Born and raised in Amarillo, TX- Somprathana “Akeela” Kongdara (she/her) is the daughter and granddaughter of Lao Refugees. She is a third-generation Lao Texan.  Since she was a child, she has taken great pride in her Lao heritage and community. She often refers to the African Proverb that “it takes a village to raise a child”- attributing her passion and ambitions to her community at home (Amarillo) and the greater Lao diaspora. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BS in Political Communication and a BA in Asian American Studies. 

Akeela is passionate about the power of storytelling and oral histories. She had the opportunity to collect oral histories of Lao Americans from all over the country and to advocate for Lao Americans. Her passion topics are educational equity, intersectionality, and reproductive justice. 

In her free time, she enjoys attending sporting events and live concerts!