: c/o Women's Resource & Action Center, 130 N. Madison Street, Iowa City, Iowa 52245(o) 319.538.5207 (f) 319.353.1985
Helpline
If you or anyone you know is in need of our assistance, please call us at our new helpline number at 1.866.881.4641.
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Staff
Our organization is run by talented and dedicated staff and volunteers.
 | Mira Yusef
Executive Director
Mira Yusef is the co-founder and current executive director of Monsoon United Asian Women of Iowa. She was a December 2007 recipient of a Masters in Social Work with specialization on Community Organizing and a Masters in Southeast Asian Studies from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She was a recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship from 2004-2005 to the Philippines to pursue a research on Muslim Filipina domestic workers working in Muslim households in the Middle East. Ms. Yusef was also a recipient of Department of Education Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship, Community-Based Initiative (CBI) Fellowship, and the Non-Profit and Public Management Support Awardees while attending University of Michigan, Ann Arbor for her master’s degree in Social Work and Southeast Asian Studies. She received the National Security Education Program (NSEP) David Boren Fellowship in 2006 to study Indonesian at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor for one semester and to study Malaysian and to pursue her field research in Sabah, Malaysia for six months. The Boren Fellowship assisted her in her preliminary research on migrant Muslim Filipino women in Sabah, Malaysia as workers and also as deportees. Ms. Yusef finished her bachelor’s degree in History from Drake University in 2003. Prior to finishing her bachelor’s degree from Drake University, Ms. Yusef worked as a paralegal for Saperstein, Goldstein, Demchak & Baller, a civil-rights law firm based in Oakland, California; as a legal assistant for San Francisco based law firm - Minami, Lew & Tamaki and for Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison. She was also a volunteer and an intern for the San Francisco Asian Women’s Shelter in its early days.
Please contact her for any questions related to partnerships, sponsorships, or event planning.
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|  | Lata D'Mello
Sexual Assault Multilingual Advocate & Community Outreach Coordinator
Coming soon!
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| | Jennifer Srey
Multilingual Advocate & Sexual Violence Prevention Educator
Jenny Srey is Monsoon’s volunteer turned full-time employee. She has been working with Monsoon as a volunteer since January of 2009 and has recently been hired as Monsoon’s Mobile Multilingual Advocate Coordinator. She attended the University of Minnesota, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in family social science and women studies in 2006. In college, Jenny was actively involved in student organizations that promoted community awareness and leadership such as, the Cambodian Student Association of Minnesota and the Student Parent Association. In addition, she volunteered as a mentor for the young Khmer girls group and ELL, citizenship classes through the United Cambodian Association of Minnesota. Soon after graduation, Jenny moved to California where she worked with transitional youth and families as a family specialist for Eastfield Ming Quong Children & Family Services and as a mental health counselor for Vista Pacifica Psychiatric Center. After spending three and half years in California, Jenny moved to Iowa to be closer to family. Jenny has lived in Iowa for a little over one year and previously worked as an outreach advocate for Children & Families of Iowa, Domestic Violence Services. Jenny brings to Monsoon special skills that she has acquired through her education, work and life experiences; such as, community outreach and resourcing, crisis intervention, advocacy; youth, family and individual strength based counseling, compassion and perseverance.
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| | Shiho Hirasawa
Multilingual Advocate & Outreach Coordinator (Eastern Iowa)
Shiho Hirasawa is Monsoon's part-time Multilingual Advocate & Outreach in Eastern Iowa. She bases herself in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. While she is aware that it is a culturally sensitive issue, Shiho serves as a direct advocate for Asian women who are survivors/victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault. She also develops the network between local agencies and MUAWI for the best interest of Asian women who deserve to receive adequate services. Since 2009, she has also worked for MUAWI as an on-call direct advocate. Since 2008, she has volunteered for DVIP (Domestic Violence Intervention Program), WRAC (Women's Resource and Action Center - University of Iowa) and Catherine McAuley Center where her jobs have included a shelter advocate, a facilitator of Diversity Dialogue Circle, and a tutor for an Adult Basic Education program. She graduated from University of Iowa in 2008 with a B.A. in Asian language and literature.
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| | Johnny Truong
API Youth Council Intern
My name is Johnny Truong. I am born on July 24, 1994. I was born in Mercy Hospital. I am Vietnamese. I have two brothers and one sister. I am the oldest. I’m a sophomore at East High School. I am very active and like to play sports. I like to play football and soccer. I play soccer for East. I like to listen to music and watch movies on my free time.
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| | Senta Vuth
API Youth Council Intern
Coming soon!
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| | Helen Dao
POGGA Intern
My name is Helen Dao. I'm fourteen and was born and raised in Des Moines, IA. I took my first breath on November second, nineteen-ninety four. I have two brothers and one sister – unfortunately, I'm the oldest. I'm Asian American and have family who came to the United States from Vietnam in the late eighties. I’m a freshman at East High School and I go to Central Academy. I played basketball for Amos Hiatt Middle School. It’s my favorite sport. When I have free time, I usually go for a walk or listen to music. Music is a big part of my life. I also like helping people because it makes me feel like I’m doing a great job. I love to smile and laugh. I can always put a smile on your face, too. I have many goals in life and take pride in achieving them. I know sometimes I think highly of myself but I’m going to change that because it makes me feel like I’m failing in life. My family comes first. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be here writing this. I love them very much. I’m also making sure that I finish high school and go on to college so I can have a great life. My life statement is; "Be what you want to be, don’t follow in other people’s footsteps". I pick that because I think it’s really important to be yourself and not someone you’re not. I think I’m really unique but some people think I’m weird or not cool. I’m usually quiet but when I get to know someone I’m loud and talkative. Well that’s really all I have to say about me!
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| | Diana Inthaboune
POGGA Intern & API Youth Council Co-Chair
Hello! My name is Diana Inthaboune. I was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa on December 30th 1993. I am of Laos decent. I live with my Dad, Mom, Grandma, and my eleven year old sister, Gina. I attend East High School as a sophomore. Where, I cheer as a Varsity football, JV boys basketball and competition cheerleader. I have been involved with Monsoon since 8th grade at Amos Hiatt Middle School when I was a part of their Photo Voice Project. Shortly I started working at Monsoon in September of 2008 as a youth intern. I now have switch from youth intern to a Project Organically Grown Girls’ Activism (POGGA) Intern and work a second job as a waitress and host at Thai Flavors.
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| | Jessa Marfal
POGGA Intern
I was born in San Francisco, California and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. I have one younger brother, who is nine years old. In my free time I love to play soccer. I am on the varsity soccer team at North High School and a captain of the junior varsity soccer team. I devote most of my time to school. While attending North High School, I also attend Central Academy. In the fall I will take English and AP U.S. history at Central. When I’m not at soccer practice or doing homework, I spend a lot of time volunteering. I have recently been putting a lot of time into an organization called Culture Inc.; an afterschool arts program.
I strive for excellence in everything I do. Whether it is in the classroom, or on the soccer field, I try my hardest. When I am having an off day, or feel like I’m not doing things right, I like to volunteer. When I volunteer, I feel like I am doing something right. Helping people is the one thing I love more than anything else. The feeling I get when I know I have made someone’s day better, is unlike any other.
In the future, I plan to finish High School, and go to college. I want to get a degree in social work, or something to do with helping people. I know that I have the knowledge and the power to change people’s lives and I want to do it in the right way. I plan on helping those who cannot help themselves. I know that there are plenty of people in the world that are not fortunate to have people in their family stand behind them and be a strong base, as I have. It is my goal in the future to help these people gain a base and create a bright future for them.
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| | Nancy Truong
POGGA Intern
My name is Nancy Truong. I was born in Des Moines on January 11, 1996. So that makes me 14 years old. I attend Hiatt Middle School and Central Campus as an eighth grader. My favorite subject in school would have to be English because its easiest. I have 3 brothers, one older brother and two little brothers. Their names are Johnny, Kevin, and Aaron. During my free time I like to hang out with my friends and Family. Also I like listening music it calms me down and I always seem to be relaxed when there’s music playing. Another thing that I enjoy doing is going shopping. I guess it’s a girl thing. I’m not really a sports person but I do enjoy playing soccer when there is nothing else to do. I am sort of shy in a way, but when I open up I could be really outgoing. When I grow up I would like to go to college and become a lawyer or major in business. I believe I am quite intelligent and I could do whatever I set to my mind.
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| | Leslie Chareunsab
Youth Peer-to-Peer Counselor & Outreach:
Hello! My name is Leslie Chareunsab. I was born on February 15, 1994 in Des Moines, Iowa. I'm Lao. I'm the youngest in my family, I have an older brother and an older sister. I attend Lincoln High School and Central Academy as a Sophomore. I love to stay active. I play JV/Varsity soccer and run JV/Varsity cross country for Lincoln high. School is one of my top priorities. I try really hard to stay on top of everything. I like to travel and also like to learn about new cultures and customs. The farthest I've traveled is out of the country to Japan. I love the culture there and the people. It was one of the best experiences of my life, that helped me make the choice to take Japanese at central academy. In my free time i like to hang out with friends and family, listen to music, watch movies, and go shopping. I just recently got involoved with Monsoon and their internship program. I wanted to be apart of Monsoon because i thought it would be a good way to stay involved with the community and be able to help people while having fun at the same time.
In the future, I plan to graduate from high school and attend college. When I'm older I want to become a pediatrician. This career joins together two things I really enjoy, children and helping people. There is no better feeling then helping a child when they are in need of care. If I ever get the chance I want start a program that provides medicine to less fortunate people that live in parts of the world that do not have very easy access to medicine. I know that for me to reach my goal i have to give everything i have and go for it. Trying my best and over coming anything that gets in the path of my success. Well I do not have anymore to say so thank you for reading ! Bye!
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| | Tony Thonesavanh
Youth Peer-to-Peer Counselor & Outreach
I am 17 years old and I attend Lincoln High School as a senior. I joined Monsoon in the middle of my high school year because I was facilitating for a class and after that, I was hired as an intern and since then I’ve done many things for Monsoon such as helped an immigrant family move in, presented a slideshow at the Capital, acted in the Vagina Monologues, and much more.
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| | Emily In
Youth Peer-to-Peer Counselor & Outreach (Iowa City)
My name is Emily In and I am a student at the University of Iowa in Iowa City and I am majoring in Communication Studies and obtaining a certificate in Non-profit Management. I was born in Grinnell, Iowa into a family of 5 and graduated in 2007. My parents were refugees who fled from Cambodia in 1979 and have done their best to give me an adequate and privileged life, and for that I am very thankful for my parents and my heritage in shaping who I am today. I first came upon Monsoon while looking for volunteering opportunities during my sophomore year and because I enjoyed the friendly environment and had an interest in its cause for change, I decided to apply for an internship position. As of now I am currently helping Shiho Hirasawa with the Outreach Program in the Eastern Iowa area. After college I hope to visit Cambodia so that I can gain a better grasp on my heritage and hopefully bring that knowledge back to help service Asian women and specifically Cambodian women, for Monsoon in the future.
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Asian Women and Violence in Iowa
Iowa Attorney General’s Crimes Victims Assistance Division FY 2008 Statistics:
- 199 Asian women and 39 Hawaiian/ Pacific Islanders were served by domestic violence and sexual assault providers across Iowa.
- API women are least likely to report physical victimization.
Raise money for Monsoon United Asian Women of Iowa just by searching the web and shopping online!
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It is in the knowledge of the genuine conditions of our lives that we must draw our strength to live and our reasons for acting.
Refugee Nation 
