HUTCHINSON, Minn.— Khou Lor of Tracy has joined Southwest Initiative Foundation’s (SWIF) staff to fill the new role of rural equity specialist. Lor will be a resource for communities across the region, while helping build and strengthen local Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) leaders and organizations in southwest Minnesota.
“I’m excited to be a part of Southwest Initiative Foundation, a wonderful organization that values community. And I’m determined to do what it takes to invite, share and create space for voices,” Lor said. “As a first-generation immigrant, much of my younger years were spent navigating systems and being the voice for my immigrant parents. Through these lived experiences, I’ve come to realize the love I have for creating space for people to speak on behalf of themselves, in their truest form.”
Lor has spent the last six years working in community engagement. She is involved with the Hmong community in southwest Minnesota as a leader and organizer and is part of various community groups in the Tracy community where she makes her home with her husband and daughter.
Southwest Initiative Foundation has committed to removing barriers that prevent full participation in southwest Minnesota’s abundant opportunities for the people who call this region home. In her role as rural equity specialist, Lor will lead work to identify and reinforce social capital; diversify the regional nonprofit sector; and create more connected, resilient, and inclusive communities where all people have the support and resources to thrive.
“We are excited to welcome Khou to the SWIF team,” said Nancy Fasching, SWIF Vice President of Community Impact. “She is a great addition to the organization. Her perspective and approach are key in moving the work of rural equity forward.”
Lor started her work at the foundation in January.
About Southwest Initiative Foundation
Southwest Initiative Foundation (SWIF) is a nonprofit community foundation connecting people, investing in ideas and building communities to create a southwest Minnesota where all people thrive. Since its founding in 1986, SWIF has distributed more than $97.8 million through its grantmaking and business finance programs.
